The partners organized the afternoon session. They invited Victoriano Castillo Gonzales, a Jesuit priest who has lived with Mayan people over the last 25 years and is professor at the University of Quetzaltenango presented on the reality of indigenous people today.
The gathering first opened our meeting with a Mayan blessing and welcome. Darlene was asked to join the Mayan circle.
Darlene: I was so honoured to be asked to participate in the Mayan circle of the four directions. It gave me the opportunity to ask my grandfathers and grandmothers to pray and stand by me in prayer and to walk with me as I walk in the land of Mayans and be my guides.
After the opening prayer, “Victo” spoke about the emergence of significant changes for the Mayan people. Mayan people are gaining in economic, political and social power in their communities. They are also being represented in professional and intellectual professions as they push to open these spaces. New models of indigenous organization and identity are emerging with accelerated urbanization of the indigenous population. Indigenous identity was synonymous with being a campesino but now Mayan people are involved at every level of society in Guatemala. Since 1992, the 500th anniversary of Spanish conquest , Mayan people have claimed public space and began to express pride in their identity. This has been a tremendous shift.
Mayan people have been part of social movements for land rights and political
rights. In the 80s they joined insurgent forces that fought against the Guatemalan government and many were massacred and lynched.
Mayan emergence, organization and political advances
1992 - The Nobel Peace prize was awarded to Rigoberta Menchu, a Mayan leader recognized for her human rights work. This award was received as validation of the struggle of the Mayan people.
International Labour Organization, Covenant 169
1995 – The government was pressured by international organizations to sign Covenant 169 of the International Labour organization (ILO). Covenant 169 guarantees indigenous rights to land and obligates countries that have signed on to protect rights of indigenous people to the land and resources (water, land, forest, mining). This section stipulates that indigenous people must be consulted prior to mining licenses being approved by government. The government signed on and promised large land owners that there would be no land reform in return.
Mining companies now have to submit to community consultation meetings that must be carried out by the government. The partners expressed concerns that Guatemalans do not have sufficient information on the environmental and health costs of mining in communities that are already vulnerable.
Canada connection – Canadian mining companies lobbied against Bill C-300 a private member’s bill to regulate Canadian mining standards overseas. The bill was defeated in the house by 4 votes.
1996 Peace Accord
After 37 years of armed struggle, the Peace Accords were signed between the guerillas and the government and slowly elements of the accord are being turned into legislation. One of these is the protecting the identity and rights of indigenous people in a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society. This goal has yet to be realized.
In the current government of president Colom, there are five Mayan politicians that have been elected. This is significant given that Mexico with 28% population of indigenous people has no indigenous politicians.
Victorio concluded his talk by emphasizing that there has been a valorization and restoring of Mayan culture which has resulted in realities that were unheard of even 10 years ago. He cited an example of university students now participating in Mayan ceremonies on campus. Indigenous movements are reclaiming cultural space and there is an apparition of an indigenous middle class. Despite the positive movements toward change, the Mayan continue to experience systemic racism, economic exploitation.
After a four hour trip through the mountains and meeting with the Mayan partners who led the afternoon session. We were struck by the incredible achievements they have made in the face of such tremendous odds.
We ended the evening with a Mayan prayer . Tomorrow we will be meeting with Mayan midwives and look forward to spending more time with the partner leaders.
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