Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Ministry of popular power for education

“Francisco de Miranda” Night Educational Unit
Dungeon, Guárico State

DEVELOP THE HANDICRAFT WEAVING OF THE

CHINCHORRO AS A SUSTAINABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
LIFE OF THE FAMILY OF THE “FRANCISCO DE
MIRANDA” NIGHT EDUCATIONAL UNIT AND
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Made by: Prof. Geglis Encinoza

October, 2017
 JUSTIFICATION

In the search for ancestral knowledge we find a great diversity of

cultural knowledge, which is maintained over time, the chinchorro being one
of its main elements, since it is part of the indigenous culture in its different
representations: Wayuu, Pume, Warao, Barí, Piaroa, Jivi, among others. This
ancestral knowledge is transmitted from generation to generation until today.

It is our commitment as Bolivarian socialist revolutionary trainers

committed to rescuing our ancestral cultural values, since modern society
protects the Venezuelan population with the use of technologies that isolate
its inhabitants from their ancestral cultural roots. The work of the teachers of
the “Francisco de Miranda” Night Educational Unit in Calabozo, Guárico State
is focused on rescuing these ancestral practices that are very much ours.

It should be noted that the efforts are aimed at the integration,

motivation, activation, transformation and participation of all members of the
“Francisco de Miranda” Night Educational Unit (teachers, workers,
administrators and communities close to the institution), in practice.
elaboration, promotion and dissemination of the creation of artisanal
hammocks as a source of income for family groups.

It should be noted that the practice of manual weaving not only serves
to make chinchorros but also garments such as: shoes, purses, bags,
backpacks, hats, espadrilles and slippers in a very artisanal way.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The word chinchorro comes from the Taíno and means "fish net and its
use as a hammock or bed in fishing operations and places away from the
residence. These are not woven on a loom, they are just a series of threads
of resistant vegetable fibers such as hemp, fique, cumare, knotted. It is
important to note that this word is not found in any European writer before the
discovery of America, so such an object seems to have been unknown in
Europe until then.

They are made of various materials and the quality depends above all
on the warp and the number of threads used. The chinchorro has such an
important place in the hearts of the people of the Caribbean that even in the
most humble houses there are hooks on the walls to hang them. Hammocks
have been used after the 16th century by sailors on ships; since the
hammock moves at the rhythm of the ship and the sleeper does not run the
risk of being thrown to the ground.

The chinchorro, in principle made of henequen, pita or cabuya and

dyed with vegetable and aniline dyes, variety of designs, colors and sizes, are
currently made of polyester fibers, although finally the material most used to
make them is polypropylene, there is also a return to traditions, to plant fiber.
As with some other artifacts or elements made by natives of America, there
are regional disputes over its origin. Its use expanded around the world by
commercial companies in the 16th century.

Created on loom frames with cotton threads, which are woven in warp
and weft, in a process by which the warp is passed above and below the weft,
crossing it to finally form the hammock.

The chinchorro is manufactured and used throughout America, in

Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia,
Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ecuador,
Salvador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Panama and Venezuela.
 In Venezuela, these magnificent chinchorros come from the Guajira
tribe, an indigenous race of great artisans and merchants who live in Alta
Guajira, Colombia and Maracaibo, Venezuela . Although they are similar to
the hammock, the difference is that the chinchorro is woven with an open
stitch, while in the hammock a tight weave is woven like a cloth.

Due to its aesthetic qualities, the weaving of these hanging beds

constitutes a major range among the textile arts of Venezuela, as well as its
own identity. Furthermore, their use is increasing, especially among the
indigenous race, who use them to sleep and also for certain traditional rituals.
They hang on trees, trucks, in the streets and it happens that, sometimes,
you can find apartments that have hammocks instead of common beds.

That is why it is not surprising that more and more inhabitants and
tourists are encouraged to try this Guajira craft, which not only has beauty
and color, but also has an immense variety of sizes and shapes, and can
withstand up to 300 kilograms.

It is easy to find chinchorros in local stores and markets and in all

regions of Venezuela, with a price that varies between 4,500.00 and
7,000.00bs sovereign, depending on the material used, design, size, among
others. Currently, the material to be used in the production of a hammock is
on the market at very variable costs as a result of the economic war. In some
stores we can find the national nylon coil for 480.00 so imported berano and
nylon for 1,000.00 sovereign, the price may vary in other stores.

To make a small chinchorro, three (3) nylon coils are required, two for
the body and one for the saddle. This chinchorro measures approximately
1.50 meters by 1.50 meters. To make a medium one, five (5) are required.
nylon coils, three for the body and two for the saddle. This hammock
measures approximately 1.70m by 1.70m, while the production of a large one
requires six (6) nylon coils, four for the body and two for the saddle. This
hammock measures approximately 2.00 meters by 2.00 meters.
 Our farmers inherited the technique of numerous weaves from the
indigenous people. Among those made of soft fibers are the production of
espadrille uppers, belts, fishing and sleeping bags, bedspreads, outerwear
such as blankets, ruanas and various bags. Many of these fabrics require the
use of a loom. Thus, we have frame looms such as the triangular one for
espadrilles and the square one for sleeping hammocks, which are of pre-
Columbian origin. But we also have pedal looms, of the Spanish village type,
that are used for blankets and ruanas and also hammocks. Other types of
fabrics are obtained by the process of filet or knotted mesh, crochet, woven
with one or two needles, which the Indians already practiced before the
Conquest.

It should be noted that the natural fibers used include those from plants
(cotton, sisal, curagua, cocuiza or fique, dispopo, moriche) and animals
(wool, silk). Today, with the lack of sheep breeding for wool and the high cost
of imports, many weavers use synthetic fibers, as they are more feasible to
purchase on the market.

GENERAL PURPOSE

Disseminate, encourage, instruct, train and make chinchorros in the

spaces of the “Francisco de Miranda” Night Educational Unit and
communities surrounding said institution.

SPECIFIC PURPOSES
  Rescuing the ancestral cultures of our indigenous people
through the making of the chinchorro with the students of the “Francisco de
Miranda” Night Educational Unit and communities surrounding the institution.
 Develop, promote, assist, direct the necessary techniques for
the production of hammocks in the students of the “Francisco de Miranda”
Night Educational Unit and communities surrounding the institution.
 Market the chinchorros and products developed from
handwoven fabrics with the students of the “Francisco de Miranda” Night
Educational Unit and communities surrounding the institution.
General Purpose: Design an action plan for the production of chinchorro as a source of income from home in the “Francisco
de Miranda” Night Educational Unit.
ACTION PLAN
PURPOSES CONTENT STRATEGY DATE RESOURCES RESPONSIBLE
Rescuing the ancestral cultures of our
- History of the
indigenous people through the making of
chinchorro
the chinchorro with the students of the 04/10/2018 Pencil, markers,
- Type of tools and Workshop / Prof. Geglis
to the notebook,
“Francisco de Miranda” Night Educational materials Demonstration 10/11/2018
Encinoza
eraser, flipchart.
Unit and communities surrounding the - Types of fabrics.

institution .
Hammer,
- Use of Tools and Screws (lag
Materials. screws and
Develop, promote, assist, direct the
- Measures nuts),
necessary techniques for the production of - Frame construction 17/11/2018 sandpaper,
Workshop / Prof. Geglis
hammocks in the students of the “Francisco - Fabric production. to the screwdrivers,
Demonstration 26/01/2019
Encinoza
de Miranda” Night Educational Unit and - Warping technique pliers, unions,
- Preparation of elbows and
communities surrounding the institution. Chinchorro plastic
connectors.
National nylon.

Market the hammocks and products - Communal

developed from manual fabrics with the exhibitions. Chinchorros,
- Investment, Production 02/02/2019
- Pedagogical Frames, Prof. Geglis
students of the “Francisco de Miranda” and Marketing Costs. to the
closure. 23/02/2019
decorative Encinoza
Night Educational Unit and communities - Fair elements.
surrounding the institution. participation.
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Arrechedera, I (2012). History of the Chinchorro in the Indigenous culture.

Available at: http://iraimaarrechedera.blogspot.com/2012/02/los-jivi-pueblo-
indigena-de-venezuela.html. Consulted in October 2017.

Cardena, R (2011). Indigenous crafts in Venezuela. Available at: http://conozando-

venezuela.blogspot.com/2008/07/artesania-indigena-venezolana.html.
Consulted in October 2017.

Piña, A (2014). Indigenous Economy. Available at:

http://ddhhamazonas.blogspot.com/2014/06/pueblo-indigena-jivi.html.
Consulted in October 2017.

Whitehead, N. (2012). Indigenous people. Available at:

http://silviagomezr.blogspot.com/2009/03/los-jivi.html. Consulted in October
2017.