Last things

Here is Glen making a small pot basket which he later gave to us. he was so skilled and showed us the process right from cuttingthe palm leaf and splitting its stalk into these perfectly even strips. he was an interesting man.

It was his wife Jean (above with Glen) who cooked for us while we were with them. She and Glen are very active in keeping their Amerinidian culture alive as they have a group of children who they are teaching the old crafts and the songs and dances that they have been reasearching and which some of the elders can remember.

German visitors to the village were so impressed that when they returned home they organised a 2 year donation which provides a small stipend for the couple to continue their work. They have built a benab for the community cultural centre and are planting some heritage crops and trees so that the children can see them and understand their importance.

The children gave us a concert before we left. here they are in their traditional silk grass skirts with Amerindian markings on their bodies. they sang and danced and demonstrated the use of their traditional backpacks and cooking utensils.

Afterwards Lisa showed us how to spin the cotton on the hanging spindle. All in all it was great to see and to learn about their beliefs and traditions...........then it was back to the noise and chaos of city life again