AWAC ÑUSTAS

About Us

Awaq Ñustas: (Weaving Princesses) Guardians of Andean Art and Tradition

We are the Awaq Ñustas, an association of Indigenous artisan women from the Q’eros Quico Nation—the last living Inca community—and the Ausangate community. Our art is diverse, reflecting the richness of our roots and the deep connection to our sacred land.

Each of us holds a unique talent: from ancestral weaving with natural alpaca fibers and plant-based dyes, to the creation of handcrafted pieces that tell our story and embody our worldview. Through our hands, we bring to life creations that represent the essence of the Andes, the strength of our mountains, and the spirit of our culture.

Our mission is to preserve and share ancestral art and wisdom, ensuring that our traditions remain alive while creating opportunities for the women in our community. We believe in ayni, the Andean principle of reciprocity, and we seek collaboration with people and organizations that value craftsmanship, sustainability, and fair trade.

Each creation we offer is more than a product: it is a legacy, a story, and a piece of the soul of our lands. Join us on our journey and help us continue weaving the future of our community.

Our Vision

We dream of a world where we, Indigenous artisan women, are recognized as guardians of an invaluable legacy. We want our textile art to be appreciated and to allow us to live with dignity, without losing our connection to the land, our community, and our traditions.

We envision a future where our daughters and sons continue to weave the story of our people, with pride and respect for our ancestors. A future where the knowledge of our grandmothers is not lost, but strengthened with new opportunities that allow us to grow without straying from our essence.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve our traditions, support our families, and share our culture with the world through textile art. We want to ensure that each weaving tells a story, that every stitch carries the knowledge of our ancestors, and that our work is recognized as a living legacy.

To achieve this, we focus on:

01

Creating sustainable economic opportunities:
We need to generate fair income for ourselves and our families. We learn to manage our work, to innovate without losing our essence, and to connect with markets that value our art.

02

Protecting and transmitting our ancestral wisdom:
Our textile art is much more than a product; it is our identity. We weave stories, symbols, and spiritual knowledge that we want to share with respect and authenticity.

03

Connecting with those who value our culture:
We seek partnerships with people who want to learn from us and walk alongside us, in an exchange based on ayni (reciprocity).

04

Building a future of respect and equity:
We do not want to lose who we are in the process of growth. We want to build bridges between our culture and the modern world without ceasing to be who we are.

🧵 Our Values

Community (Ayllu)

We do not walk alone. Our community is our strength, and at Awaq Ñustas, we weave not only threads, but also dreams and opportunities together.

Authenticity and Respect

Every textile we create is a testimony of our history. We want to share it with the world without losing its true meaning. We value mutual respect and the dignity of our work.

Empowerment and Female Leadership

We are women who learn, grow, and support one another. We want to be independent, make our own decisions, and ensure a better future for our daughters.

Conscious Tourism and Intercultural Learning

We welcome those who want to learn about our culture with respect and humility. We believe in genuine exchange, in sharing what we know, and in learning from those who come to us.

🤝 We Are Looking for Co-Creators

We don’t want to walk this path alone. We believe in the power of ayni — in giving and receiving, in the union of wisdoms.
If you feel the call of our mountains and the heartbeat of our culture in your heart, we invite you to co-create with us. We seek allies who value our ancestral knowledge and wish to be part of a project where tradition and future are woven together.
📬 If you resonate with our purpose, connect with us:
Email: awaqnustas@gmail.com

Providing Economic Support for Our Families and Communities

﹏﹏

One of the key reasons for the creation of Awac Ñusta is the need to improve the economic conditions of our families and communities. As Indigenous women and artisans, we have faced economic hardships that have impacted the well-being of our children, relatives, and communities. Through our association, we aim to secure fair and stable income, so that each of us can support our household and cover basic needs such as healthcare and education.

Our artisan production is based on traditional techniques inherited from our ancestors, using sustainable materials like alpaca fiber and sheep wool, all handwoven with love and dedication. Each piece we create is not just a product, but an expression of our cultural and spiritual identity.

Preserving and Passing Down Our Cultures and Traditions

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At Awac Ñusta, we are deeply aware of the importance of keeping our Andean cultures alive. We face an ever-growing wave of globalization that threatens to erase our traditions and ancestral knowledge. That is why we are committed to preserving our weaving techniques, natural dyes, and symbolic designs that have been passed down from generation to generation.

We aspire to build a cultural center in the Sacred Valley, in Huaran, so that not only we, but also future generations, will have a space to learn and practice our crafts. This center will also serve to promote the teaching of ancestral spiritual wisdom, which is closely connected to our artisanal practices.

Empowering Indigenous Women

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As women, we face additional challenges due to gender and ethnic discrimination. However, at Awac Ñusta, we firmly believe in our power and our ability to create positive change. Our project aims to empower the artisan women of our communities by giving them a voice and a space where they can lead, share their skills, and learn new techniques to strengthen their economic independence.

Each woman in our association carries with her a story and a unique cultural heritage, and together we build a support network that helps us overcome the economic and social barriers we have faced.

Contributing to the Development of Our Highland Communities

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We understand that improving the quality of life in our communities does not rely solely on us, but on creating opportunities for development. Through our crafts, we aim to share a part of our communities with the world, generate interest in our customs and traditions, and attract support for projects related to infrastructure, education, and healthcare in our lands.

With the income we earn from the sale of our handmade products, we also want to reinvest in our communities—to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable and ensure that our highland communities can continue to thrive without losing their cultural essence.

Participation in National and International Conferences

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One of our major goals is to have the opportunity to participate in conferences and events at both national and international levels. These platforms allow us to share the story behind our handcrafted products, explain our techniques, and help our work be valued as authentic expressions of our culture. Participating in these spaces helps us build meaningful connections and ensures our crafts receive the recognition they deserve.

Building Alliances with Individuals and Companies in the Textile Sector

﹏﹏

One of our strategic goals is to establish connections with individuals and textile companies interested in our artisanal techniques and commitment to sustainability. We aim to create partnerships that expand the distribution of our products and foster collaborations where the quality and authenticity of our creations are truly appreciated. These collaborations will contribute to the international recognition of our crafts and the prosperity of our highland communities.

In summary, Awac Ñusta is an association with a strong commitment to our families, communities, and culture. Through craftsmanship, we seek to create a bridge between our roots and the modern world—generating income for our families, empowering our women, preserving our traditions, and contributing to the development of our communities.

This project is more than just an economic activity; it is a life mission that unites the ancestral with the contemporary, striving to ensure that our knowledge, identity, and traditions continue to live on and inspire the world.

Mercedez Huamán Quispe

I am an Andean woman, 41 years old, and mother of four

Nadia Elsa Ccorimanya Contreras

My life is interwoven with the threads of our rich Andean textile

Flor de María Apaza Suclli

I was born in the community of Qeros Quico Grande, in the

Marisol Apaza Suclli

Nací el 23 de marzo de 1998 en la comunidad indígena de

Paulina Gerillo Chura

I was born and raised in the community of Qeros, a sacred

Cirila Suclli

I am 45 years old. I was born, raised, and still live

Eulogia Phasci

I am 17 years old and was born in the Q'eros Quico

Juliana Quenaya

I am 55 years old, and I was born and raised in

Rosa Victoria Arauja Anaya

I am a 26-year-old artisan jeweler, born in the province of Chumbivilcas,

Viviana Apaza Apaza

I was born on February 2, 2008, in my homeland of Q'ero,

We, the women of Awaq Ñustas and members of the Wayra Q’eros Foundation, are not just weavers with our hands—we are weavers with our souls. Every thread we touch is a sacred connection to the Pachamama, to our sacred mountains, to the sky, and to our ancestors. Our artisanal work is a manifestation of our spirituality and the energy that flows through the earth and the cosmos.

We have acquired a sacred plot of land in the Sacred Valley of Huaran, measuring 1,780 square meters. It is here that we envision building our Cultural and Spiritual Center. This space will be far more than just a place to sell our creations. It will be a sacred home where we can:

Exhibit and Share Our Work: A space to display and offer our handmade pieces, each woven with the energy of our mountains—each piece a deep expression of our Andean worldview.
Preserve and Teach Our Culture: A place where we can teach our Andean traditions to the younger generations, and to anyone who wishes to learn from our ancestral wisdom.
Promote Respect and Love for Mother Earth: A sacred space to share the spiritual path of harmony with Pachamama, the mountains, and the elements—living in balance with the universe.
Integrate Future Generations: A welcoming place for children and youth to reconnect with their roots, learning the traditions of our Inca ancestors and embracing the balance they taught us.

Your donation is a vital part of making this dream a reality. With your support, we can continue to honor our heritage, preserve our traditions, and secure a future for our daughters and sons—one where they walk the sacred path of our ancestors.

I weave with my soul. Every thread I pass through my hands is a prayer to Pachamama, asking for wisdom and strength to move forward. My work is not just a livelihood—it is a way of honoring our traditions and our spirituality. I weave to share the energy of our mountains and to show the world the richness of our ancestral culture.

I weave every day to support my studies, but also to stay connected to our roots and to the natural energy that surrounds us. When I weave, I feel my grandmothers and grandfathers beside me. My weaving honors their spirits and walks in their footsteps toward the future.

I am a single mother. I weave every day to feed my children, but I also weave with the intention of keeping our spirituality alive. Every thread I pass through the loom is a conversation with the energy of the mountains and the stars. Weaving keeps us in balance with the universe.

I am a grandmother in my elder years. Though my body is not as strong as before, my spirit remains alive. I weave to leave behind a legacy of ancestral wisdom and respect for the sacred mountains. Each thread is a spiritual offering to the earth, the mountains, and the sky.

I weave for my young daughter—to ensure she grows up connected to our land, our mountains, and our customs. When I weave, I feel in harmony with Pachamama, and I give thanks for the opportunity to teach my daughter the value of living in balance with nature.

We weave not just with our hands, but with our hearts and spirits. Each stitch is an invocation to our sacred mountains, to Pachamama, to our ancestors. Through weaving, we share our spirituality and our profound connection to the earth and the cosmos. Weaving is our way of living—and of honoring everything around us.

Every thread we weave not only helps us provide for our families—it is also an act of resistance, love, and deep reverence for our land and traditions. By donating, you become a vital part of our journey, helping ensure that our creations continue to be an authentic expression of our spirituality and culture.

Your generosity will help us:

Build the Cultural and Spiritual Center in the Sacred Valley.
Provide quality materials for our artisans.
Keep alive the legacy of our ancestors and our spirituality.
Create educational opportunities for future generations.

Every contribution, no matter the size, has a powerful impact on our lives. With your help, we can continue weaving our future and sharing our culture with the world. If you would like to support us, please click the donation button below and become part of our family.

We welcome you with open arms and hearts full of gratitude.

wayraqerosfoundation.org