The Wayuu (pronounced “Wah-You”) people are an indigenous Latin American group located in the Guajira Peninsula of northeastern Colombia and Venezuela. Situated in a semi-arid desert region speaking their own unique language, the Wayuu culture has existed untouched and undisturbed for generations.
A central tenet of the Wayuu people’s history is the practice of weaving patterned bags, aptly named Wayuu Mochilas. As matriarchs of family clans, the Wayuu women have assumed leadership positions and as such all family members and the community at large look toward them for guidance in preserving the Wayuu culture.
What started as a way for the Wayuu women to artfully evoke the cultural teachings and creative drawings of their ancestors, the practice of weaving multi patterned, colored and shaped mochilas came to being. Each bag produced by the Wayuu is meticulously threaded by hand, with no two bags having the same design.
At present, Wayuu mochilas have become a significant income stream for the Wayuu people, helping them keep up with the unforgiving nature of modern day life.
About the Aguayuda Organization
A portion of the proceeds of each Wayuu Made purchase will go directly to Aguayuda, a non-profit organization in Colombia, whose mission is to improve life and health in poor rural communities through clean water, sanitation and education, of which include the Wayuu people. To learn more about Aquayuda and their mission, please visit http://www.aguayuda.org/