Kenosis Spirit Keepers

Kenosis Spirit Keepers is opening this Go Fund Me campaign on behalf of The Association of Q'ero Weavers Inka Design (Asociación de Tejidores Inka Pallay) in order that two of their members ⏤ Remigia Salas Chura and Matilde Machacca ⏤ may travel from Cusco, Peru and represent them at the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Sante Fe, New Mexico to be held July 11-14, 2024.

Kenosis Spirit Keepers sponsored the Weavers in 2017 and covered all costs. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to do so for 2024. The Weavers are relying on the generosity of donors.

Current status: On their own initiative, the Weavers applied to participate in the July 2024 IFAM and sell their weavings. This market is only open to international artisans and highly competitive. Typically, hundreds apply while less than 170 are accepted. The Weavers were accepted for a second time in November 2023 for their high quality, unique weavings. It is necessary to send two representatives. Remigia, a master weaver, will be demonstrating. Matilde, also a weaver, speaks both Spanish and English and will serve as translator.

We are raising funds to cover their flights from Cusco, hotel in Santa Fe, meals not provided by IFAM, booth costs and supplies, and product shipping costs to Santa Fe.

We estimate $5500 will cover their costs.

Please note: Kenosis Spirit Keeper is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit. We take no percentage from any project donations. All monies from GFM will be forwarded to the Weavers for their IFAM expenses.

About the Association: The Association of Qero Weavers Inka Design (Asociación de Tejidores Inka Pallay) cooperative is the first of its kind, to their knowledge, within Q'ero. They began to offer their weavings for sale seeking income for their families and community. They have little opportunity to sell their weavings except to the occasional visitor to the villages or on the street of Cusco to tourists. Tourism has been way down since the pandemic.

This cooperative was formally established July 4, 2017 so that Hatun Q’ero weavers would learn from each other and outside resources in the ways of natural dyeing and best practices to produce high quality items and increase their availability to larger markets. Attending IFAM is significantly important so their traditional weavings have a wider reach. They now number 22 female and male members.

About the Q'eros: The Hatun Q'eros of the Q'ero Nation are known as the Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge and call themselves the children of Inkari, the first Inka. They are widely accepted by anthropologists to be direct descendants of the Inka. They live in isolation at 14,000-15,000 feet in the Andes, as they have for hundreds of years after the conquistadors came, preserving their ancient mystical traditions. They are one of the most untouched by Western culture of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. The lands of the Q'ero have been declared a cultural heritage site by UNESCO. About 2000 Q'eros live spread through small villages on the mountains commonly known as Q'ero, often enduring extreme weather conditions. They exist as subsistence farmers ⏤ their fields some distance below ⏤ living in stone huts with dirt floors, no electricity or running water. Their main diet is potatoes. All families have alpaca and sheep herds and live engaged with the natural world, which they consider sacred. Some Q'ero have migrated to Cusco and environs hoping for a better life.

Weaving is integral to Q'ero life. Passed down through generations since Inka times, they make their clothing, ceremonial and other functional items. Their process starts with shearing their own alpaca and sheep, carding the wool through natural dyeing and weaving with traditional Inka symbols.

Donations: Your gracious donation is recognized as a charitable contribution by the State of Arizona, and by the U.S, Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3). The Kenosis Spirit Keepers, Inc. Federal Identification Number is 71-1038685. (No goods or services were given in exchange for this gift.)

Thank you for your support. For more information on our support of Q'eros, visit: www.kenosisspiritkeepers.org.

Admins:

Carla Woody, Founding President

Oakley Gordon, Vice-President