"In Honor of Maya Women of Chiapas" Greeting Card Set

 

16 note cards, 2 each of 8 line drawings with text by Christine Engla Eber

 

The drawings and words on these cards celebrate the work of Maya women from highland Chiapas, Mexico. Whether as weavers, farmers, shamans, vendors, bakers, mothers, or household managers, Maya women work from within traditional roles to apply time-honored skills and wisdom to new and difficult economic and political conditions. I drew all but the sketch of the bakery cooperative while cunducting anthropological fieldwork in San Pedro Chenalhó in 1987. During this time I admired women's grassroots economic initiatives, such as weaving cooperatives, but I did not anticipate the important role that these groups would play a decade later in responding to the economic crisis in constructing democracy in Chenalhó. Since the Zapatista uprising women have taken advantage of openings that the uprising created to intensify their cooperative efforts and to assume leadership roles in the political affairs of their communities. Even in the face of threats to their lives and after the massacre at Acteal, Chenalhó on December 22, 1997, women stay united around their work for their households and communities.

 

As you send these cards to family and friends, we hope that you will feel strengthened by the model Maya women give of persevering in the face of adversity. When the women of Chenalhó, Chiapas speak of their struggle to bring peace and justice to their communities they say in Tzotzil,

 

"Ta jpastik sk'op ta sventa sunul México xiuck sunul banamil."

"We are struggling to bring justice to Mexico and the world."

 

Drawings in this packet include:

 

A woman making tortillas	A woman weaving
A woman resting with her baby	Women kneading dough in the bakery co-op
A woman spinning	A woman gathering herbs
A portrait of a young woman	A portrait of a woman and her child

 

Proceeds from the sale of these cards help defray expenses of Las Cruces-Chiapas Connection, a group of volunteers assisting weaving cooperatives of Chiapas, Mexico to sell their products through fair trade.

 

If you would like to pay by check, please mail us your name, email, mailing address, the amount of packets of notecards you would like to purchase, and a check made out to "Sophia's Circle" to 455 W. Ethel Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005.

Shipping is $4.80 for 1-4 packets of notecards and $9.80 for 5-12 packets.

 

Purchases of over 12 packets of cards will receive a wholesale discount. Please contact us if you would like to purchase wholesale.

 

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