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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
P.O. Box 3298
Taos, NM 87571
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.


Don't Forget to Make Your Valentines Days Fair Trade. Purchase Fair Trade Chocolate or ask for it at your local grocery/confectioner. If you can't find any locally, buy some on line from one of our Fair Trade Partners:


Sustaining Cultures is part of

Look for Sustaining Cultures 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.


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.



Sustaining Cultures invites you to support fair trade and become eligible to win $250 in fair trade cultural art or merchandise by registering for the drawing sponsored by Partners In Fair Trade

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.

Huichol art is a fascinating blend of modern history, rich cultural traditions, and beliefs of an indigenous people. Their artwork takes several forms and shapes; one uses brightly colored yarns to embedded in beeswax to create strikingly colorful, intricate and beautiful picture of their cultural and shamanic traditions. Another form is animal figures and masks carved from wood and covered with beeswax in which small glass beads are embedded to create colorful representations of Huichol culture. Colorful woven beaded jewelry presents the talent of the Huichol in a wearable form.

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.

HOME | ABOUT | FAIR TRADE CULTURAL PRODUCTS | LINKS | CONTACT