The municipality of San Juan Cotzal is
found in the department of El Quiche, in
the northeast of Guatemala. It forms part
of the “Ixil Triangle,” along with Nebaj
and Chajul, whose habitants speak IXIL.
It is found nestled in the Cuchumatanes
Mountain Range, very close to several
impressive waterfalls.
Despite having a fertile land for agricultural
production, many of Cotzal’s inhabitants
suffer from hard living conditions.
Land tenure issues were aggravated
during the armed conflict, which had an
especially cruel effect on the Ixil Triangle.
The violence reached its peak between
1979 and 1983. The land of many people
was repossessed, and they found
themselves forced to work in coffee and
sugar plantations. Additionally, those
horrible years left more than 1000 victims
in Cotzal, chiefly men who were tortured,
disappeared and massacred.
In order to try to rebuild the shattered
economy of many families and, especially,
of the widowed and orphaned women,
an initiative has been taken by a group of
women weavers from Cotzal.
This group of weavers was founded in
1986. At that time there were 5 women
that, with a founding cooperative, were
dedicated to the production of weaving
with back-strap looms. They began to
work in order to try to free themselves
from social, political and economic destitution.
They decided to create and sell
various colorful textile products in the
market. Additionally, they wanted to
offer other women the
possibility of uniting
as a group, in such a
way that other widows
could find a medium
of sustainability. After
several years, the
group increased its
number of members
to 15 people, and
today it has reached
43 weavers, all united
in a common destiny.
Each weaver produces
he r tr adi t ion a l
artisanal Ixil textiles
in her own house,
but the project has a
headquarters to conduct the group and
training activities. The cooperative pays
for the women’s weavings the moment
that they deliver them, without waiting
for sales, and also supplies them with the
best quality thread, thanks to a common
fund. The cooperative also offers them
assistance with their healthcare if there
is a serious problem.
The cooperative markets the women’s
weaving both nationally and internationally.
Their work can be found in stores
that have the same principles of quality
and interdependent trade, such as
Chikach in Guatemala City, Sueño de Café
in Antigua, Al Natur and Café RED in Xela.
With the additional goal of increasing the
sales of the weavings, tourism services
are offered, all community-based and
sustainable. The part of the earnings
that remains with the cooperative is
used for common benefit; for example,
to organize workshops and training for
the women and girls.
The women dream of having the power
to strengthen their activities and develop
other new ones, like a tree growing
towards the sky. The women form
the “roots” of the tree and their textile
production is the “trunk”. From this
point, their plans can grow and “branch”
off. The women dream of acquiring their
own property and building, where they
can host a school to conduct training
activities and to teach the young girls
their traditions, a store combined with
a gallery to exhibit their work, and a
restaurant-café where they can serve
typical food to visitors. With sufficient
rain and sun, and with the support of
the Derossi Foundation, these dreams
can come true. First, a building with
traditional construction; then, a second
structure with a kitchen and restaurant
with a roof and walls. The cooperative
is waiting for help to make this dream a
reality.
Website: www.tejidoscotzal.org
email: tejidoscotzal@gmail.org
telephone: (502) 46.21.97.25
