Salasaka Tapestries - Rudy Masaquiza

Rudy Masaquiza states that "the main economic activities are agriculture, livestock-raising and handcrafts, which they begin learning from a very early age".

Salasaka people made exquisite tapestries, which are woven by hand on looms of very ancient technology. Many of the designs depict different aspects of their lives. They also weave ponchos, sweaters, bags, hats and other articles.

The art crafts displayed are products made by Salasakas and Indigenous peoples, in order to spread our culture, increase appreciation of it, and improve living conditions.

By: Mirian Masaquiza

Salasaka Tapestries - Zamora

ZAMORA

Our older brothers - Animals - are our teachers and our source of life, all of them are very important in our spiritual life. Nowadays people are just rediscovering the healing powers of dogs, cats, frogs and others. The ancient cultures have been in connection with God through Gods creation...Pachamama - Mother Earth - and all living creatures in it. Also, Zamora represents various native animals that help to the agricultural process.

Salasaka Tapestries - Paisaje Andino

PAISAJE ANDINO

It represents classical small towns in Ecuador, as it is around the Tungurahua province the volcano could be Tungurahua or Chimborazo.

Salasaka Tapestries - Gaviota

GAVIOTA

This tapestry is called Gaviota meaning gaviotas and shows the stylized representation of gaviotas standing in pairs facing each other.

This design shows the more stylized geometric side of Salasaka tapestry weaving. Designs of this type tend to be richer in geometry & symmetry and less rich in allegorical meaning.

Salasaka Tapestries - Inka Danza

INKA DANZA

It is called Inka Dancer, it represents the dancers that dressed in full festival regalia for various ceremonies that occur throughout the year. The Inkas are viewed themselves as descendants of the Sun.

Salasaka Tapestries - Traditional Dancer / Danzante

TRADITIONAL DANCER - DANZANTE

Salasaka people celebrate in June the harvest festival "Sun Festival" (Inti Raymi) that is celebrated in all Kichwa communities of the Sierra. However, in the Salasaca festival circuit, one individual of particular importance is the Alcalde or Varayuc, who carries a wand representing power and authority within the community. The Salasaka “Danzante” is dressed for the major Sun Festival (Corpus Christie) which occurs near the end of June.

Salasaka Tapestries - Chismosa

CHISMOSA

This tapestry is a popular one in the Salasaca design vocabulary. It is commonly referred to as "Chismosas" meaning "Women sitting around making jokes."

Much of the large amount of daily work the Salasaca woman is responsible for is done in the company of other women. This makes the work and time pass faster and provides many of the information linkage points which define the community as an integral whole.

The women (or "Warmikuna" in Salasaca) are dressed in traditional Salasaca costume and are seated next to a series of "barros" or water containers. The mountain depicted in the tapestry is the Tungurahua volcano “mama Tungurahua” which is the very active volcano that daily spews out stones, ash and looms over the Salasaca horizon.

The World of the Kichwa Salasakas

Salasaka is home to one of Ecuador’s most vibrant indigenous cultures. The Salasakas are a Kichwa-speaking mitimae group, who arrived from Bolivia during the Inca conquest.

The 21 communities of the kichwa Salasaca people are located in the Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, 13 Km. midway on the road from Ambato to Baños. They are approximately 12 thousand inhabitants and their territory measures approximately 14 km2. Salasaca people’ main demand is to be respected: that indigenous people are treated and considered as any other human being, with rights equal to those of any other individual, while, at the same time, respecting our cultural diversity.

Art
The Salasakas work principally in agriculture and handicrafts, which begin learning these activities at a very young age. One identifiable culture characteristic of the Salasakas is their tapestries of the designs and motifs hand-woven on looms. Many of the tapestry designs narrate aspects of their lives.

In the Salasaka’s Plaza del Arte located in the center, especially Sundays you can fin tapestries, ponchos, sweaters, woven bags, sashes, hats and other items hand-made by Salasacas as well as products from Peru and Bolivia.

Music
Another notable Salasaka activity is their music played traditionally on the flute and drum producing a melody reflecting the symbolic world of the Salasakas. Over the centuries the Salasakas have incorporated other sounds that complement traditional melodies, which today have allowed them to travel to foreign countries with their music, artwork an message of the Kichwa world.

Festivals
Salasaka people celebrate in June the harvest festival Inti Raymi that is celebrated in all Kichwa communities of the Sierra. However, in the Salasaka festival circuit, one individual of particular importance is the Alcalde or Varayuc, who carries a wand representing power and authority within the community.
The following is a listing of traditional Salasaca festivals:

January 1: Handing over of the wand to new Varayuc
February: Carnaval
February (2nd Tuesday): Caporales
April (end of month): Kuasimodo
June (2nd week): Inti Raymi (Corpus Christi)
June (3rd week): Octava Grande
August 15: Pendoneros
November 2-3: Day of the Dead
December 5-7: Capitanes

During Day of the Dead celebration Salasaca host the Andean music and dance festival TZAWAR MISHKI, which gather to all the indigenous peoples and nationalities of Ecuador.

By: Mirian Masaquiza