The Huexkido Studio

¡Xki hats'i gathohu, ma thuhu Araceli!

Hi everyone, my name is Araceli!

Welcome to the Huexkido Studio. Like most people who start something new, we have many reasons for doing so, for me, it's like starting something new but in reality it's about re-starting a tradition that was first started by my ancestors. In other words, I'm re-learning a tradition in order to keep Indigenous knowledge alive and from disappearing, and in the hope that the next generation finds interest in these traditions and continue on teaching and sharing Indigenous knowledge. 

Huexkido means a shiny rock in Hñahñu and is one of many given names used to name children in the Hñahñu community. When I first started contemplating about creating a studio, I thought about what it would be called and the reasoning behind it. Huexkido stood out to me because rocks are natural things you can find all over the world. They have different shapes, colors, and sheen to them. Something that can seem so insignificant to one person, can present itself as a shiny and beautiful rock to another person. It reminded me of how relevant this can be with natural fibers found around the world. 

The Huexkido Studio has an Indigenous focus, it highlights my indigeneity, the Indigenous textiles in my culture, and Indigenous textiles I have come across from other Indigenous teachers and cultural practitioners who have shared their work with me. Through the Huexkido Studio, I aim to conserve traditional Indigenous practices of textiles, such as weaving, but also to center the various forms of textiles around the world that I have learned along my journey. 

So who am I? Western society uses race and ethnicity to classify me as Mexican, Latina, Hispanic, etc. But I identify as a Hñahñu and Wixárika woman. It's important for me to make that distinction because indigeneity in Mexico is often, in my experience, hidden or not acknowledged. Therefore, it's important to give indigeneity a platform to be heard and seen so that our Indigeneity can continue strengthening our Indigenous traditions, cultures, language, community, and knowledge. 

The Huexkido Studio is an exciting journey that brings me joy and connects me to traditions, culture, and community. I open this space and welcome within it a piece of yarn that will hopefully lead to weaving community partnerships with artists and creates stronger strings of Indigenous connections.