9. Weaving Inherited Benizaā Cloud People Teachings to Transform the World - Samuel Bautista Lazo of Dixza Rugs Native Farm
Today, I interview Samuel Bautista Lazo, a Benizaā (Zapotec) weaver who lives in the indigenous village of Xigua, also known as Teotitlan del Valle. He and his family farm and weave on the lands of their ancestors, selling products made from hand dyed 'criollo' native wool, in the Central Valley of Oaxaca. In our interview we learn from Samuel about the vast local trade networks between different indigenous communities for dyes, wool, etc. Samuel tells us about the symbols at the sacred site of Lyobaa, otherwise known as Mitla, where his ancestors weaved stone to create a structure that defies gravity. Many of the symbols at this site are now woven into rugs and art to continue to preserve and reflect the ancient cosmology and language of the Benizaa people. One common symbol is a strand that looks like DNA, often paired with the seed of life and images of corn, literally linking our lives to the corn. We learn about how the Benizaa people care for the land as a community, rather than “owning” the land, as Samuel reminds us again and again throughout this interview that “as much as we are inheriting our DNA, we are also inheriting our stories and teachings that transform the world.” Dixza Rugs and Native Farm Instagram and websiteSamuels personal instagram Donate to Samuels gofundme to support Earthquake aid for Ocelotepec towns in OaxacaIf you'd like to check out the full video interview to watch as Samuel shows us different rugs and their symbols, check out my igtv on instagram. You can support this podcast for as little as $2 a month on my patreon where 20% of the proceeds will be going to Dixza Rugs and Native Farm this month. You can also support the podcast by following me on instagram and sharing the podcast with folks!