The Methods and Messages of Traditional Mayan Textiles
Over the course of 500 years, the Mayan people have struggled to maintain their cultural and traditional practices in an increasingly Westernizing world, however, despite all odds, the Mayan people are thriving today with a deep faith and initiative to revive their cultural and traditional practices! With the colonialization of Guatemala by Spain, and the involvement of the U.S. government and corporations that has led to warfare and to the dwindling number of traditional practices of indigenous peoples, it seemed that the only form of expression and resilience would be left in the hands of the weavers and artisans. Often times, the individual will have to choose economics over culture out of sheer survival. However, the women and men of these communities have indeed gone far in order to preserve their diverse and unique ways of life, and as cultural and eco-tourism grows, there seems to be emerging the perfect niche for these fabrics and d...