Ch'orti'-maya Survival In Eastern Guatemala: Indigeneity In Transition
by Brent E. Metz /
2006 / English / PDF
11.3 MB Download
Scholars and Guatemalans have characterized eastern Guatemala as
"Ladino" or non-Indian. The Ch'orti' do not exhibit the obvious
indigenous markers found among the Mayas of western Guatemala,
Chiapas, and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Few still speak
Ch'orti', most no longer wear distinctive dress, and most
community organizations have long been abandoned.
Scholars and Guatemalans have characterized eastern Guatemala as
"Ladino" or non-Indian. The Ch'orti' do not exhibit the obvious
indigenous markers found among the Mayas of western Guatemala,
Chiapas, and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Few still speak
Ch'orti', most no longer wear distinctive dress, and most
community organizations have long been abandoned.
During the colonial period, the Ch'orti' region was adjacent to
relatively vibrant economic regions of Central America that
included major trade routes, mines, and dye plantations. In the
twentieth century Ch'orti's directly experienced U.S.-backed
dictatorships, a 36-year civil war from start to finish, and
Christian evangelization campaigns, all while their population
has increased exponentially. These have had tremendous impacts on
Ch'orti' identities and cultures.
During the colonial period, the Ch'orti' region was adjacent to
relatively vibrant economic regions of Central America that
included major trade routes, mines, and dye plantations. In the
twentieth century Ch'orti's directly experienced U.S.-backed
dictatorships, a 36-year civil war from start to finish, and
Christian evangelization campaigns, all while their population
has increased exponentially. These have had tremendous impacts on
Ch'orti' identities and cultures.
From 1991 to 1993, Brent Metz lived in three Ch'orti'
Maya-speaking communities, learning the language, conducting
household surveys, and interviewing informants. He found
Ch'orti's to be ashamed of their indigeneity, and he was
fortunate to be present and involved when many Ch'orti's joined
the Maya Movement. He has continued to expand his ethnographic
research of the Ch'orti' annually ever since and has witnessed
how Ch'orti's are reformulating their history and identity.
From 1991 to 1993, Brent Metz lived in three Ch'orti'
Maya-speaking communities, learning the language, conducting
household surveys, and interviewing informants. He found
Ch'orti's to be ashamed of their indigeneity, and he was
fortunate to be present and involved when many Ch'orti's joined
the Maya Movement. He has continued to expand his ethnographic
research of the Ch'orti' annually ever since and has witnessed
how Ch'orti's are reformulating their history and identity.
