MEET OUR WEAVERS
Cancha Cancha
Alejandra Mamani Ccarhuani
Alejandra Mamani Ccarhuani is a member of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1993, is married, and has two children. She went to primary school, but didn’t finish it. She speaks Quechua. Her main activity is weaving, while her husband is a subsistence farmer. Her family does not sell animals. Every three-four months, they go to Calca and Huaran to work in the fields or to sell herbs. They often don’t have enough food to feed everyone each day; sometimes they have enough to send children to school, but not always – her two daughters didn’t finish primary school. She and her husband decide together how the profit from her Q’ente textiles will be spent. She wants to be able to give her children education and everything else they need. She says her husband has more respect for her now that she is part of the project; if she wasn't making money, he would not have respect for her. She likes being part of the weaving association, because the women talk and work together.
Dorotea Quispe Hancco
Dorotea Quispe Hancco is Vice-President of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1979, is married, and has four children. She has never gone to school. She speaks Quechua and understands a bit of Spanish. Her main activities are weaving and agriculture. Her husband works in agriculture and as a porter on the Inca Trail. Her family earns approximately 100-200 soles ($40-80 CAD) per month, though it varies from month to month. She spends the money that she makes from the Q’ente Textile Program on her children – on food, education, and medicine for them. She and her husband decide together how the money will be spent. The family always prioritizes their children’s education, even though they sometimes don't have enough to eat. They don't have electricity in their house. Her wishes for the future of her children are to help them buy land for a house, to help them study, and to help them with costs in general. She likes being part of the weaving association because everyone works together and talks to each other more often because of this. She feels better about life because she is part of the weaving association, since she now can support her family better. She also feels like she has more respect from others since she joined it.
Elena Mamani Ccarhuani
Elena Mamani Ccarhuani is a member of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1995 and is single. She doesn’t have any children. She went to primary school, but didn’t finish it. She only speaks Quechua. Her main activities are weaving and subsistence farming. She still gets some help from her family, but often can't afford food. Sometimes she goes to work in the fields in Huaran and Calca, but only on rare occasions. She is happy to be part of the weaving association, because she is making her own money. She feels men respect women more when they are making money.
Juana Ccarhuani Ccorcca
Juana Ccarhuani Ccorcca is Treasurer of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1973 and is married. She has eight children. Juana went to primary school, but didn’t finish it. She only speaks Quechua. Recently the Evangelical church in the community has been teaching them how to read some of the Bible, so she is learning how to read this way. Her day consists of weaving, subsistence farming, and raising animals. She also goes to work in the fields in Calca when her family doesn’t have enough food; she makes 20 soles ($8 CAD) per day working in those fields. She would like to be a full-time weaver in the future. Her husband is sick and cannot work. The family prioritizes their children’s education, even though they sometimes don't have enough to eat. Income from the Q’ente Textile Program represents almost half of the family’s income. With the money from it, she sometimes buys candles to light her house at night. They also now have a bit more access to the city because of profit from the Q’ente Textile Program. She decides how the money will be spent by herself, without her husband’s input. The busiest time of the year for her is during the potato harvest. She enjoys being part of the weaving association because they help each other, and talk to each other more. She says the future looks a bit better than it did before.
Lucia Sicos Mamani
Lucia Sicos Mamani is a member of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1984, and is married with three children. She has completed some grades in primary school. She only speaks Quechua. Recently the Evangelical church has been teaching her community how to read the Bible and how to write. Her main activities are weaving and agriculture, though she would like to be a full-time weaver someday. The busiest time of year for her is the potato harvest. When the family doesn’t have enough food, her husband goes to work in the fields in Calca where he makes 25 soles ($10) per day. The majority of the money made from her Q’ente textiles goes towards her children's education. Sometimes her family does not have enough for food, but they always find money for education. She would like to be able to give her children the opportunity of a higher education, if possible. She feels better about herself since she started working with Mosqoy because she feels she is contributing to her family and children. She likes being part of the weaving association because all of the weavers are socializing and because she can help her family.
Lucia Ccarhuani Huaman
Lucia Ccarhuani Huaman is a member of Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1953 and is married. She has five children. Two of her daughters (Alejandra and Elena) are also part of the weaving association. She speaks Quechua, and never went to school. Her main activity is weaving, while her husband is a subsistence farmer. Every three-four months, her family goes to Calca and Huaran to work in the fields or to sell herbs. They don’t often have enough food to feed everyone. Sometimes they have enough to send their children to school, but not always. Two of her daughters didn’t finish primary school. She and her husband decide together how the money from her Q’ente textiles will be used. She says she likes weaving “because it's what I do, it's my life.” She likes being part of the weaving association because, as she says, she is not just waiting for the man to bring money home. She notices that men now have more respect for her.
Vicentina Quispe Ccorcca
Vicentina Quispe Ccorcca is President of Illariy Ch’aska, Cancha Cancha’s weaving association. She was born in 1972 and is married with six children. She never went to school. She speaks Quechua and understands a bit of Spanish. Her main activity is weaving. Her husband works in agriculture and as a porter on the Inca Trail. Her family makes approximately 120 soles (approximately $47 CAD) per month. Vicentina explains that, to cover all the basic expenses of the family, they would need double this income (approximately 300 soles per month). The profit she makes from her textiles is spent on food, education, electricity, transport, and medicine. She and her husband decide together how the money will be spent. The one thing she would like to give to her children that she currently cannot provide to them is the gift of education. She says that she feels more self-confident, calm, and happy since she started working with the Q’ente Textile Program.
Huaran
Andrés Sallo
Andres Sallo is the president of Munay Urpi, Huaran’s weaving association. He was born in 1973 and has three daughters, who all study in Huaran or Cusco. Andres learned to weave when he was 12 years old; his mother taught him because he loved the art so much. His wife and daughters all weave as well. He was born in the campesino community of Quncani, near Lares, but moved to Huaran in 2000 so that his daughters could continue studying. (Quncani only has an elementary school.) Andres speaks both Quechua and Spanish, and attended elementary school in Quncani until the fourth grade. He works as a porter on the Inca Trail and as a weaver; he also often meets retailers in Cusco on behalf of the Munay Urpi association. His favourite time of year is the corn season because “it is very beautiful.” He is impressed with how much his weaving cooperative has improved since they began in 2004; when they started, they never cleaned or washed their products, but now – primarily due to a capacitation workshop offered by Casa Bartolomé de Las Casas – they have improved their product standards considerably. Andres loves weaving pasadizos, and especially loves weaving the lelli pallay (the large diamonds in the center) because they are some of the most ancient designs that the great-grandparents have passed down. Andres explains that their ancestors would weave these designs in order to bring the harvest and pray for seed.
Bonifacia Condori Quispe
Bonifacia Condori Quispe is the vice-president of Munay Urpi, Huaran’s weaving association. She was born in 1973, and is married with three children. She was born in Huaran, and attended primary school but did not finish it. She speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish. Her main activity is weaving, while her husband is a subsistence farmer. She makes approximately 250 soles ($96 CAD) per month, and doesn't know how much her husband makes. One of her children studies at Khipu Institute, a post-secondary institute that is very expensive, so she says it is a struggle to support him. They often do not have enough to eat, but she wants to be able to give her children an education. She appreciates that, since the formation of Munay Urpi, there is more unity. Before, she says that there was a lot of envy and the weavers were not helping each other – now they are. They realized that if we are united, they can get further towards their dreams together. She also notes that, before the association, she didn't have as much respect from her husband; now she feels she has more respect.
Concepción Hancco Sicos
Concepción Hancco Sicos is Treasurer of Munay Urpi, Huaran’s weaving cooperative. She was born in 1992; she has one child, and has a partner who she lives with. She graduated from secondary school, and is fluent in both Quechua and Spanish. Her main activity is weaving, as her family does not own a farm. She notes that her family was able to afford electricity after she started working with Mosqoy, but they still need more money to be able to plan for the future. For now, she feels that her child has what he needs. Concepción and her partner decide together how to spend the money that she earns from her Q’ente textile profit. She likes being part of Munay Urpi because “in union, there is strength.” She also likes that the weavers help each other finish their products, and that they always do everything in their power to finish all of the orders they receive from clients. She also appreciates that she does not have to travel to the city to sell her products, and leave her child alone.
Eufemia Landa
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Francisca Alagon Puma
Francisca Alagon Puma is member of Huaran’s weaving association. She was born in 1962, and is married with three children. She is from Accha Alta in the Lares district. She has never attended school and only speaks Quechua. She cannot read or write, but can sign her name. Her main activity is weaving. Her husband drives a mototaxi (a tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi), works as a porter on the Inca Trail, and works on their farm. The family earns approximately 700-800 soles ($270-$310 CAD) per month. Her children are currently studying and working in Cusco city. Her wish is to be able to afford to go to the doctor when she needs to, and to have a full medical check-up so that she can figure out what is wrong with her body. She dreams big and believes this trait is why her children are reaching high for their futures (one is studying psychology at the national university, while another is studying accounting at a trade institute). She knows she is a good thinker and is always trying to help her children. She has to travel several hours to get to Huaran for the Munay Urpi meetings, but she feels that being part of this weaving association will give her new opportunities. In the past, she was selling by herself to tourists her were going to Lares. She now feels more secure because she has more guaranteed sales, which makes it easier to know how to plan and spend her funds.
Gregoria Mamani
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Hermenia Sallo Huaman
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Hilda Ttito Ocon
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Juana Paula Sicos
Juana Paula Sicos is the president of Munay Urpi. She is originally from the community of Quishuarani, but moved to Huaran in 2004, so that her children could go to school. She still returns to Quishuarani a lot to visit her family. Juana Paula has been weaving since she was five years old. Her mother died when she was very young, so she taught herself to weave by watching the other weavers in her community. She says it was hard to learn the ways of her community without a mother, and with a father who was absent a lot, but she and her six older siblings took care of each other and “more or less raised ourselves.” Juana Paula predicts that she knows 280 patterns. When asked if she know many ancient Inca designs, she said, “one adapts and changes the patterns according to personal taste.” Before working with Mosqoy, she worked with a wholesaler who ordered hundreds of weavings from her, but she saw very little profit from this work. With Mosqoy, she is able to spend more time with her family while still making a decent income. With her textile profit, she has built her house, fed and clothed her family, and given her children an education. Juana Paula says that her role as president has taught her how to lead and organize, and how to encourage others to work harder. She says that the weavers of Munay Urpi teach each other; while she has shared her knowledge, the other weavers have also been her teachers. There is a strong relationship of reciprocity between the weavers, she says.
Nelly Hancco Sicos
Nelly Hancco Sicos is a member of Huaran’s weaving association. She was born in 1994, and has one child. She graduated from secondary school, and is fluent in both Quechua and Spanish. Her main activity is weaving; her partner is a construction worker in Cusco city. She likes that Munay Urpi is well-organized: for example, they have a multa (fine) for those who do not attend the meetings, which works well. They also have a list that Mosqoy helped them create, which has allowed them to equitably distribute textile orders among their members. She says that this prevents fighting, and that they talk about problems and solve them together. Being part of the association gives Nelly a lot more motivation to work hard. She is excited that the municipality saw they can work well, and that – because of this – it helped them establish a connection with Marriot Hotel in Cusco, which is a new retailer of their products.
Rosa Hancco Sicos
Rosa Hancco Sicos is a member of Munay Urpi. She was born in 1982, and is married with two children. She finished primary school and some secondary school, but did not graduate. She speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish. Her main activity is weaving. Her husband is a security guard at a school, and also works as a farmer. With the profits she receives from her textiles, she purchases wool to make more textiles. Because they don’t own their own animals nor have access to dye plants, they need to purchase their weaving materials; wool costs approximately 50 soles ($20 CAD) per cone. After purchasing these materials, there is not much money leftover. They don't always have enough to eat, nor to send their children to school. She would like to provide her family with more security and education. Rosa says that she would still like to learn more about artesania; for example, how to use a sewing machine. She likes that there is unity and confidence in Munay Urpi, and that the association is growing. “We used to be only three, now we are many,” she says.
Sabina Ccana Tacuri
Sabina Ccana Tacuri is a member of Munay Urpi, Huaran’s weaving association. She was born in 1965 and has five children – three boys and two girls. All of her children are now adults with their own families. Sabina was born in Amaru, but moved to Huaran with her husband because her community had no high school for their children. She speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish, and never went to school. She spends most of her days weaving and taking care of her farm animals. She likes Huaran because it is warm and accessible, unlike her home community of Amaru, which she says is cold and remote. Sabina’s mother taught her to weave when she was 10 years old, mainly so that she could make her own clothing. Sabina likes to weave the small things the most –wallets, changepurses, bracelets. Her favourite symbol is the condor, and her favourite natural-dye colours are red, green, and mustard yellow. She uses the profit from her textiles to support her children to pay for their weddings. Sabina wishes that she had the funds to be able to cure her eyesight, because she now can no longer see very well.
Amaru
Angela Ccana Zamata
Angela Ccana Zamata is a member of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. She was born in Amaru in 1974. Angela has three children – one son and two daughters. All of her children are studying. Angela's Husband, Gregorio Sotalero Tacuri, is the president of Amaru's weaving association. Angela attended Amaru’s only primary school until the 2nd grade, and only speaks Quechua. Her favourite designs to weave are symbols that depict different elements of the earth, like the river and the sun. She also loves the symbol, Chilis Laraypa, which is a calendar depicting the entire year, with each of the 12 months represented cyclically; lakes and trails are embedded within the calendar design. The Chilis Laraypa is a very complex design; to make one figure, 32 white threads and 32 red threads must be used, vertically and horizontally.
Gregoria Chipa Ccana
Gregoria Chipa Ccana is a member of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. She was born in Amaru in 1959. Gregoria has four sons. Her husband works as a farmer. Gregoria attended primary school until the 3rd grade, and speaks Quechua. An average day for Gregoria consists mainly of weaving. Gergoria’s favourite dye colour is blue, because it’s the most authentic representation of her community of Amaru. In the past 50 years, Gregoria has noticed a change in climatic phenomena – she says there are now abnormalities in the seasons, and crops now grow at different times. She has also noticed a change in the diet compared to when she was a child. Gregoria mentions that she never ate noodles as a child but now she does on a regular basis. “We only ate what was natural,” she says. “Bread was only for Christmas, but now it’s normal to find it in stores all the time.” Gregoria also notes that the children in Amaru do not dedicate time to weaving as much as they used to, due to a shift towards formal education, spending full days in school instead of with their families.
Gregorio Sotalero Tacuri
Gregorio Sotalero Tacuri is the president of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. Gregorio is also the father of three children and is married to weaving association member, Angela Ccana Zamata. As President, Gregorio constantly communicates with non-governmental organizations that work in the region, with the hope of bringing improvements to his village. His greatest accomplishments have been establishing a library and obtaining free medications for the local health clinic. The connections that he has built with other communities, tour agencies, and NGOs have allowed his weaving association to grow from a small cooperative to one that is highly sought after by retailers, with many sales opportunities in Cusco. Gregorio was also a signer in the Parque de la Papa agreements, as a representative for his community – a regional community-led campaign to ban GMOs and multinational organizations from working in their region. Gregorio learned his knowledge of agriculture, weaving, Inca culture, and indigenous medicine from his grandfather. Gregorio estimates that he knows about 70 or 80 traditional Incan weaving patterns, and he cares deeply about preserving the tradition of weaving.
Hermetania Huanca Ccana
Hermetania Huanca Ccana is a member of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. She was born in Amaru in 1970. Hermetania has five children, three girls and two boys. Her husband is an agricultural worker. Hermetania attended school until the 2nd grade. She speaks Quechua. An average day for Hermetania includes working on the farm and taking care of her animals. Hermetania learned to weave when she was eight years old because all of the other girls in her community were learning to weave. She first began learning to weave by making the senkapa (a traditional thin wrap, used to adorn hats and skirts). Hermetania says that children now do not learn to weave until they are around 12 or 13, since most children attend school and do not have time when they are younger. She loves to weave bracelets and scarves the most. Her favourite dye colour is purple because it allows symbols to stand out.
Paulina Ccana Condori
Paulina Ccana Condori is a member of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. She was born in Amaru in 1985. Paulina has three children, two boys and one girl. She attended school until the 6th grade, but had to stop since Amaru only has an elementary school and she completed the highest grade it had to offer. She speaks Quechua. An average day for Paulina depends on the season, but she is often found cooking or tending to her fields. Paulina has many animals, especially sheep. She mainly raises these animals so that she can use their wool as weaving material. Paulina weaves because she needs the money for her family, and to pay for medicine and her children’s education. She says that she enjoys being a part of the weaving association because it gives her more strength to continue weaving, especially when they have sales. Her favourite textiles to weave are scarves, and her favourite symbol to create is the snake because “Amaru” means “snake” in Quechua; it is therefore very symbolic for her community.
Rudecinda Huanca Ccana
Rudecinda Huanca Ccana is a member of the Asociación de Tejedores Tradicionales Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru. She was born in Amaru in 1957. Rudecinda has four children, one daughter and three sons. All of her children are adults, and now have their own families. Her husband works as a farmer. Rudecinda attended primary school until the 3rd grade. She speaks Quechua. Rudecinda learned to weave when she was eight years old because all of the other girls in her community were learning to weaving; they did so together in a very systematic way. She and her community peers began learning by making senkapas (traditional long strands, used as wristwraps nowadays, but more traditional used to adorn hats and hair). The senkapa is still Rudecinda favourite textile to weave. Her favourite dye colours are burgundy and charcoal; she tries to put these two colours in all of her textiles.
Pitukiska
Alberto Quispe Quispe
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Alfonsa Mamani Huahuasoncco
Alfonsa Mamani Huahuasoncco is a member of Mayu Ch’aska, Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1991 and has four children. Alfonsa attended school until the 4th grade. She speaks Quechua, and can read a bit, but cannot write. Her grandmother taught her how to weave when she was 12 years old. Her favourite dye colour is light blue and her favourite textile symbol is the pika. Her favourite thing about being part of the weaving association is that she gets to weave with others and share knowledge. Alfonsa weaves in order to sell her textiles and to help her children. She buys yarn and pays for her children’s education with her textile profit. Her husband works in agriculture and as a porter on the Inca Trail. Her dream is to improve her family’s house.
Bonifacia Quispe Mendoza
Bonifacia Quispe Mendoza is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She has six children and a husband who works cultivating potatoes and cutting wood for her household. When Bonifacia was six years old, she developed an interest in weaving as she observed all of her community elders practicing the art. She especially likes to weave chullos (toques), and her favourite symbols to weave are animals and hearts. She was born in Pitukiska and has lived in this community all her life. Bonifacia attended school for one year and only speaks Quechua. Her favourite thing about her weaving association is that she can be with her fellow weavers and that she always learns something new in each meeting.
Florencia Quispe Huahuasoncco
Florencia Quispe Huahuasoncco is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association, Mayu Ch’aska. She was born in 1963 and has four adult children. One of her children works in the Mapacho River Valley, another lives in the city of Arequipa, the third lives in Amparaes, and one still lives in Pitukiska. Florencia does not think that the three children who left the community will return to Pitukiska, other than for short visits. Florencia and her husband were both born in Pitukiska. She never attended school but enjoys sharing the traditional knowledge she holds with other weavers in the association. She does not like the city; instead, she enjoys walking in nature and spinning yarn in her community. The main development that she has noticed in her community since she was young is the addition of a road. Florencia wishes to see the weaving association grow in the future.
Florencio Tapara Illa
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Francisca Tapara Quispe
Francisca Tapara Quispe is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1967 and has nine children, five boys and four girls. Francisca taught all of her children to weave, and they are all currently attending school. Francisca’s husband is a farmer who cultivates potatoes. Francisca learned to weave as a young girl because she was interested in the art. Her favourite things about the weaving association are their gatherings; she loves being able to weave with her colleagues, and appreciates the textile orders that they receive. Her favourite products to weave are chalinas (scarves) and pasadizos (tablerunners). Francisca’s favourite textile symbols are the kajas and mayu (river). Francisca likes that her community is free and rural, and that it is surrounded by mountains.
Gabina Ttupa Arriaga
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Geronima Huahuasoncco Mamani
Geronima Huahuasoncco Mamani is a member of Mayu Ch’aska, Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1973 and has four daughters. Her youngest and oldest daughters were born only five years apart. Geronima was born in Pitukiska, but attended school in the nearby town of Bombom until the third grade (approximately three-hour hike one-way). Her favourite parts about the weaving association are the meetings with Ashli, Mosqoy, and her colleagues. She is also grateful for having the opportunity to weave. Geronima says that she weaves because “here in the community, it’s the only thing we are taught to do.” Geronima was taught by her mother to weave when she was 15 years old. The first thing she learned to weave was the pattern at the bottom of her skirt. Now, Geronima’s favourite product to weave is the chalina (scarf) and the chuspa (traditional bag). Her favourite symbol to weave is the s’akas corazón, or heart symbol. Geronima likes that, in her community, she is “able to live free,” out in the open and away from pollution.
Guadalupe Layme Tapara
Guadalupe Layme Tapara is a member of Mayu Ch’aska, Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in Pitukiska in 1991. Guadalupe has two sons. Guadalupe speaks Quechua, and attended primary school until the sixth grade. An average day for Guadalupe includes making textiles and taking care of her children. Her grandmother taught her to weave when she was 16 years old because it was the tradition of her ancestors. She continues to weave “because it is tradition.” Her favourite textile to create is the pasadizo and she loves to weave animal designs. Her favourite dyes are yanali (which makes mustard yellow) and cochineal (which makes red). Guadalupe uses the profits from her textiles to feed her family and keep her children healthy. Her favourite thing about being part of Mayu Ch’aska is that she can be with her fellow weavers. Guadalupe has noticed a reduction in Pitukiska’s residents over her lifetime. She likes living there because it is free, but she does not like that there very little work to be found other than artisanal work. Gualdalupe wishes for a future where she can have her own store to sell her artisanal work, and hopes to see her children become professionals. Guadalupe wants the world to know that Pitukiska community members want to have a lot of visitors, and love getting to know different people and traditions.
Jacinta Quispe Mendoza
Jacinta Quispe Mendoza is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in Pitukiska in 1947. Jacinta has six children – two daughters and four sons. All of her children now have their own families. Jacinta does not have a husband. She speaks Quechua and never attended school. An average day for Jacinta includes making textiles and taking care of her family. Jacinta’s mother and grandmother taught her to weave when she was 15 years old because it was their tradition to pass onto her. Jacinta continues to weave because she enjoys it. Jacinta like being part of Mayu Ch’aska because she likes to be with her friends. Her favourite textiles to weave are the hat and scarf, and her favourite design is the mayu q’enqo (zig-zag river). She uses the profits from her textiles for food and medical needs. Jacinta remembers that, when she was young, there were only three houses that were built with rock and thatched roofs in Pitukiska. Now there are several, and some have tin roofs.
Juana Quispe Mendoza
Juana Quispe Mendoza is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1957 and has six children. Her oldest child was born when Juana was 10 years old. Now that her children are grown up, she now lives alone with her husband who is a potato farmer in the hills. Although born in Pitukiska, Juana attended school in Bombom until the third grade. She only speaks Quechua. She learned to weave when she was very young, so that she could keep herself warm. Her favourite product to weave is the chullo (toque). She had a serious accident many years ago that damaged her nerves, and says that she does not remember things very well. She is feeling better now that her textiles are being bought by Q’ente, because she is learning how to better sell her weavings and her husband is now not the only one working. Juana’s favourite symbols to weave are the q’ente (hummingbird) and the llama.
Lucia Pilco Huahuasoncco
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Lucia Quispe Mamani
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Martha Illa Rojo
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Maruja Illa Leon
Maruja Illa Leon is the secretary of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1990, and is married with two children. She went to primary school but did not finish it. She speaks Quechua. She can read a bit, but cannot write. Her husband is sick and therefore cannot work, so her weavings are their family’s only income. She spends her textile profit on food. She was able to pay part of the expenses for her husband's medical treatment with income from Mosqoy Peruvian Textiles, while the other part came from their health insurance. She is feeling happier now because she is making more money, and because their church is guiding them, so she feels safer.
Melchor Ttupa Quispe
Melchor Ttupa Quispe is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association, Mayu Ch’aska. He was born in Pitukiska in 1971. Melchor has three children, two sons and one daughter. All of Melchor’s children are currently studying. Melchor’s wife, Narcisa, is also a long-time member of the weaving association. Melchor attended school until the second grade, and speaks both Quechua and Spanish. An average day for Melchor includes working as a porter for the Inca Trail, making textiles, and selling his bracelets at markets in the city. His favourite part of Pitukiska are the beautiful mountains and the natural landscape. Melchor mentions that a challenge he sees in his community is that there is less work for men than for women. “Men can only work in the farm,” he says, “while women have many roles. They can raise sheep, maintain the family, or weave.” Melchor was taught to weave by his mother when he was a little boy. He mentions that, while it is rare for boys to weave, he always liked helping his mom and always loved the textiles, so his mother finally decided to teach him. Melchor’s favourite textile to weave is a bedspread. His favourite designs to weave are the uña de llama (llama's claw) and the mayu q'enqo (river in zig-zag formation). Melchor weaves because it is a tradition that his ancestors passed down to him; he weaves so that he does not lose those memories. Melchor says that he is in the association because: “we work, we weave, we don’t forget.” Melchor hopes that in the future his community will improve the quality of their textiles and their houses, and be able to offer turismo vivencial. Melchor wants the world to know that, even though Pitukiska has a lot to improve upon, it is also has a lot to offer – It has a lot of agricultural terrain, many native plants, and much more.
Moises Quispe Mendoza
Coming soon
Narcisa Quispe Rojo
Narcisa Quispe Rojo is originally from Bombom, where her father is the president of his community’s weaving association. She came to Pitukiska because she met Melchor (also a member of the weaving association), who is now her husband. Narcisa was 18 when she and Melchor first met, but they did not get married until she was 30 years old. She and Melchor first met at the annual Carnaval, which the communities of Bombom and Pitukiska celebrate together. She has lived in Pitukiska since 1997 when they first met; however, they recently moved to Amparaes so that their youngest son, David, would have better access to education. Narcisa dreams that her children will become master weavers (with a father and a husband who are presidents of their respective weaving associations, it's quite likely!), as well as professionals (such as guides, lawyers, or engineers). For herself, Narcisa dreams of selling her textiles in a little shop of her own someday. Because she learned to weave from her grandmother, Narcisa knows many traditional and ancient Inca designs; she estimates that she knows about 40 different patterns.
Valentina Chuy Mendoza
Valentina Chuy Mendoza is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1982 and has three children; one lives in Amparaes, while the other two live in Calca so that they can attend school. Valentina attended school until the third grade and only speaks Quechua. Valentina only lives in Pitukiska when school is not in session, so that she can live with her young children in Amparaes. When her children graduate high-school, she may move back to Pitukiska permanently. Valentina is originally from the community of Wama, near Calca. Valentina met her husband at a bar in the Quebrada, and moved to Pitukiska when they married, since he is from there. Valentina learned to weave when she was six years old and has passed her knowledge onto her children. In her home community of Wama, weaving is very important.
Valentina Quispe Tapara
Valentina Quispe Tapara is a member of Mayu Ch’aska, Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1985 and has one son who now lives in the community of Amparaes to attend school. Valentina was born in Pitukiska and never attended school. Valentina’s daily activities include weaving, walking around the hilltops, and hanging out with her animals. Valentina’s husband works on the farm, cultivating corn and potato. They own about 10 alpacas who live on an adjacent mountain. Her favourite thing about Pitukiska is that it is her home. She would like to see more tourists visit her community in the future. She was first taught to weave by her mother. Her favourite products to create are the shawl and tablerunner. Her favourite weaving symbols are the sakas and pika, and her favourite dye colours are blue and charcoal grey. Valentina does not sell all of her textiles, as she also weaves her own clothes.
Victoria Mamani Leon
Coming soon
Victoria Tapara Quispe
Victoria Tapara Quispe is a member of Pitukiska’s weaving association. She was born in 1980 and is married with six children – four boys and two girls. Victoria never attended school. Her daily activities include spinning while walking, weaving on her backstrap loom, raising guinea pigs, and taking care of her animals. Victoria first learned to weave when she was 10 years old so that she could stay warm and wear clothes. Victoria spends her textile profit on materials to produce more textiles and on food for her family. Victoria states that she weaves because “it’s our economic defense.” Her husband is a farmer who cultivates potatoes. Victoria’s favourite thing to do in Pitukiska is walk with her animals in the mountains while hand-spinning. She loves Mayu Ch’aska because of its meetings and socializing, and because she and the other weavers share each other’s textiles with one another.
PAROBAMBA
Brigida Melo Mamani
Brigida Melo Mamani is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in 1965 and has four children (three girls and one boy). She had her first child at age 14. One of her children is studying to be a tour guide, and another is studying to be a businessperson. Her husband’s name is Senobio Vargas; he works on their family farm and is also an active community spokesperson. Brigida’s mother was from the community of Chaypay and her father was from Loma, but Brigida has lived her whole life in Parobamba. Brigida did not attend school. She speaks Quechua; though she can understand Spanish, she does not speak it. An average day for Brigida includes weaving and caring for her animals. She weaves to earn money to support her children with school. Her favourite symbol to weave is the river (mayu). Her favourite dye colour is light blue. Her favourite flowers are red roses. And her favourite food is alpaca steak! Brigida’s favourite memory from her childhood is being a young girl, naked, wearing only a traditional beaded hat. Her mother taught her how to weave, spin wool, dye yarn, and raise animals. Brigida has now taught her children these same things. Brigida’s favourite thing about Parobamba is that it is free, it’s not a big city, and there are not a lot of cars. In the future, Brigida would like to have her own store to sell her goods.
Celestina Soncco Mamani
Celestina Soncco Mamani is a member of Nueva Esperanza. She was born in Parobamba in 1974. Celestina has five children, one son and four daughters. Her husband works as a farmer. Celestina attended primary school until the fourth grade, and she speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish. A typical day for Celestina usually includes weaving, and taking care of her house and animals. Celestina likes when it rains in Parobamba because this leads to an abundance of plants. Celestina learned to weave when she was 14; her mother taught her because she did not have any clothes otherwise. Her mother always wore traje tipico (traditional dress). Celestina continues to weave because it provides her with an economy, which she uses to help educate her children. Her favourite part about being in the Nueva Esperanza weaving association is that she can weave together with her friends. Celestina’s favourite products to weave are the traditional bags with the pockets woven into the warp. She especially likes to weave animal designs, pikas, and sacas. Celestina notes that her community suffers from disorganization and a lack of unity – they do not always live in harmony, she says. She also mentions that, throughout the years, she has noticed that “where trees once stood, there are now houses in their place.” Celestina wishes for a future where her two little girls graduate from school and can become professionals in the workplace.
Cipriana Chipa Huahuasoncco
Cipriana Chipa Huahuasoncco is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in 1974 and has six children – four girls and two boys. Her sons are mechanics and her daughters are weavers who also attend school. Cipriana and her husband both help raise money to educate their children. Her average day includes cooking and weaving. Cipriana and her parents were all born in Parobamba. Cipriana did not attend school, as her parents wanted her to stay home and take care of the farm. Cipriana only speaks Quechua. Her favourite thing about her community is that she gets to work on her farm, weave, and water the flowers. Her favourite color is orange, her favourite flowers are margaritas, and her favourite food is river trout. She learned to weave at age 10 and continues to weave because she loves to carry on the tradition. She likes to be involved in the weaving association because she has the opportunity to sell her own weavings, and to put her own creativity into her textiles. Before working with Mosqoy’s Q’ente Textile Program, Cipriana was unable to sell any textiles because of the remoteness of her community, but since working with Mosqoy she has been able to buy tools, care for her children, and support her family. In the future, Cipriana wants to continue weaving and to see her kids have a bright future. She hopes that her children can choose who they want to become. When asked if there is anything else she would like to tell the world, she responded: “I want the world to know that my kids exist.”
Dina Aragon Loayza
Dina Aragon Loayza used to be President of the Parobamba Weaving Association. She was born in Parobamba in 1971, is married, and has nine children. Her oldest child was born in 1990 and her youngest in 2015. Dina completed primary school, and speaks both Spanish and Quechua. Her main activity is weaving. Her husband works in agriculture and sometimes sells animals. Every two or three months, he sells an animal for about 800-1000 soles ($310-390 CAD). She says her family does not get sick, so they do not need to go to a doctor; they take care of all of their health needs with herbs that grow around Parobamba. They always have enough to eat, because they own a field and grow their own food. If her husband had a job, he wouldn't be able to take care of the field, so she is content with their current circumstance. Dina learned to weave when she was 20 years old, and was taught by her husband in fear that their weaving culture was being lost. She continues to weave so that she can give her family a better life. Dina likes the Q’ente Textile Program because its representatives come every month to the community and talk to all of the weavers; she also feels that there is a feeling of security. Also, Dina says that Q’ente is the only project that pays for products upfront. When the weavers worked with other organizations and individuals in the past, representatives often only talked to the president, rather than including everyone in the conversation. Dina says she would miss the textile orders that the Q'ente Textile Program makes if Mosqoy did not continue; especially when there is a big order, it is a large part of her family's income, which is spent on electricity and education for her children. She wants all of her children to achieve higher education. She feels much calmer, more respected, and happier because she has a job. Before, she didn't feel like she was respected. Dina wants the world to know that it is important for her to keep traditional weaving culture alive, and she wants people to respect and accept the work.
Feliciana Chino Condori
Feliciana Chino Condori is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in 1975 and has three children, one boy and two girls. Her son works on a farm in Parobamba and her daughters attend school. Feliciana was born in Bombom but moved to Parobamba when she was 23. Her favourite thing about Parobamba is that they are organized and have a municipality. Feliciana attended two years of school in Bombom, but stopped since the town only offers primary-school education. Feliciana now spends her day weaving and working alongside her husband on the farm. Her mother and grandmother taught her to weave at age 14, and she continues to weave to support her family. Feliciana loves being part of the weaving association because she gets to work with other women, which she finds easier than working alone. Her favourite textiles to produce are ponchos, shawls, and tablerunners. She loves the green and blue dye colours, and likes to weave animal print designs the most. Feliciana hopes that in the future she will have enough money so that she doesn't have to work from morning to night, allowing her a quiet life. Feliciana would like to invite more people to visit her community.
Hermenegilda Quispe Mamani
Hermenegilda Quispe Mamani is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in Parobamba in 1979. Hermenegilda has five daughters and a husband. She went to primary school until the second grade, and speaks Quechua as well as a bit of Spanish. Hermenegilda’s average day includes weaving and caring for her children. She weaves so that she can provide for her daughters. She learned to weave when she was 17 years old, as she felt it was an obligation in her culture to make her own clothing. Her favourite textiles to weave are bags and purses, and her favourite dye colour is yellow, produced by the native plant, yanali. Hermenegilda loves the fresh air that exists in Parobamba and appreciates that the products they produce there are natural. Her favourite part about being in the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association is that she gets to meet new people and teach them about the weaving tradition. She she was a little girl, Hermenegilda has noticed a lot of changes in her community, including the introduction of electricity, cellphones, and cars. In the future, Hermenegilda wishes to to sell her goods on her own and that her daughters are able to go to school to become professionals. She also wants the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Centre that they are constructing to have benches for their backs, so that they won't hurt as much, allowing weavers to continue weaving without getting injured. Hermenegilda would like her daughters to get a good education and move to the city when they are older.
Hilaria Quispe Chuquichampi
Hilaria Quispe Chuquichampi is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in 1978 and has three children, two girls and one boy. She had her first child at age 15. Her husband left her, so she is now raising them as a single mother. Hilaria was born in Parobamba and attended the first four years of primary school at the local school. She speaks Quechua and some Spanish. An average day for Hilaria involves cooking, farming, and taking care of her animals – guinea pigs, chickens, sheep, and cows. Her favourite thing about her community is the variety of products it provides, such as potatoes from the highlands, and fruits like papaya and oranges from the rainforest. She says that, even though sometimes her family does not have money, they always have their natural resources. Hilaria hopes that she will have a better home in Parobamba in the future and more opportunities to sell her products. She enjoys her community because they all work together like one big family, and it is very quiet. Hilaria weaves because she has access to it; she learned to weave at age 10 by watching her grandmother weave clothing. Her favourite products to weave are tablerunners, bags, and bedspreads. Her favourite symbol to weave is the pika because it is a very old symbol that has been passed down for generations. Hilaria’s favourite dye colours are red, yellow, and blue.
Jacinta Mamani Ccallo
Jacinta Mamani Ccallo is a member of Nueva Esperanza, one of Parobamba’s weaving associations. She was born in Bombom in 1972. She moved to Parobamba when she was 18 years old because her husband was from there. In her culture, she says, it is an obligation to follow one’s husband. She still calls Bombom her home rather than Parobamba. Jacinta has four children – two sons and two daughters. All of Jacinta’s children study, while her husband works on the farm. Jacinta attended primary school until the fourth grade in Bombom. She speaks Quechua. Her average day usually includes making textiles, and taking care of her animals, kids, and husband. Jacinta’s mother taught her to weave when she was 15 years old. She began weaving her own traje tipico when first learning the skill. Jacinta’s favourite items to weave are the pasadizo and the chalina. Jacinta is a very creative artist, and likes to put new designs in her work. She is very serious about her new innovations and loves inventing new symbols. One of her recent symbols is a depiction of Tupac Amaru! Jacinta uses the profits from her textiles to educate and feed her children. Her hope for the future is that her children study and become professionals. She would like the world to know that there is little work in Parobamba, and that the community would be better off if there was consistently functioning electricity and access to water.
Jeronima Huanca Yupanqui
Jeronima Huanca Yupanqui is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in Parobamba in 1970. Jeronima has three sons and three daughters. Four of her children have their own families now and the other two are in school. Jeronima’s husband passed away many years ago. She speaks both Quechua and a bit of Spanish, and attended grade one. Her average day includes weaving, taking care of her animals, and working on the farm. Jeronima loves that Parobamba produces fruits like avocados and sugar cane, as well as many plants the help create textile dyes. Jeronima learned to weave at age 12 and continues to weave because it is her only source of income as a widow. Her favourite thing about being part of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association is that it brings new people who are happy and positive to Parobamba who may purchase textiles directly, which benefits the local families. Throughout her years living in Parobamba, Jeronima has noticed the number of houses increasing. She is very happy to live where she does and, even though her community lives in the highlands, it has access to different ecologies where they can grow a variety of different fruits and vegetables. She wants Mosqoy to continue into the future and to see all of her fellow weavers’ and her community’s dreams come true.
Juana Quispe Puma
Juana Quispe Puma is a member of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in 1977 and has five children, three boys and two girls. Her husband works as a farmer growing corn and potatoes. Juana was born in Parobamba and attended first grade at the local primary school. She speaks Quechua and understands Spanish but cannot speak it. Her mother and grandmother taught her how to weave when she was 15 years old so that she could make her own clothes. Juana’s favourite thing about the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association is that she gets to interact with happy people and is given the opportunity to sell her textiles. Juana loves to weave all textiles but her favourite symbol is the q’ente (hummingbird). Her favourite dye colours are black and orange. Juana weaves so that she can pay for her children’s education and so that she can buy foods that are not typically offered in Parobamba. She would like the world to know that people in highland communities struggle with not being able to officially own the land or property they occupy. In the future, Juana hopes that more people will learn about traditional Peruvian textile weavings and that she can keep selling her products in an effort to give her children a higher education.
Karina Chipa Mamani
Karina Chipa Melo is the youngest member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in Parobamba in 2003 and has lived there her whole life. She speaks both Quechua and Spanish, and is currently attending high school. She goes to school in the morning and weaves in the afternoon. She thinks that her community of Parobamba is beautiful and she enjoys the weaving tradition there. She learned to weave when she was eight years old, inspired by her mother, Lucia, who was part of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association until she passed away in 2016. Karina joined the association after her mother's death to carry on her memory and to continue the tradition. Karina weaves as a way to make profits and take care of herself, since she no longer has a mother to take care of her. Karina enjoys being part of the supportive community that has formed because of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. Her favourite symbol is the amapola (poppy). In the future, she would like to further her education by attending university. Karina would like the world to know that she is happy where she is, in Parobamba.
Libia Ttupa Chipa
Libia Ttupa Chipa is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in Parobamba in 1968. Libia has six children – three boys and three girls. Libia has never gone to school. She speaks only Quechua. Libia both weaves and works on the farm, since her husband is no longer able to work due to an accident that left him physically disabled. Libia was taught to weave by her grandmother when she was 10 years old. She continues to weave because it is the only way she can make money and pay for her husband's medicine; with the money from her weavings, she can raise her kids while also curing her husband. Libia likes working with the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association because she can weave with her friends and sell textiles. Libia also likes meeting new people, including the visitors who come meet the cooperative; she also likes it when Señorita Ashli comes to visit. Libia’s favourite textiles to weave are the poncho and pasadizo. Her favourite designs are the sacas (waves) and ch’aska (star). Libia’s hopes for the future include her children living in the city as professionals.
Liboria Mamani Mamani
Liboria Mamani Mamani is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in 1970 and is now married. She has seven children. She finished some primary school, and only speaks Quechua. She knows how to read a bit, but does not know how to write. Her main activity is weaving. Her husband is a subsistence farmer. Her husband does not make much money, so her family depends on money from her Q'ente textiles. She likes that, by being part of Nueva Esperanza and learning from the other weavers, she is able to improve the quality of her textiles.
Leonarda Chuquichampi Tapara
Leonarda Chuquichampi Tapara is Vice-President of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in Parobamba in 1972 and has four sons. Her eldest is studying at a university in Cusco when they have enough money, and he works when they do not. Leonarda attended primary school for three years. She speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish. Both Leonarda and her husband are weavers. They also work in agriculture and run a hostel, where tourists stay when they visit Parobamba. Leonarda was taught to weave by her aunt and mother when she was 12 or 13. Leonarda would like to find a way for her textile products to make a better profit, which matched the hard work that she puts into them. She wants the world to understand how much work goes into each weaving and why the cost is so high. Partly because of income from the Q’ente Textile Program, Leonarda’s family recently had enough money for some renovations on their house. She and her husband mutually decide how to spend the money that she earns from her Q’ente textiles. She would like to make sure all of her children have higher education. She does not want her children to have to leave and move to the cities; she hopes they will instead try to make things better from Parobamba. She would like them to have secure jobs and their own houses. Leonarda says that its calmer now within her family than it used to be, as they have more security.
Luciana Quispe Huanca
Luciana Quispe Huanca is a member of Nueva Esperanza. She was born in Parobamba in 1971. Luciana has seven children (three sons and four daughters). All of Luciana’s children live with her and her husband, and help raise sheep. Luciana attended primary school until the second grade, and speaks Quechua. Luciana learned to weave when she was an adult; an association came to the town and taught all of the interested women the skill. She has since taught all of her daughters to weave as well.
Magdalena (Maruja) Quispe Tapara
Magdalena (Maruja) Quispe Tapara is a member of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in 1975 and has three children, one boy and two girls. Magdalena was born in Bombom but moved to Parobamba for her husband’s work. Magdalena did not attend school as she lived too far away to walk to it. She only speaks Quechua. Magdalena learned to weave at 11 years old. Nobody taught her how to do weave; she learned by observation. Magdalena weaves because she has been doing it since she was a little girl, and it's the only way that she can wear warm clothes, especially traje tipico (traditional clothing). Her favourite textile to weave is the pasadizo, and her favourite symbol is the inti (sun god). Magdalena’s favourite dye colours are red, yellow, pink, purple, and black. She is saving to buy land in Cusco with half of the profits she makes with her textiles; she uses the other half to put her kids through school.
Maria Chuquichampi Tapara
Maria Chuquichampi Tapara is a member of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She thinks she was born sometime between the years of 1947 and 1952 in Parobamba. Maria is a widow whose husband died when her daughter was a baby. Her daughter now weaves and takes care of her own family. Maria did not go to school and only speaks Quechua. She remembers as a child having to walk to the community of Amparaes (four hours away by foot) with donkeys and alpacas to get essentials (salt, sugar, coca leaves). She also remembers not working with money, but instead exchanging and bartering with salt, sugar, and matches. She now spends most of her days taking care of her animals and farm, cooking, and weaving. She also takes care of her aging parents, as well as her sister and baby niece, both of whom have special needs. Maria learned to weave as a small child, taught by her mother and grandmother. She wasn't in school, so she needed an activity to do. She continues to weave because she can create beautiful colours and patterns in her clothing. Her favourite product to weave is the traditional shawl. She uses her profits to buy products such as rice, sugar, and salt. She prefers to weave big symbols as she can see them easier, due to her poor eyesight. She faces many challenges, including her many competing tasks, her aging body, and the pains in her arms and shoulders from weaving for so many years. Maria wants the world to know that she desires to “rest in peace,” since her body no longer works as it once did and she is in pain. She is very tired, going blind, and believes she will only have rest once she has passed on. In the Andes, death is simply a part of life, and the next natural step when one is ready; it is the process of stepping into another world.
Maria Magdalena Vargas Ttupa
Maria Magdalena Vargas Ttupa is President of Parobamba’s Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in 1971 and has four children, three girls and one boy. Her youngest daughter has Down’s Syndrome. Her husband is a construction worker and farmer. Maria was born on a mountain near Parobamba, and went to primary school until the second grade. She speaks Quechua and a bit of Spanish. An average day for Maria involves weaving, and taking care of her family and animals. Maria weaves because she doesn't want her family or kids to miss out on things, and because it is the only way to have an economy in her community. Everything else in Parobamba is accessed through ayni, methods of reciprocity or exchange. Her mother and grandmother taught her how to weave when she was 15 years old. Maria enjoys being part of Nueva Esperanza because she is able to weave with her friends and sell her textiles. Maria’s favourite products to weave are the pasadizo and poncho. Her favourite symbols to depict in her textiles are the mountains and chullpas of Parobamba. Maria loves to naturally dye all different colours, but prefers light blue, yellow, and green the most. When Maria was a child, she says there were few houses in Parobamba, but now there are many houses and a road. Also, the rooftops are now made of tin instead of straw. Maria notes that, although there is not enough money or work in her community, there is a lot of competency and skill in weaving. In the future, Maria would like to own an artisanal store where she can sell products, or run a restaurant where she can cook for visitors. As one of her hopes for the future, she hopes that her community works on cleaning up the environment.
Roxana Huahuasoncco Vargas
Roxana Huahuasoncco Vargas is a member of Parobamba’s weaving association. She was born in Parobamba in 1991. Roxana has one son and one daughter. Her oldest child is studying and her husband works as a farmer. Roxana completed primary school and attended the first year of secondary school in Parobamba. She speaks Quechua and some Spanish. Roxana’s average day includes weaving and taking care of her baby. Roxana likes being part of the weaving association because she gets to be with her peers, and makes money to spend on food and her children’s education. Her favourite products to weave are chalinas, ponchos, and pasadizos. Her favourite symbols are animals and mountains. Her favourite dye colours are light blue, yellow, and green. She learned to weave at age 12 because her mother thought it was an important part of their culture to pass on. Roxana is excited for the construction of their weaving center so that she can sell her textiles there. She notices that, compared to when she was a little girl, there are now more cars and stores in Parobamba. She says that “there isn't much work here, and the government doesn't help us improve our work situation or our education. I've been wanting to work on the land for a long time, but the government won't let me own land. In Parobamba, there isn’t good teaching, so my kids will turn out just like me. Instead, I want them to go to school in Calca, so they have a better education and more opportunities.”
Salomé Vargas Ttupa
Salomé Vargas Ttupa is a member of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in 1951 and has six children, four boys and two girls. Salomé was born in Parobamba and attended first grade at the local primary school. She only speaks Quechua. Her mother taught her how to weave when she was very young so that she could keep herself sheltered from the cold. Salomé’s favourite thing about the weaving association is that she gets to have company while weaving. Her favourite textile to weave is the pasadizo (tablerunner) and her favourite textile symbols are the llama’s paw print and pick-axe for cultivating. Salomé loves dyeing her own fibre and enjoys combining different dye colours. Salomé weaves to take care of the health of her family, as well as to offer her children a chance at formal education. Her husband also works as a farmer to support the family. Salomé remembers when she was a kid that only three families lived in Parobamba. All of the houses converted from straw roofs to tin roofs over time. She also recalls that there used to be a lot of forest surrounding Parobamba, but over time the trees have been cut down and replaced by houses.
Yovana Chino Condori
Yovana Chino Condori is a member of the Nueva Esperanza Weaving Association. She was born in 1965 and has four children – three girls and one boy. She had her first child at age 17. Her three daughters are working and have families, and her son is studying. Yovana is a single mother. She was born in Bombom but moved to Parobamba in 1994 to be with her now ex-husband. Yovana did not attend school, since there were no schools close enough to her hometown of Bombom. She only speaks Quechua. Yovana spends her days weaving and enjoys being a member of Nueva Esperanza because she gets to be with her peers. Her favourite textiles to weave are ponchos and pasadizos. Yovana’s favourite symbols are hummingbirds and doves, and her favourite dye colours are light blue and green. She uses the profit from her textiles to buy yarn for future projects and to buy food. Yovana learnt how to weave when she was 12 years old by watching other weavers. Her mother did not know how to weave.