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"Visiones
Femenina / Feminine Vision"
by Mayan Photographers |
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LIFE OF THE INDIGENOUS WOMAN IN CHIAPAS
It is difficult to speak of the indigenous woman
in a few words because her life is very extensive and
full of experiences. On waking her work includes: heating
water for her husband to wash his hands, making coffee,
spinning wool and weaving, feeding her children. Many
women carry out men's work: carrying firewood, tilling
the soil, harvesting and carrying corn, planting vegetables
such as squash, potatoes, yucca, sweet potatoes and
cabbage. In some parts of Chiapas women work as shepherds.
These photographs represent more the life of the
indigenous woman in the country, but it should be mentioned
that many indigenous women live in the city, hoping
to do better. These women's customs and work are different.
Their activities are not the same as they were in the
country.
It is a pleasure for us to represent through photographs
the life of the indigenous and peasant woman in Chiapas.
Refugia
Guzmán Pérez
Etnia Ch'ol
Maruch
Sántiz Gómez
Etnia Tzotzil |
VIDA
DE LA MUJER INDIGENA EN CHIAPAS
Hablando
de ella, no se puede decir en tan pocas palabras,
ya que su vida es tan amplia y llena de experiencias.
Al amanecer los trabajos de ella son: calentar agua
para lavar las manos del esposo, hacer café,
cardar, hilar de lana y tejer, alimentar a sus hijos.
Muchas de las mujeres realizan trabajo de los hombres:
cargar leña, labrar la tierra, cosechar y cargar
el maíz, siembra de muchas verduras como calabaza,
papas, yuca, camote y repollo. En unas zonas de Chiapas
las mujeres realizan el trabajo de pastoras.
En
estas fotos se representan más a la mujer
indígena del campo, pero cabe mencionar que
en la ciudad hay indígenas viviendo, con un
deseo de superaci&0acute;n. Sus costumbres y trabajos
ya son diferentes. La actividad de la mujer no es la
misma, como lo hacía en el campo.
Es
un placer para nosotras representar a través
de fotografías la vida de la mujer indígena
y campesina en Chiapas.
Refugia
Guzmán Pérez
Etnia Ch'ol
Maruch
Sántiz Gómez
Etnia Tzotzil |
About
The Chiapas Photography Project & the Indigenous Photography
Archive
I initiated the Chiapas Photography Project as an educational
program in 1992. My intention was, and remains, to offer
indigenous people access to the tools and materials of
photography and to encourage the use of photography for
their own purposes. With generous support from the Ford
Foundation, the project has expanded to include the creation
of the Indigenous Photography Archive where Refugia and
Maruch are staff members. For this exhibit they have
selected photographs made by the indigenous men and women
of the five Maya ethnic groups with whom the Archive
is presently working and have assisted the photographers
in writing their titles.
I am grateful that l can serve as a bridge between
their world and yours.
Carlota Duarte, Director, Indigenous Photography Archive
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, October 1998
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