| Huipils
& Traje from Nahuala and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan |
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The
Huipils are often finely brocaded with red geometric and serpent designs.
Many Women like the softening effect when thread colors bleed
and blend with the
material of the Huipil. |
Infants' Huipils and everyday Huipils can have simpler designs. |
| Much
of the agricultural land of the Nahuala people was lost to ladino
plantation owners who turned it into coffee fincas |
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Some
Nahuala people moved to the coast in search of land. I've
been told that these lighter pink Huipils are from a village they settled. |
| Two
Villages |
Nahuala
and Santa Catarina are neighboring villages. Santa Catarina has
better agricultural land along a river valley than Nahuala.
That land has been a source of disputes between the two towns for a number
of year. |
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Most
of people actually live in the countryside rather than the villages.
Corn and beans
remains the most important crops. But the land is poor. |
Many
men must leave to work on fincas or to work "el norte" for
months at a time. |
| Woman's
Group in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan |
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Mayan
Traditions, a fair trade wholesaler, works with weavers from this
woman's group to make many products including doll Huipils. By paying
the woman a fair wage, Maya Tradition helps the women provide additional
income for their families. |
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| My
doll makes many friends |
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One
girl shows her how the threads are warped before weaving |
| The
Village Santa Catarina Ixtahacan |
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People
come into the village to shop and
chat at the small shops found in many of the houses along the street. |
The
village hall of Santa Catarina also has a shop in it. |
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<<<The
village's
Catholic Church
The village's
Evangelic Church >>> |
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| The
village has a community well and school. |
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