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A historical
perspective of Mayan life in the 20th century is provided through
13 stories written about village elders. Each story is a life retrospective
pertaining to a particular chapter.
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Village Elder Story Listing -
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Introduction
Section
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Daughter
of the Sun
(Juana Bolon, San Antonio)
Read
Story Teaser
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Breaking the Mold
(Elisea Bol, San Antonio) |
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Family
Section
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A Mayan Child is Born
(Abolonia Bah,
Santa Ana) |
A
Young Man in Charge
(Ignacio
Bolon,San Antonio)
An Uncommon Marriage
(Ignacio
and Juana Bolon)
Read
Story Teaser
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Life and Work of a Mayan Woman
(Maria Ico, San Marcos)
Read
Story Teaser
Strength
Between Family Members
(Anonymous female)
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Community
Section
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The
Education of A Senator
(Thomas Salaam Sr., Punta Gorda)
Read
story Teaser
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Memoirs
of A Village Leader
(Marcus Bah, Santa Ana)
A
Nurse's Story
(Emelia Chun, San Antonio)
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Culture
Section
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The
Maya and Their Environment
Section
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With
Her Own Two Hands
(Manuela Cus, Aguacate/Silver Creek)
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Daughter
of the Sun
Juana's mother
was frightened when she bore her baby girl. So frightened, she decided
that she didn't want the infant. She wouldn't breast feed her. In
fact, she wrapped the baby in a piece of cloth, set her in a piece
of card board, and placed little Juana under in the corner to die.
Read the life story of the only contemporary Mayan albino. |
Life
and Work of a Mayan Woman
She sits on the bed while we talk. Her 82-year-old eyes have seen
their share of life. Maria Ico looks around the room today and witnesses
the gathering of four generations of females. Not unusual for her,
as she has been involved in raising each of these generations.
Maria speaks
in Q'eqchi' to her daughter Natividad One of Natividad's daughters,
Christina, sits and listens to the conversation while Florita, Christina's
niece and the youngest female at age 6, walks around the room unaware
of the conversation's importance.
Years from now,
Florita may be interested in answers to questions being asked today.
She will see and experience many things that her great grandmother
will not. Yet she may wonder, someday when her eyes are old like
Maria's are today, what it was like to be a Q'eqchi' woman in the
1930s. She may look to her grandmother Natividad and wonder what
experiences she had as a young woman as well.
Just in case
Florita has questions about the life of these Q'eqchi' women sitting
in the room today, her great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt
provide the answers. This story is for Florita.
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An
Uncommon Marriage
The Bolon's have
been married for 62 years. They've been taking care of each other
for a long time. As they discuss their engagement and marriage they
banter back and forth. They smile at each other as they correct the
other on details. One can see that after all of these years they are
still very happy sharing everyday life. Ignacio Bolon tells us, through
one of his granddaughters, our interpreter, that his life got much
better that day in 1938, when he saw Juana Chen for the first time. |
Education
of A Senator
Ask Thomas Salaam Sr. and he'll tell you that his educational experience
has lasted a lifetime. While enrolled in formal education for a relatively
short period of time, he always took advantage of opportunities to
learn new skills and gain knowledge. To his credit are four Mayan
"firsts" which helped define not only the movement of the
Mayan culture, but also who he is today. This 75 year old Mopan Mayan
and world traveler has the distinction of being the 1st Toledo District
Mayan to:
drive a truck
(1949)
be commissioned as a Justice of the Peace (1958)
be appointed as a Senator (1969)
be appointed to the Belize Advisory Council (1992)
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The
Story Teller
Imagine being eight years of age, sitting on the ground outside an
old man's house. It is 1929. You and your village friends are gathered
around this man and other elder villagers. They begin to tell a story.
You have heard this one before, but you can't resist hearing it again.
You stay and listen because it is filled with magic. Your favorite
part is when the gods talk or the animals play games with one another.
But the story also helps you understand why you believe the things
you do. It helps you to be part of your culture. You do not know it
now, but one day you too will be an old man and young people will
ask you to tell this same story - over and over - so that they can
understand as well. Enter the world of eight year old Sabastian Max,
the man who grew up to be the storyteller. |
The
Whistler
Originally hired in his youth to clear away bush that enveloped the
ancient Mayan city site of Lubaantun, Santiago Coc returned to the
ruins twenty-five years ago to assume the role of caretaker. Over
the years Santiago has been present during the unearthing of clay
figurines that are unique to Lubaantun. He loves the figurines as
much as he respects the craftsmen who made them in the 10th century.
Santiago's feelings for his Mayan ancestors and their art evolved
into a craft that he can call his own. Read about how he becomes "The
Whistler". |
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