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Andean Backstrap Weaving is the underlying technique for pre-conquest era, conquest-era, and post-conquest era weaving (pre-1500s and later) in what is now the Cusco region of Peru. This weaving has roots in history that spans several cultural eras over the centuries (including Nasca, Wari, and Incan weavers) and includes a wealth of weaving, spinning, and natural dye opportunities.

What you might not know is that these traditions have been kept alive since the conquest era, against all efforts of completely eradicating this history. The master weavers in the Quechua-speaking communities passed down their cultural identity textiles for centuries (by word of mouth). And in modern days, they are continuing to keep the traditions alive as well as doing their own revival of "lost techniques" in the past several decades (especially during the pandemic hard lockdown years).

Cat Ellen never expected to bring her studies of Andean textiles into her history club experience. But having studied weaving with Abby Franquemont (author of "Respect the Spindle") since 2017, she has been part of the online instruction in current day Andean Backstrap Weaving. Within the context of historical studies, Cat has been making connections between what we can learn about conquest-era contact and the extant textiles in museums which then provides supporting evidence for the first-person accounts published in 1615. The stories passed down amongst the current-day weavers can be recognized in the historical record.