Subsistence Living in Chiapas

Yesterday I mentioned that I couldn’t help but buy trinkets from the colorful, wool-skirted women from Chiapas.

I believe this is partly because I have read that many of the indigenous people of Chiapas dislike the relentless invasion of their traditional lands by tourists. They also dislike the devastation of their rain forests and natural environment by large business concerns.

However, since they have only a subsistence-based economy, they are also very vulnerable financially and need the money brought in by the tourist trade.

When I think of how far these young women have travelled – it took us two days to drive from Cancun to Palenque, which is in Chiapas – and that they are so far from their families, I want to help them out and easily buy their wares.

Carol Chapman

Copyrighth (c) 2009 Carol Chapman