Presented at HASTAC 2019 on May 2019. Vancouver, BC., Canada.

1. Lekil Kuxlejal / “Buen Vivir” to
Decolonize Artisanal Design in Los
Altos de Chiapas, Mexico
Jolobil, a collective woven research
Diana Albarrán González

2. Background / positioning
Industrial Designer, design lecturer and researcher
Born in the Mayan land of Chiapas - Mexicana in
diaspora
“Mestiza seeking to decolonise her own subjectivities”
(Rivera Cusicanqui, 2016) reclaiming my Indigenous
identity and reconnecting with my Nahua and
P’urhépecha roots (Native Latin American)
Woman of colour and migrant in a settler colonial
country with a strong Indigenous presence (Māori),
the land of Aotearoa
“Outsider-within” (Collins, 1998) border spaces of

3. Context – Mayan land of the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico

4. Morris Jr., Walter E. (2014). A Textile Guide to the Highlands of

6. Artisan-Designer
collaboration
“Are designers the new
anthropologists or
missionaries, come to
poke into village life,
understand it and make it
better—their modern
way?” (Bruce Nussbaum,
2010, para. 6)

7. The reality
Colonisation of indigenous
peoples’ knowledge (Smith,
1999).
Lack of reference to the cultural
context of the objects.
Ethicalwashing
Reduction of the artisan’s role to
a producer of the designer’s
creations (Margolin, 2007).
Challenging to distinguish
ethical/collaborative initiatives
that seeks the artisan’s benefit
(Murray, 2010).

9. Buen Vivir (Good Living/Wellbeing) has been part of the re-
visibilisation of Indigenous cultures, worldvision and knowledges
in Cemanáhuac/Abya Yala
It’s an alternative to development from a Western perspective.
“Wellbeing is not [about the] individual, but the individual in the
social context of their community and in a unique environmental
situation“ (Gudynas, 2013)
“Buen Vivir comes from Indigenous peoples as a movement that
not only fights for Indigenous peoples’ rights, but for the
Buen Vivir, a decolonial stance from Latin
America

10. Lekil Kuxlejal, a fair-dignified life
“Buen Vivir” from Los Altos de Chiapas.
Concept from Tsotsil and Tseltal peoples.
Jolobil and Sjalel (weave) are important parts of
everyday life and are linked to Lekil Kuxlejal, reflected
in their oral expression.
https://www.economiasolidaria.org/biblioteca/lekil-kuxlejal-como-horizonte-de-lucha-una-reflexion-colectiva-

12. Jolobil Framework

14. “Sentirpensar” (Sensing-Thinking), “Interculturalidad”

16. Digital Activism

17. Lekil Kuxlejal, O´tan, “Innovación como Resistencia” (Innovation as
Resistance )

20. Me Luch – Mayan
Universe
Jolobil – Textiles as
resistance
Mayan “Cosmovisión”
O´tan – Heart at the center
Leading by Obeying

22. Complemetary Duality
Mayan “Cosmovisión”
Ch´ulel

24. Winik
Person
Sbék’
Seed
Decolonising Textile Artisanal Design
Challenging Privilege and Power of Hegemonic Design
O´tan
Heart-led
“Corazonar”
Lekil Kuxlejal Centric
“Buen Vivir” Centric
Researcher/Designer
“To Go Down”
Sunset
From Light to Dark
Going to the Roots
-- Textiles –
Source of Knowledge, fundamental in
everyday life and identity
Mayan “Cosmovisión”
Weaving from the heart (O’tan)
Mayan Tsotsil and Tseltal Perspective
Jolobil as Resistance
The heart as axis of Tsotsil and Tseltal
language
Important part of Lekil Kuxlejal
Mayan Knowledge
“ To Go Up”
Sunrise
From Dark to Light
Germinate, Flourish
-- Zapatista Principles–
Resistance Movement
“Autonomía”
Speak from the Heart(O´tan)
7 Principles of “Leading by Obeying”
Lekil Kuxlejal – Fair-Dignified Life
“Buen Vivir” from Los Altos de Chiapas.
Good Living

25. Kolaval - Wokolaval