With the support of ArtsWestchester, the Sapiyay Collective and Wichana Foundation are proud to announce a new community arts program – Weaving Indigenous Futures: Learning in action with the Ecuadorian Kichwa Community – hosted at local libraries in Westchester, New York. We will host two series of artist-led workshops that engage participants in Andean oral and textile traditions as a medium for cultivating cultural, ecological, and social consciousness. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are invited to join us at no cost. This program will culminate in a final cultural showcase and celebration – the Local Indigenous Futures Festival set to take place in April, 2026.

Westchester County is home to an estimated 17,000 Ecuadorians and a rapidly growing Indigenous Kichwa diaspora. Quechua is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in the Americas. Kichwa refers to the Indigenous communities in the Andes and Amazonian regions of Ecuador and the dialects spoken therein.

Our program aspires to offer Westchester residents an alternative vision of the future - one in which Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant neighbors are not simple victims of this current administration, but in fact, we are empowered protagonists of social change. Creating sustainable spaces of intergenerational, cultural transmission not only ensures local youth maintain connections to their heritage, but also demonstrates the modern-day value of Indigenous resilience to the general public.

ArtsWestchester has launched its annual Challenge Grant season with the Art$W Challenge. We have the opportunity to receive a $1,500 match for any new or increased donations if received before the funds are exhausted. Please donate as soon as possible to maximize your impact. If we reach our goal, we can meet our current funding gap and make this program a success!

The first series of workshops on Andean Philosophy and Kichwa Poetry begins on October 5th at the Greenburgh Public Library. Please join us in this campaign to bring living, Indigenous traditions to local communities in Westchester!