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A Celebration in Tanhoc
As the new
representative for Pueblo Partisans in Guatemala, I was fortunate to
be part of a second annual celebration with the cooperative Tanhoc,
in the El
Petén department of Guatemala. This special ceremony celebrated
Pueblo Partisans’ involvement in the application of an annual
installment of a renegotiated concessional
loan from the Guatemalan Land Fund (FONTIERRAS).
This loan helps the community earn a land title for their
agricultural co-operative, through a program that verifies the
enhancement of the residents’ level of education. The
sixth and final land payment will be made on October
28, 2011. The people of
Tanhoc had requested Pueblo Partisans to help them develop a project
that would permit them to gain full legal title to their land. This
was accomplished by combining the community’s need for land
security with their desire to improve their educational
opportunities. Pueblo Partisans provides one education credit for
each community member that successfully completes a grade level at
an institution approved by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. The
community member may also receive credit for successfully completing
a course in one of Pueblo Partisans’ community development
workshops. These education credits are then applied to the annual
installment that pays down the land loan.
Representatives at the celebration.
Back row: Teacher (Tanhoc School), David Mayen (Ministry
of Education), Juan Carlos Aldana (Fondo de Tierras), Sister Mary
Faye, Amy Backes, Angel Kilkán (INACOP & Mayor-elect of Poptún);
Front row: Teacher (Tanhoc School), Mario Guzmán (INACOP),
Francisco Cuz
(Pueblo Partisans' local representative).
The fiesta
started the night before, with a procession of “los ancianos”
(the older residents) carrying burning incense and sacrificing a
turkey for the Mayan gods. They had been preparing all day, making
tamales, building an altar and setting up the church for the
ceremony. At 7 p.m., the marimbas began, as if calling to the
residents. People soon began meandering toward the church, which
sits on top of an ancient temple that has not been excavated.
When I arrived,
it seemed the whole village was there, sitting in small groups,
talking. Small children were already asleep on beds made of tarps
and blankets. I was quickly offered warm coffee and I then started
to mingle with the people. I watched three, sometimes four, men
playing the marimbas. I saw the altar in front of the church, full
of candles, incense and images of saints.
Soon after I
arrived, they began a vesper, which is a combination of Mayan and
Catholic tradition. Songs were sung in Q’eqchi’
(their native language), accompanied by an acoustic guitar.
Charismatic speeches and prayers were then given. Processions of
women, carrying incense and candles, filled the aisle during the
ceremony, waiting to bless the altar and the commencement of the
ceremony. When it all ended, it was 11:30 p.m. Then, everyone began
eating tamales filled with spicy black beans. I retired to my hut to
rest, because the ceremony was to begin again the next day at 10
a.m. I heard the music until three or four in the morning, as they
continued to celebrate the occasion.
The next
morning, the out-of-town guests arrived: the current manager of INACOP
(the National Institute of Cooperatives), his assistant, a
representative from Fondo
de Tierras (Land Trust), and the minister of education, all from the El Petén
region of Guatemala. We greeted the guests and introduced ourselves,
then brought them to the church where the ceremony was about to
begin. I sat up front, with all the representatives. Near me was
Sister Mary Faye, a nun who used to live and teach in the village of
Tanhoc. She has been very instrumental in educating of some of the
men and women living there and elsewhere. Before the ceremony in the
church started, the entire congregation gathered around a small fire
outside, to offer a prayer to their gods for this special occasion.
Candles were distributed to everyone, and one by one we passed the
fire and tossed our candles in, before returning to the church.
Don Sebastián conducting the candle
ceremony.
Many
encouraging speeches were given about the project and the importance
of education, all translated into Q’eqchi'. I spoke specifically
about their participation and encouraged them to continue taking
classes, for their future. I began and ended in Q’eqchi’, trying to emphasize the need
to preserve their indigenous language. The most touching part of the
ceremony, for me, was the opportunity to hand the annual payment to
a local Mayan woman. She, in turn, spoke to the representative of
Fondos de Tierras, in Spanish, about how proud they were to pay off
part of their loan. My heart was full as I realized how fortunate I
was to represent Pueblo Partisans in helping the people progress in
their education and ownership of their land.
Then, the
diplomas and certificates were given to each person who attended
school or specific classes throughout the year. Examples include
kindergarten through grade six, middle school, some high school, and
classes in pig husbandry and environmental restoration. Some adults
were also given certificates for learning how to read and write. The
diplomas and certificates were created by Francisco Cuz, a local
resident taught by Sister Mary Faye and who gave the courses in pig
husbandry and environmental restoration; he is also a local
representative for Pueblo Partisans. Francisco now studies in the
capital, Guatemala City. He has only one year before he completes
his degree in Agronomy. After that, he plans to return and work with
his community, to help sustain their land.
Juan Carlos Aldana (Fondo de Tierras) handing out
the diplomas.
After the
formal ceremony, we all ate chicken soup with special tortillas and tamalitos.
These are a tamale with no stuffing, but rather like a “cake” of
delicious, rich masa,
wrapped in a type of banana leaf. All the guests were honored by
eating first and sitting at the only table. The ambience was happy
and full of gratitude for our presence there, and for our commitment
to their community. This is the second year that we have helped them
pay off their land debt, and I hope that our words and commitment to
them will encourage them to continue their education, which would
help to sustain their community.
My dedication
to this project is strong and I hope to offer classes in health in
the coming year. I also emphasized to them that I, too, am a
student; a student of their culture, their traditions and their
lives. As my teachers, I hope they are reminded of the importance of
these things and that others are interested in who they are. May
this upcoming year bring higher enrollment, more educational
opportunities and a closer relationship between Pueblo Partisans and
Tanhoc. Many feel this is a successful endeavor, and I believe in
its mission.
May we all be
grateful for our education and be encouraged to share it with
others. With Peace and Love,
Amy Backes
Amy Backes is a Registered
Nurse and has a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing. She is the representative
for Pueblo Partisans in Guatemala.
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