The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco was established in 1996 to aid in preserving and reviving Peruvian Inca textiles. The Center was formed in response to concerns that valuable 2000-year-old textile traditions are in danger of being lost in our generation.

One goal of the Jakima Project is to help ensure the survival of textile traditions to future generations. The Jakima Project was created to engage as many children as possible from communities around Cusco to learn the basic skills of weaving and the designs native to their respective communities. Children first learn how to weave "jakimas" (thin wool ribbons), each time practicing a single design of the community's collection. For hundreds of years, history has shown that mastering these fundamentals has enabled young children to progress to the more intricate patterns and textiles woven by elders.

Nature of EPF support: Visits are coordinated in connection with JOURNEYS' Sacred Valley Exploration in Peru. Grant awarded towards material and logistics costs of the Jakima Project.

For more information or to make a direct contribution contact:

For information contact:
David and Elizabeth VanBuskirkin (U.S.)
406 Mountain's Edge
Charlotte, VT 05445
bvan@zoo.uvm.edu

To make a Contribution, contact
Ed Franquemont, CTTC Treasurer
c/o Cultural Survival
P.O. Box 1378
New Haven, CT 06505
TEL: 802/425-3749
FAX: 802/425-3749

or
Nilda Callaņaupa (Peru)
The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco
e-mail: cttc@terra.com.pe  or      URL: http://www.incas.org