The elaboration of ceramics, which is purely artisanal, and its tourism make of Santa Ana, a community established about 12 miles from Mera canton, a great place to learn about the customs of the Kichwa nationality. The local people are always eager to pass along and maintain their traditions.
The picturesque town, with houses spread out, is surrounded by abundant vegetation. It belongs to the district of Madre Tierra. Its people are humble, hard-working, and welcoming.
The Kichwa families of this community found in the elaboration of clay objects a reliable source of employment. From July 23rd to the 26th, these families celebrate the creation of their community. With this cultural aim in mind, they spread their customs through the making of plates, cups, and jugs that are used to share food during the celebration.
The last day of the celebration all of the plates and cups are destroyed, as part of the tradition. The truth is that this practice generates community tourism.
Elaboration
The elaboration of ceramic ware is one activity that is purely artisanal in Santa Ana. The raw material that they use is obtained from nature. The clay or mud (known as manga allpa in Kichwa) is brought from the ravines, and the different colors have their origin in the color of the soil, leaves, and tree trunks.
When all the materials are ready, the artisans take in their hands some mud and divide it into different chunks. They slide each chunk with their hands, to form long strips that are then shaped into the body of a mokawa (a pot that is used to ferment the chicha de yuca-a traditional alcoholic beverage made with cassava)
Ceramic ware in Pastaza is made in a very simple manner: molded by hand and through the rolling process, in order to obtain the body. Aside, the artisans also make certain types of support, placing the clay on top of wooden boards. To sculpt some details, they make use of a piece of pilche (a container made of a plant that is known by the same name).
The firing of the ceramic pieces is made in a campfire; and this occupation, which has ancestral value and is part of the cultural identity of its people, is practiced only by women. It has been passed from mothers to daughters, generation after generation. The belief is that “men should not touch the molded clay because they can loose their fertility.”
The ceramic decoration seems to have been traced with a ruler, but it is done with a fine brush that has been crafted with a thin lock of human hair.
The elaboration of crafts with elements of nature also stands out in Santa Ana. There, artisans make necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, using hishpapuro muyo (black seeds), shiguango muyo (brown seeds), and mellsho (red seeds). There are also the shigras (for men) and ashangas (for women), bags elaborated with bejuco (liana) fibers.
MORE ABOUT PASTAZA
- The Agua Viva Artisanal Association, conformed of people from the communities of Santa Ana, Pushiyacu, and Madre Tierra, is in charge of marketing and sales.
- The Association’s museum is located about 7 miles from downtown Puyo, in the district of Madre Tierra, 10 minutes by car from the district of Shell.
- The price of the crafts can vary depending on the size and design the tourist wants.