When the Incas reached Ecuador, their power was rarely defeated until they arrived to present day Zuleta, land of Caranquis,. For decades the tribes fought, until the Spanish arrived to the continent. In the present day, descendants of this tribe continue to defend themselves from opponents that are even stronger than the Incas: poverty and the loss of cultural identity – one of their weapons, embroidery.
It is now a staple practice among Zuleta. I got to watch these women work with their dexterous fingers after buying one of these great bread basket covers at the market in Otavala.