Nilda Callañaupa

A Quechua weaver and environmentalist who preserved Andean traditions while championing sustainable development.

Nilda Callañaupa (b. 1962) is a Peruvian indigenous leader who revitalized Quechua textile traditions to combat cultural erosion and environmental degradation. As founder of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco in 1996, she created a network of 12 communities safeguarding ancestral weaving techniques. Her work directly prevented the loss of 17 endangered dyeing methods and 300+ traditional patterns, documented in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage registry. Callañaupa’s advocacy for organic cotton farming reduced pesticide use by 68% in the Sacred Valley by 2010 (World Wildlife Fund report).

She pioneered eco-tourism initiatives that channel 80% of profits back to indigenous communities, funding school construction and reforestation projects. Her 2003 collaboration with the WWF established the first Andean cloud forest reserve managed by women. Callañaupa’s 2019 TED Talk "Weaving the Future" has inspired global movements linking cultural preservation with climate action. By merging artistry with environmental stewardship, she redefined indigenous women’s role as custodians of both culture and ecology.