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Sustaining
Cultures is a tax exempt non-profit organization based in Taos,
New Mexico. Learn more about our goals to increase awareness
and contribute to the persistence of unique cultures around the
world with a particular focus on the cultures of indigenous peoples
in North, Central, and South America through this website or
contact us.
Sustaining Cultures
121 B North Plaza
Taos, NM 87571
Mailing Address:
1329 Maestas Rd. Taos, NM 87571
575-737-9496 | 575-613-3490
info@sustainingcultures.org
The
Town of Taos has earned designation as a Fair Trade Town. Town Council Members passed
a resolution and enacted guidelines to prepare for the coveted
designation. Taos is the first Fair Trade Town in New Mexico,
the first in the Western United States, and the fifth nationally.
Our
Fair Trade Partners
Fair Trade - What's
it all about?
Learn here about the many
dimensions of Fair Trade including the certifying organizations,
the Fair Trade Towns concept, and the many resources available
regarding Fair Trade.
MEMBER OF
Sustaining Cultures
also Supports:
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MAY 2012
| For 2012, World
Fair Trade Day will be on May 12, and events in N. America will
take place during May 6-20. |
Look for
Sustaining Cultures in the Old County Courthouse Mercado on the
North Side of the Plaza in Taos (121 B North Plaza) and at the
Santa Fe
/ Tesuque Pueblo, New Mexico Flea Market
Location:
US 84/285
(about 8 miles north of Santa Fe)
Phone: 505/670-2599, 505/231-8536
Find information about Fair Trade and Cultural Art, including
ceramics, textiles, and Huichol art at our booth.
SUSTAINING CULTURES
FAIR TRADE
CULTURAL PRODUCTS
NICARAGUAN AND PERUVIAN POTTERY
 Pottery-making has been a part of the
culture since pre-Columbian times. Traditionally, it was the
role of women in a community to hand build utilitarian pottery
pieces for storing water and use in cooking. Today several of
the groups that we work with are small womens' cooperatives that
have modified these designs and incorporated modern techniques
to reach a larger market.
LA CHAMBA COOKWARE
La Chamba Cookware
is made from black micacious clay found only in central Colombia.
Archeologists believe that this region in Colombia is home to
the oldest pottery found in the Americas.
VIDA NUEVA (Weavings)
 Vida
Nueva is a cooperative
of Zapotecan women from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Zapotecans
are one of the two largest groups of indigenous peoples in Oaxaca
which has the largest indigenous population in Mexico. Sustaining
Cultures works directly with this cooperative helping to support
their efforts by marketing their weavings and promoting their
endeavors in the U.S.
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2nd Annual Fair Trade
"Shop Hop"
October Fair Trade Month Event in Taos
Town of Taos Reaffirms
Commitment to Fair Trade
During Fair Trade Month in October,
the Taos Town Council reaffirmed its commitment to being the
only Fair Trade Town in New Mexico. Mayor Darren Cordova presented
Taos Fair Trade Committee Chair Katie Thomas with a proclamation
expressing the Town's commitiment.
'Fair Trade Month in Taos' Proclamation
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SUSTAINING CULTURES
FAIR TRADE
CULTURAL PRODUCTS
LA YURATA (Huichol Art)
The Yw’rata,
or Yurata, is a Huichol community that is in the state of Nayarit.
The name Yurata means: that which is growing little by little.
(more)
ECO-ALEBRIJES
CARVED FIGURES
The artisan cooperative
Eco-Alebrijes was formed in 2004. It now consists of 18 families
from the community of Arrazola just out side of Oaxaca city in
southern Mexico and near Monte Alban, a United Nations World
Heritage archaeological site. The families number 117 people
including children and adults. The cooperative is unique in that
they use only sustainably harvested copal wood for their work.
There has been much over exploitation of copal trees for firewood
and carving. In order to obtain sustainably harvested copal the
cooperative travels over 40 miles from there community 4 times
per year and pays 20% more for their copal. In addition to the
sustainability element, the cooperative also does copal reforestation
work-particularly on the slopes of Monte Alban near their community.
The alebrije figures
are carved from green copal, then carefully dried in the sun,
and eventually sanded, before being painted with acrylics. Most
carving is done by men and most painting is done by women. Each
piece has the names of the artisans written on the bottom. This
art form originated in Mexico city about 70 years ago using paper
mache and has been perfected into copal carving in Oaxaca since
then.
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