Conservation International is working with the National Park Authorities (Sernanp), the Head of the El Sira Communal Reserve, and its co-management partner ECOSIRA to strengthen the growth of this productive initiative from the Atahualpa de Tabacoa Native Community. Learn more about this story.
© Conservación Internacional/Dalva Tello
"Wexa Beka is the ancient name of one of our Shipibo ancestors, she is a grandmother, she is our teacher, we made this organization in her name, to remember her," says Luisa Marques Pino, who is the founder and current president of this association from the Atahualpa de Tabacoa Native Community, adjacent to the El Sira Communal Reserve, in the Ucayali region. The community is
The Association of Indigenous Women Producers "Wexa Beka" was born in 2019 with the purpose of congregating female artisans and develop their artistic and commercial skills as a collective. "At the moment there are 12 and 19 craftswomen participating," adds Luisa Marques. The organization produces different types of products, from pencil cases, wallets, bags, cushion covers to larger objects such as laptop holders, large decorative fabrics or jewelry (necklaces, earrings, among others).
According to Luisa Marques, the pieces they produce follow the Shipibo-Konibo aesthetic design known as "kené", which is the harmonious set of squared lines with patterns characteristic of the indigenous ethnic group. Luis explains that there are three ancestral principles in kené: "Tayan kene, Shao kene and Maya kene". This knowledge is strictly related to the upbringing of children. Luisa learned the art of kene from her mother and she in turn, from hers.
© Conservación Internacional/Dalva Tello
Luisa further explains that kené is an art for patient people. First, the artisans bring a special bark from the farm, 20 minutes away from their homes. They cook it and from that boiled juice they obtain different dyes. "Then we leave them to dry under the sun, and we repeat the boling and drying process a second, third and fourth time. Then we can use the cooked dyes. It takes 15 days on average to prepare the different dyes. After that, we can start drawing. The weaving takes from one month to less, depending on the experience of the artisan," says Marques.
"The designs are unique and can be tailored by request," explains the president of the Wexa Beka organization, which in only two years, even during the COVID quarantine period, has been able to achieve, as an indigenous productive organization, its inclusion in the "Aliado por la Conservación" or “Ally of Conservation”- brand promoted by the Peruvian Park Authorities, and obtain public funds to strengthen its association.
The history of WEXA BEKA
It all began in 2019. With the signing of the conservation agreement between the Atahualpa de Tabacoa community, to which the artisans of WEXA BEKA belong; the Park Authorities; and the non-profit organization, ECOSIRA (Executor of the Administration Contract of the El Sira Communal Reserve), which in co-management with the head of El Sira promotes the conservation of this protected area, and sustainable use of its resources.
According to Diego Saavedra, a specialist from Sernanp Ucayali, the conservation contract demands several responsibilities from the different signatories. For example, the communities commit to not deforest and to take care of the forest, in addition to participating in control and surveillance committees; ECOSIRA commits to providing technical advise to the communities as well as legal representation, and work alongside the Park Authorities to strengthening local economic activities, such as those of WEXA BEKA.
Among the benefits that the conservation agreement has brought to the Shipiba producers' association are; their integration into the National Registry of Artisans; funds for two training workshops to increase the added value of the handicrafts, channeled through ECOSIRA; funding for their physical stand, or point of sales within their community.
Triumphs and challenges
The efforts are bearing fruit. This year, the Association of Indigenous Producers "WEXA BEKA" was selected, among more than 120 organizations nationwide, as one of the 32 winning projects of the "Local Community Support 2022" fund. In addition, the association was present at the last EXPOAMAZONICA 2022 convention, held in the city of Chachapoyas, where Conservation International Peru supported the dissemination of their handicrafts.
Yet, WEXA BEKA knows that they need to enter the digital and international market. The lack of access to Internet and telecommunications affects their supply of handicrafts and reduces their sales capacity when compared to local and national competition.
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