Quintana Roo’s Artisans: Guardians of Maya Heritage

Cancún — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa presented awards to the winning artisans of the VIII State Textile Contest "Chuuuy K´Káab 2025" and the XXVIII State Crafts Contest "Deja que te lo cuenten mis manos 2025," stating that this humanist government with a feminist heart makes visible the talent, living history, culture, and art of the indigenous Maya people.

"Today we are very proud to be surrounded by so much talent, so much creativity, and this living history, because here is what we are, here is knowing where we come from. Thank you for not succumbing in your trades, for passing them from generation to generation, because now your daughters and your sons also embroider. Thank you for not forgetting to remind us who we are," expressed the head of the Executive Branch in recognition of the men and women who with their magical hands create pieces of ancient art.

The director of the Institute of Culture and the Arts (ICA), Lilian Villanueva Chan, reported that this year 44 prizes are being awarded: 19 to artisans who are winners of the VIII State Textile Contest "Chuuy K' Kaab," from the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Othón P. Blanco; and 25 from the XXVIII State Crafts Contest "Deja que te lo cuenten mis manos," from Puerto Morelos, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos, Othón P. Blanco, Benito Juárez, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Lázaro Cárdenas.

Governor Mara Lezama presented the state prizes by category to Rosa García Cabrera, from the "Chuuy K'K'aab" contest, originally from the community of Emiliano Zapata. She rescues the drawn-thread work technique with an embroidered blouse in honor of her sister who has passed away. She also presented an award to Alfredo Chuc Can, from the "Deja que te lo cuenten mis manos" contest, originally from the community of X'Pichil.

These contests were called by the Federal Government's Ministry of Culture through the National Fund for the Promotion of Crafts (FONART) and the Government of Quintana Roo, through the Quintana Roo Institute of Culture and Arts, with the purpose of promoting craft production, fostering local economic development, and strengthening the cultural identity of the communities in the state of Quintana Roo.

The total investment amount is 300 thousand pesos, contributed in equal parts by the Federation and the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, through the National Fund for the Promotion of Crafts (FONART) and the competent state body in matters of culture and craft development.

Through these incentives, the effort, creativity, and perseverance of the artisans who, through their hands and traditional knowledge, keep alive the techniques, materials, and expressions that make up the invaluable cultural legacy of the entity are recognized.

The Governor congratulated the winners, authentic guardians of the living cultural heritage of Quintana Roo, stating that behind each piece of handicraft there is a history, a heritage that has been transmitted intergenerationally and that every technique, design, and color used is part of a great rainbow called identity, which is the worldview of the native peoples.

Following the award ceremony, an exhibition of the winning pieces was held at the Casa de la Cultura de Cancún, which belongs to the Institute of Culture and the Arts.

Present at this award ceremony were the honorary president of the Quintana Roo DIF System, Verónica Lezama Espinosa; the municipal presidents of Benito Juárez, Ana Paty Peralta de la Peña, and of Puerto Morelos, Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz; Deputy Jorge Sanén Cervantes, representing the State Congress; María Elena Ceballos Cardeña, representing the Superior Court of Justice; and Esther Burgos Jiménez, head of SEMUJERES.