Home About the Living Maya Documentary Contents The Maya
Purchase Users Guide Library Links
One Human Race
Maya Participation
Document Resources
Project Protocal
National Launching
Project Team
National Launching of The Living Maya
On July 25, 2001, a National Launching of the documentary was held in Belize City, a world away from the life paradigm of Maya villagers. Maya Leaders and villagers traveled from the Toledo District to the Belize Center for Arts Education and Cultural Understanding where the National Launching was held.
Gregory Ch´oc and Valentino ShalGregory Ch´oc, Leupold, Marsden, and Valentino ShalMarsden and Roderick Che
national launching attendeesFrancesca Assi, Gregory Ch´oc, Tom Veevers, and Valentino Shal

Chanel 5 news records to donation event
The National Launching was a featured on both Belizean evening news programs.

Pictures above, left to right:

First Row - Valentino Shal, Chairman, Toledo Maya Cultural Council (standing) serves as the master of ceremonies for the event while Gregory Ch´oc, Chairman, Q´eqchi´ Council of Belize, gave the launching speech. - Read the National Launching Event Speech - Eric Leupold, documentary photographer and project partner and Anne-Michelle Marsden, project director and text author stand with Mr. Ch´oc and Pedro Kukul, translator for the documentary and Corazal District Education Officer. Marsden brings Roderick Che of Silver Creek village, the youngest Mayan documentary volunteer, to the front of the room during the documentary premier.

Second Row - Invited guests included Belize governmental officials, representatives from international non-governmental organizations that are active in Belize, the media, and the American Embassy.
Read the Launching Event Invitation
Tom Veevers, President of the Garden State Rotary Club of Cherry Hill, NJ, USA, stands with Chairlady of the Toledo Maya Women's Council, Mr. Ch'oc, and Mr. Shal before the event begins. The Rotary Club donated $5,000 to the project and sponsored the National Launching Event.
Today, The Living Maya is used throughout Belize as a teaching tool in high schools, at the University of Belize, and in the Belize Tourism Board's national tour guide training program. The documentary is also used by international organizations to train volunteers working with the Toledo Maya and by individuals curious about the world's indigenous cultures. Marsden presents to CAPSS
Marsden gives a presentation to the Caribbean Association of Principals of Primary and Secondary Schools (CAPPSS) and donates documentary copies so that schools throughout the Caribbean can use The Living Maya in their cultural studies programs.
Students and teachers learning to use The Living Maya documentary in Belize.
 students learning teachers learning
Return to top