Preserving the valuable assets of the community.

Ms. Ka Huong (born in 1991) is a young artisan born into a family with three generations dedicated to the traditional brocade weaving craft in Ta Lai commune. For Ms. Ka Huong, brocade weaving is not only about preserving the traditional craft of her ethnic group but also a link connecting her roots with the present, honoring the past, and opening up new avenues for community development.

• When did you learn to weave brocade, and what led a young person like you to develop a love for and dedication to this traditional craft of your ethnic group?

- Ma girls in Ta Lai village all begin learning to weave brocade at the age of 7-8. Even more special, my grandmother and mother taught me weaving with all their heart, preserving traditional cultural identity; they taught me about the meaning of the patterns and motifs on the brocade fabrics of the Ma women. All of this has left a deep impression on me to this day.

• What is the significance of traditional brocade weaving for Ma ethnic women?

- The traditional brocade weaving craft of Ma women is not simply about weaving a piece of cloth; the weaving process also carries thoughts, feelings, and stories; each piece of cloth has its own unique meaning.

• As a member of the next generation, what have you been doing to contribute to preserving this traditional craft?

- As a successor generation, inheriting the beautiful cultural identity of the Ma ethnic group, I meticulously preserve and pass on not only the weaving craft but everything related to my ethnic group's traditional culture to the younger generation who will inherit it after me. Currently, I am running my personal project: a club that teaches English, survival skills, and activities to preserve the traditional cultural identity of the Ma people for students in the village. Simultaneously, I am finding orders for brocade weaving for the women of the Ma village (there is still no display area for their products), and managing a group that performs traditional dances and gong music. Most importantly, I am hoping to organize a class to revive brocade weaving for girls aged 11-15, but I haven't been able to do so yet due to a lack of funding.

Thank you very much!

NH

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202512/gin-giu-von-quy-cua-cong-dong-0f00b50/