The inspiration of belen picuasi

A black and white photo of a woman and a person wearing welding protective gear, including a large welding helmet, working at a table with various objects around them.

Belen Picuasi is a proud Kichwa born and raised in the small town of Ilumán, Otavalo of northern Ecuador. Her native tongue is also Kichwa, but she picked up Spanish quite easily at school. Belen was born into a family of artisans. Both her father and mother were well known for making sombreros for the Kichwa communities in the region. It is said that Belen’s family has been crafting these traditional hats for generations spanning over three centuries.

A young girl is kneeling on the ground, holding a flagpole and kissing the flag. Behind her, a group of women dressed in traditional clothing are standing in formation, participating in a ceremony outdoors.
A black and white photo of a man and a woman dressed in traditional clothing, standing outdoors with a dark background and a table with items behind them.
Black and white photo of a woman sitting at a wooden table, folding a large piece of cloth made of wool used for hat creation. She is dressed in traditional clothing with multiple pearl necklaces, wearing a headscarf, and has a serene expression.
Black and white photograph of a man and woman, one wearing a wide-brimmed hat, standing in a rustic interior with stone walls. There are hats everywhere on the wall behind them and next to them. This is a hat workshop.

Even though Belen is from a very hard working family, they still lived in poverty. In fact, Belen’s house was the only one in the community that did not have electricity. As a child, she would work all day for her parents and only at night in the dark, with a kerosene lantern, she would be able to do any school homework. Unlike other families, they also could not afford gas. So instead they did all of their cooking by burning wood.

A black and white photo of a cow standing inside a cluttered room, surrounded by various household items and furniture, including a bed, shelves, and bags.
Two kids working together in a room filled with small round objects, possibly potatoes, with bags hanging on the wall and a ladder on the side.
A person wearing a large hat and patterned clothing creating a hat by hand.
A woman in traditional Ecuador attire wearing a large sombrero, a multi-layered beaded necklace, and a patterned blouse, standing indoors with one hand on her waist.

Water was also non-existent in the house. Belen and her 3 siblings would frequently walk 3km round-trip to a natural water spring called the “San Juan Pukyu”. Multiple times per day they would go there carrying big traditional clay pots used to store drinking water. The spring was also used for bathing, cleaning the wool of sheep, and washing clothes. San Juan Pukyu was very important to the community back then and even still used today for ceremonial rituals and festivals.

A black and white photo of five people, including two adults and three children, standing outdoors near a rocky terrain and some construction or debris.
A black and white photo showing three women and one man at a hat stall. The women are trying on hats, and the man is reaching for a hat on a large stack. The scene appears to be from the hat workshop.
A woman and five children sitting on the ground inside a rustic room, eating from bowls, with large pots and cooking utensils around them.
A young girl sits on a horse with two women standing beside it, one holding its reins. The setting appears to be rural with trees, mountains, and homes in the background.

Other means of survival for Belen’s parents were weaving, agriculture, and raising cows. Belen had started working at the young age of 3. Her first job was washing the wool. By age 5, she would independently walk the cows out to pasture. Starting from 4 years old, Belen recalls many tourists visiting the house to watch her father make hats. The travel agencies would send groups by the bus load multiple times a day. Her father would even take them up to climb the 4,600 meter Imbabura mountain for recreation. By 8 years old, Belen did her first solo guiding trip, successfully taking two tourists to the top of that same mountain. Interestingly, her Father had never requested money from any tourist nor travel agency for all those years of visiting the workshop. He was just happy to share his special craft to the world out of kindness and cultural pride.

Black and white photograph of a woman sitting on the ground with a cat beside her, wearing a beanie, glasses, and a patterned sweater, in a space filled with clutter and reflective streaks on the ceiling.
A black and white photo of seven people in a wooded outdoor area, some crouching and some standing, looking at something on the ground or in the leaf litter.
Two children sitting on a grassy hillside overlooking a lake with rugged hills in the background.
Young girl standing outdoors in a grassy field, wearing a knit hat, sweater, skirt, and sandals.

Belen had already learned all the processes necessary to create a high-quality hat before she turned 8. Her father had always been proud of his hard-working little daughter. Even though Belen was the smallest girl in school, she was fearless and naturally confident. Eventually, Father’s great passion for the traditional hat craft would have to be passed down to his daughter. At just 13 years old, Belen’s dad passed away. She would have to help her mom lead the family now.

Black and white photograph of a group of indigenous people, including a woman and several men, some wearing hats, standing outdoors.
Some kids are lying on the ground, covered with a zebra-striped blanket, with some vegetables and other items around.
Three children, two girls and one younger child, sitting close together inside a dark space. The older girl on the left has dark hair, a slight smile, and is wearing traditional clothing and jewelry. The younger child in the middle is wearing a white hat with a pom-pom and has a serious expression. The girl on the right has dark hair, a subtle smile, and is dressed in traditional attire with patterns. They appear to be posing for the photo.
Four children, three girls and a boy, standing outdoors at night. The girl on the left is holding a baby. The children are near a wooden structure and a bench. The photo appears to be old and in black and white.
A young girl sitting on a bed in a rustic room with a stone wall, smiling and holding her hand near her ear, surrounded by blankets and household items.
A woman wearing a white knit cap and dark sweater, holding a large pillow in her arms, sitting on a chair against a rough wall.
A black and white photograph of a young Indigenous girl wearing traditional jewelry and a sweater, standing outdoors with a tree branch above her head.

Little by little, the Kichwa people started to take notice of Belen’s unique character just as her father had seen. She also gained a reputation of one having integrity that cared deeply for her community. As a young adult, Belen was voted unanimously by the community to do what she was natural at, to be a voice for the Kichwa people.

A black and white photo of a cultural dance performance with people dressed in traditional clothing, performing in front of a large crowd.
A woman dressed in traditional Ecuador Kichwa clothing with a wide brim hat, jewelry, and holding a staff, participating in a cultural event with a crowd watching behind her.

Today, 27 years after his passing, Belen’s father remains the greatest influence in her life. He would’ve been proud to say the least. Belen has worked with over 50 travel agencies. She has received thousands of people from all over the world to witness the art of a now famous tradition. She has also brought many community volunteering groups to her town to help others. Even though the last few years since the Covid pandemic have been very challenging, Belen will never stop fighting for her cultural heritage and the Kichwa people. The passion to make her Father proud still burns within.

Belen and her mother continue to honor Father's memory by keeping the same artisan workshop alive. Today, they are the only two artisans left in the house. The rest of the family has gone their separate ways. At the moment, Belen remains the last active heir to Unay Muchiku. However, the family legacy is still felt in the community. A visit to Ilumán's central park is enough to see the impact they left behind. A beautifully painted mural pays tribute to Belen's parents, reminding everyone of their contribution to the Kichwa culture. Her mother, now 78 years old, continues to work with dedication. The small house she lives in is now the last traditional hat workshop of its kind. Unfortunately, we are at risk of witnessing the last generation of an incredible, noble craft.

In loving memory of Jose Picuasi (1940-1998)

A black and white photo of a person with short dark hair, wearing a jacket over a sweater, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. He is wearing a hat and holding a traditional hat.
Black and white photo of a person wearing a hat and a sweater outdoors.
A group of six people, including women and children, standing outside a building with a stone foundation and wooden door. The woman in the center holds a baby, and a girl in a white shirt stands in front of her. A man in traditional clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, stands to the right, smiling at the camera.
Five children and one adult sitting and leaning on grassy ground outdoors, with a rustic wooden structure and trees in the background, black and white photograph.
Colorful mural of two indigenous artisans, one holding a bundle of hats, against a starry sky with a crescent moon, featuring a heart at center.

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