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Jolom Mayaetik

Mexico

Jolom Mayaetik is a cooperative of 350 Tsotsil- and Tseltal-speaking indigenous Maya weavers from six different highland communities in Chiapas. It was formed in 1996 in the wake of sharply declining wages, rising costs of living, intensifying economic and political exploitation of the indigenous people, and military occupation. Its focus is economic and political autonomy for indigenous women, and community literacy, education and health. Cooperative organization provides the women members with economic and learning opportunities. Their work of recreating ancient textile designs and natural dyeing methods is preserving and revitalizing a cultural identity imperiled by predatory globalization.

Weaving has persevered in the Maya culture since Pre-columbian times and continues to adorn the garments worn today in Chiapas. Garments differ in design from one community to another, but continue to represent Maya identity and cosmology. The frog and serpent represent the fertile earth, and the diamond is a symbol for the universe where the deities, saints and ancestors dwell along with the Earth Lord who is responsible for the rains that fall to replenish the earth. The designs, fabled to have originated in dreams are woven on a back-strap loom by a complex process called brocade.

The weaver starts with raw wool or cotton that must be washed, combed and spun. She first stretches the long (warp) threads along a warping board to the desired length and attaches them firmly to her loom. Then she begins the complex process of weaving. To brocade, colored yarns are woven into the cloth to create the designs as the cloth itself is being woven. This differs from embroidery where the colored threads are stitched into a completed garment.

Creations

World of Good sources lavender dream pillows from Jolom through Earth Bound, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to assist indigenous organizations meet their objectives of micro-enterprise development and resource management.