The St. James Church Social Gospel Group and Diocesan Unit of The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund  invite members of the diocese to a presentation by two Mexican indigenous women’s organizations K’INAL ANTZETIK ( a PWRDF partner organization offering means of empowerment to women ) and JOLOM MAYAETIK (a fair trade weaving cooperative).
THURSDAY APRIL 8, 7pm
ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH PARISH HALL
303 EAST CORDOVA STREET
VANCOUVER, (ENTRANCE ON GORE AVE )

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON TWO MEXICAN INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S
ORGANIZATIONS VISITING VANCOUVER APRIL 2010
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K’INAL ANTZETIK (Land of Women)


K’inal Antzetik is a Mexico City based NGO that works to empower indigenous women throughout southern Mexico through workshops, training programs including literacy, exchanges, research and publication of educational materials, advocacy and accompaniment. The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) has been a partner of K’inal Antzetik since 1997 supporting their program that addresses maternal mortality and maternal health issues, including sexual and reproductive rights, with seven indigenous organizations in the southern Mexican states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. In the wake of Hurricane Stan in 2005, PWRDF also provided emergency funds to support K’inal efforts to address both food security and post-traumatic stress issues being faced by affected communities in the state of Chiapas. In 2006 the PWRDF Mexico delegation spent time with K’inal staff in a number of the communities where they work in northern Chiapas.
K'inal Antzetik will be represented at St. James by Maria Gutierrez.
K’inal in its enabling role has been providing support to the Jolom Mayaetik weaving cooperative since its inception as an independent cooperative.


JOLOM MAYAETIK


Jolom Mayaetik is fair trade weaving cooperative based in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. It’s more than 300 members live throughout the Chiapas Highlands. It is run autonomously and democratically, the members themselves holding all leadership positions, with elections held every two years. The cooperative offers opportunities for education and empowerment of its members, who learn the skills to to run the cooperative, build capacity in the area of weaving, and learn about their rights as women and as indigenous peoples. By refining weaving skills and providing access to new markets, participation in the cooperative also increases the viability of the tradition of weaving as an income-generating activity, and therein the ability for indigenous peoples to remain on their traditional lands. Jolom Mayaetik will be represented at St. James by its president, Celia Sanchez.

 

HANDICRAFTS MADE BY JOLOM MAYAETIK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE. DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED