These interviews allow a closer insight into Maya traditions, everyday life, the different roles within their communities, and their plans for the future.
Members of more than 20 different communities participated in the first phase of ICDO’s ‘Kalan Je La’an: Following the Maya Voice’ project.
Please see below their messages:
Maya Culture & Traditions
”It is not allowed for women to go to the corn fields, because it is believed they bring bad winds and bad luck. Before going to the milpa you have to ask permission from the gods and do everything the God Chaak requires to be done in the milpa. Rain is very important and if it does not fall, the group of twelve people must be brought together and they do the Cha’a Chaak, ceremony performed by Maya since time immemorial . They have to go find a priest to present to the Gods what they will do so that the rain falls for the harvest.”
Preservation of Maya Language
“It is not usual that girls from our community are studying, but I think education is very important. I want to be a teacher one day and to pass my knowledge and our beautiful language to the next generations. It is a valuable thing to do and the preservation of the Maya language is highly important.”
Health-Maya Medicine
“Our grandmothers would pass on their knowledge of traditional Maya medicine to their children and grandchildren. There are no hospitals here and it is important to grow plants that cure and to learn how to use them properly, turning to traditional ways. Everything I know I will pass on to my children and in that way preserve traditional Maya medicine.”
Women Empowerment
“What we are doing here is fighting machismo and man laws. Little by little, we have started to change our roles inside of the community: my time has a price. Gasoline has a price; a pen has a price.”
Self-respect
“I want to transmit a message to the younger generations, that they should be taught from a young age to respect both men and women. We should show respect for everyone.“
Conservation of Biodiversity
“For me, nature is the trees, the water, the land, the animals. If there are no trees, the bees do not have where to get the honey from. If there are no trees, there are no bees. If there are no bees, there is no food. For me, it’s like we are dying, too. I ask all of you out there to respect the indigenous people's ways of life and to have conscience because nature is alive. If nature turns into money, we cannot eat it as it is said. I am happy with what I am doing here with my brothers; doing organic beekeeping. It is my passion.”
Migration
“I don’t see a future for myself in staying here. My brother has moved to a bigger city and I decided to do the same.”
Family Values
“I learned how to be satisfied with what I have. There are two options: I can choose to have dementia and forget things, as my mother, or I can choose to be happy. I choose the latter, happiness.“
Education
“We as teachers have a commitment. I always say to my students: You are the future, not me. And it depends on you that the Maya language is taught and that it continues to be spoken.”
Art
“I would like the world to see my paintings, Mexico is so rich in culture and Maya culture is Mexico’s heritage and it should be given a space that it deserves. Art will help me introduce my culture and language to the world.”
Future
“The ancient Maya culture is not extinct. Mexico still does not know how rich it is in culture and that is why the other countries and cultures are given more value than our own. The world needs to see the greatness of Mexico's multiculturalism. We need more art; we need to feel alive."
Diversity
“It is interesting how comfortable I am with being transgender around Maya youth. They accepted me and they encourage me to be proud of who I am. There is no sexual or gender discrimination at the University and within Maya communities.“