Weaving and Dyeing in Highland Ecuador

Acknowledgments [Includes Maps]

Acknowledgments In any project of this kind, we researchers are wholly dependent on the hospitality of the people whose lifeways we want to record. In this regard, we wish to express our great appreciation to all those who explained their costume and dyeing, spinning, and weaving traditions to us, shared meals, and otherwise made us welcome. Those who provided data presented in this book are mentioned by name in the appropriate places, but here we would like to say thank you to everyone involved in this monumental project. Lynn Meisch’s initial work in southern Ecuador in 1977–1979 was funded by Fulbright-Hays, with a grant toward film expenses from the Institute for Intercultural Studies. She also worked under the United States Agency for International Development as a textile consultant in Otavalo from September 1985 to July 1986 in a project requested by local weavers. From October 1992 through January 1995, she conducted dissertation fieldwork in Ecuador on transnational contacts and indigenous ethnic identity, some of which overlapped with work on this book. Her dissertation research funds were provided by Stanford University’s Institute for International Studies, theWenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (Predoctoral Grant No. 5483), and the National Science Foundation (Doctoral Dissertation Grant No. NSF DBS-9216489). Laura Miller’s initial work in Ecuador in 1984–1986 was also supported by a Fulbright Fellowship. Meisch and Miller also received assistance in the summer of 1988 from the Bead Society of Los Angeles. Ann Rowe’s first visit to Ecuador, in 1986, was supported by a grant from the Organization of American States. When this project was in the planning stages, Margaret McLean, thendirector of the Center for Field Research (the field research arm of Earthwatch ), suggested to Meisch and Miller that the project was suitable for xx Acknowledgments Earthwatch funding. We thank her for her suggestion and support, which resulted in our fielding a total of six Earthwatch teams in Ecuador during the summers of 1988 and 1989. The money used in Earthwatch projects comes from volunteers who also provide their labor to assist in the work. Volunteers who recorded data that appear in this book are credited in the notes and photograph captions, but this list acknowledges the financial support of all team members. The volunteers in team 1 in 1988, based in Latacunga, Cotopaxi province, were Stephanie M. Burns, George W. Crockett, Patricia Grooms, Ellen R. Hanley, Carol J. Holmes, William H. Holmes, Constance Kenney, Marjorie Klockars, Sara Laas, Pamela Y. Lipscomb, Bonnie O’Connor, and Darby C. Raiser. Volunteers in team 2 in 1988, based in Ambato, Tungurahua province, were Helen Daly, Betty L. Davenport, CJ Elfont, Edna A. Elfont, Dayna M. Elfont, Helen Evelev, Leonard Evelev, Marjorie Hirschkind, Carol Mitz, Sheila F. Morris, Maritza Mosquera, Norma Jean Nelson, Adelle M. P. Pollock , and Roberta Siegel. Volunteers in team 3 in 1988, based in Riobamba, Chimborazo province , were Dianne B. Barske, Barbara U. Buech, Jean V. Fuley, Jean L. Hayden , Edward Healy, Helen Healy, Judith A. Kelly, Renate Kempf, Kathleen A. Jahnke, Emily M. Marsland, Ellen T. McQueary, Lorraine S. O’Neal, Robyn J. Potter, and Louise Taylor. Volunteers in team 1 in 1989, which worked mainly in the eastern Imbabura area, consisted of Monique Andre, Gayle Bauer, Barbara Johnson Borders, Bettye Dennison, Elizabeth S. Drey, Nancy A. Fleming, Iris Garrelfs, Leslie Grace, Eileen Hallman, Patricia (Patt) C. Hill, Jennifer Lantz, Joy Mullett, and Linda L. Ruby. Leslie Grace had visited Lynn Meisch in Ecuador in 1978, and first suggested to Meisch the idea of studying and collecting complete costume. Volunteers for team 2 in 1989, which was based in Riobamba, were Jean Dayton, Jack M. DeLong, Mary Ewing, C. Robert Foss, Celia S. Foss, Bee Henisey, Ken Henisey, Sandra Lewis, Kevin G. O’Brien, Suzanne Powell, Naeda B. Robinson, Carol Siegel, and AlJean D. Thompson. Volunteers for team 3 in 1989, also based in Riobamba, were Sandra Baker, M. Catherine (Kate) Beamer, Lari Drendell, Jacquelyn Engle, Cynthia M. Ferguson, Louise Hainline, Kirby T. Hall, Margaret E. Jacobs, William I. Mead, Patricia L. Meloy, Mary C. Shook, and Nancy C. Tucker. Earthwatch also provided funds to cover the expenses and honoraria for local assistants. Our assistant for teams 1 and 2 for both summers was Breenan Conterón, an Otavalo woman from Ilumán, who made a particularly sig- Acknowledgments xxi nificant contribution to our work. Chuck Kleymeyer of the Inter-American...