Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are excited to announce that we are currently working on a new website to better serve you and share the stories of the weaving communities who partner with the Q’ente Society. In the meantime, please browse our current pages for information about our mission, current partner communities, and other news. For more frequent updates, and to read updates posted directly by our field volunteers, please join our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/qentesociety.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our website!

Q'ente Textile Revitalization Society

The Q'ente Textile Revitalization Society is an incorporated British Columbia not-for-profit society, which informally began in 2006. We work directly with weavers of the Sacred Valley region of Peru by providing an outlet to sell textiles in North America. The aim of this project is to establish sustainability in the Sacred Valley region through the textile tradition, which is an integral part of the Quechua culture, history, and economy.

Origin of our Name

Q'ente is the Quechua word for "hummingbird," and is named for the powerful Andean symbol that represents regeneration and rebirth to new life. The hummingbird symbolizes hope and is the connection between our world and the upper world. Machu Picchu, when viewed from the air, is in the shape of a hummingbird, as well as is one of the most famous Nazca Lines. With over 320 species in the world, the hummingbird is one of the only creatures whose native habitat extends all the way from Victoria, Canada to Ollantaytambo, Peru.

Our goal is to, in theory, be a hummingbird - the connection between Canada and Peru, bringing hope and rebirth to a new life.