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Artisan Association "Ñimi Kafe Pu Domo"

Cultural Weavers

In the structure of the traditional Mapuche family, the women have a very important role in the continuation of the family, the transmission of culture and in generating additional income. The use of ancestral weaving techniques has granted the Mapuche women the dignity and importance they deserve, permitting them to preserve their culture and bring to their family additional income.

In order to help better the quality of life of weavers in the region, the Chol Chol Foundation focuses its efforts on the Asociación Indígena Ñimi Kafe Pu Domo, a group of close to 600 textile producers and agriculturalists from 38 community groups distributed among six counties in the region. The FCC has existed since 1971, but since 1994 it has focused primarily on women as the means of socio-economic development for the family. The FCC has provided training and integral support for these matriarchs, especially through the Mapuche Textile program.

Ñimi Kafe Pu Domo is a phrase in mapudungun, the Mapuche language, that means "women that weave with designs." The name highlights the recuperation of the ancestral symbols and weaving techniques that these women from the coast of Araucania have achieved.

According to the Chilean National Census of 2003, and to the Evaluation of the Impact of the FCC conducted by the Fundación Andes in 2003, the majority of the women in this association are indigenous Mapuches; on average they are 40 years of age, and generally are matriarchs of two-parent nuclear families of approximately five people in total. A large portion of them are illiterate, while those who are literate have received an average of three years of basic schooling.

The women and their families live in rural areas, where the poverty of the region is concentrated. The majority of the families live below the poverty line. They practice subsistence farming in small plots of land that average about 3 hectares in size, and have an average monthly income of approximately $100 USD. The women's main activities are domestic labors, caring for children, and cultivation of small gardens. With their additional work as weavers, they bring in, on average, 28% of the family income.

During the 1990s, the FCC and the Association of weavers have been dedicated to the improvement and reinforcement of the textile production process, and to the commercialization of these weaving following the criteria of Fair Trade. These efforts have contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of these women, and have helped to guarantee them a stable income based on an activity that strengthens the traditional rural way of life and the Mapuche culture.

The production of traditional Mapuche textiles is an important and growing activity both in the Araucania region and in the south of Chile in general. The FCC has successfully provided support to the weavers with which it is associated through its system of Fair Trade and has, in conjunction with these women, created and maintained a demand for these products both in the local and national markets. However, in the international environment, particularly in the European market, experience has also demonstrated the need to create innovative products that satisfy the specific requirements of the Fair Trade market there.

High standards of quality and the use of ancestral techniques in the creation of these weavings (hand-spun, dyed naturally, woven on the traditional loom) have been important factors in achieving recognition and esteem for Mapuche textiles, making it possible to confront new challenges facing these women and their communities.

The Asociación Indígena Ñimi Kafe Pu was designated as an Asociación Indígena (Indigenous Association) on May 6th, 2002, as proscribed by the Indigenous Law 19.253 and Law 19.418, covering neighborhood meetings and community organizations. The Association's principal objective is to serve as a nexus between the FCC and the artisans it represents, striving to achieve better results in the creation and commercialization of Mapuche textiles.

The Directory of the Association is chosen every 2 years. The current Directory is composed of the following women:

• President: Juana Antivil Calfucura
• Vice-president: Marta Huitrañan Aillapan
• Secretary: Gladis Bizarro Collio
• Treasurer: Zenobia Currivil Nahuel
• Director: Dominga Antiqueo Chaña
• Director: Magdalena Sandoval Suazo

In a monthly meeting, the representatives of the Association and the professional team from the FCC in charge of Textile Development and Commercialization agree on the type and amount of work available and the prices, and conduct other diverse commercial activities.