As part of our ‘Meet Our Indigenous Wayúu Artisans’ series, which introduces our indigenous Wayúu artisans to you in a more up-close-and-personal way, it is our pleasure to share Cecilia’s story with you. Cecilia is one of the most important Wayúu community leaders of the Guajira region and is working hard to revive traditional weaving techniques.
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MEET CECILIA
Artisan Coordinator and Community Leader
My name is Cecilia and I’m the leader of the Iwouyaa community. My role is to care not only for my community but my tribe and share the knowledge that my mother has passed down to me.
I’m especially passionate about reviving the traditional style of weaving that many of our Wayúu indigenous artisans no longer practice and hope to start a museum containing all crochet styles from the past and present.
I come from a line of respected weavers. As a matter of fact, my mother had the longest ‘encierro’ in all Wayuu history.
She spent 7 years in confinement, during which she learned the most traditional and intricate weaving patterns.
As a result of her extended period of ‘encierro’, she was one of the most respected Wayúu weavers in the whole Guajira region. It is her knowledge that has guided me in my work with Lombia today as an artisan coordinator.
I am also the proud founder of one of the largest schools in our area. We started in my mother’s house with only two classrooms and now we have 24 classrooms, a gymnasium and a park for the children.
Many of these children come from families who cannot even afford one proper meal a day.
As a result, we also make sure all our students get daily lunch and a snack.
It makes me glow with pride to see that many of these children have gone on to graduate and are now successful working professionals. My goal for this year is to continue supporting the children of our school and revive the art of my culture.