Rural Indigenous Groups

In Guatemala, 71% of the country's population living below the poverty line reside in rural areas, and poverty is especially prevalent in indigenous communities. The roots of this problem lie in Guatemala's history of discrimination against indigenous groups, as well as the ongoing deterioration of environmental resources. Historically, members of native groups such as the Maya, Xinca, and Garinagu were excluded from political and economic institutions, which tended to be dominated by descendants of colonial settlers. Today, indigenous groups are further marginalized by the fact that, relative to the general population, they are less likely to speak Spanish. Women are the most disadvantaged demographic, with less access to education and lower awareness of their rights. Kiej de los Bosques aims to address the myriad factors contributing to rural poverty by providing market access and social support networks to rural women artisans producing traditional crafts.

Artisan Voices

Doña Santa, Chortí Maya woman from Jocotán: "If I spend this $2.50 to save these two children, I won't have enough money to feed my other six children." In 2001, Jocotán, a municipality in southeastern Guatemala, suffered from famine and drought. Two of Doña Santa's children were feverish and ill, but she was unable to afford a doctor. Kiej de los Bosques founder Maria Pacheco believed that no mother should have to choose amongst her children, and thus developed programs for hunger relief and environmentally-conscious income generation in the region.

Mayan Weaving

Although synthetic dyes and fibers are often less expensive, many rural groups in Guatemala remain linked to their ancestors through the practice of traditional methods of textile production. Artisans use natural dyes to color yarn and cloth. Native plants such as achiote (rusty reds), indigo (blues) and pericon (yellows and oranges) are either harvested and ground or purchased pre-prepared at local markets. Dyes are then fixed with the liquid found inside banana tree stalks. The gently-colored textiles are woven on foot or back-strap looms. Looms operated by foot pedals were introduced to the Maya by the Spanish in the 15th century, but never fully displaced the indigenous back-strap loom. The artisans of Kiej use both types to produce loose, gauzy weaves perfect for the warm climate.

Region: Central America

Capital: Guatemala City

Population: 13,276,517 (2009)

Size: Slightly smaller than Tennessee

Languages: 60% of the population speaks Spanish; 40% speak one of 23 Amerindian languages

Major religion(s): Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan

Education: Free and mandatory for six years, but often spotty and inadequate; only 2.6% of GDP is spent on education, the 29th lowest level in the world

Life expectancy at birth: 70.59 years

Population below poverty line: 56.2% (2004)

Urban and rural populations: 39% urban, 61% rural

Did You Know: Guatemala is considered the fifth richest biodiversity hotspot in the world, with 1,246 known species of fauna. Approximately 7% of these species exist nowhere else!

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2010 & U.S. Department of State

Guatemala is a land renowned for its biodiversity; indeed, the name “Guatemala” originates from a Maya-Toltec word meaning “land of the trees.” Approximately half of the population are descendants of the ancient Maya. Their rich heritage and the country's natural beauty attract tourists in droves. However much of Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, is beset with poverty and the legacy of decades of violence. The unrest mainly stems from colonial practices of discrimination against indigenous groups, which over the years manifested in their near total disenfranchisement.

Civil War

Spanish colonial rule in Guatemala ended in 1821. From the mid-19th to the late 20th century, the country faced chaotic upheavals in government, besieged by a series of increasingly militant dictatorships. In 1960, grassroots opposition to the government's flagrant violations of human rights erupted into civil war. Over the course of the next thirty-six years, an estimated 200,000 Guatemalans were killed; another 40,000-50,000 “disappeared.” Most of those affected belonged to indigenous populations living in rural areas. The men were either conscripted by the government or drawn into the guerrilla insurgency; women were often left solely responsible for their families, with little means of earning an adequate income. Democracy was established in Guatemala in 1985, but the violence continued for another decade before insurgent groups were absorbed into the government in 1996.

Discrimination Against Indigenous Groups

In Guatemala, discrimination against the Maya and other native groups is deeply rooted in colonial history. Even after the end of Spanish rule, the country was primarily governed by descendants of the colonizers; as a result, indigenous groups faced political and economic exclusion. The heavy Roman Catholic influence of colonial and post-colonial governments often led to the suppression of Mayan spiritual beliefs (although the opposite occurred as well, with many Catholics in Guatemala incorporating aspects of Mayan religion into their lives). The Peace Agreements at the end of the civil war eventually guaranteed the rights of these indigenous groups, although the legacy of discrimination remains. However, beginning in the 1980s with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Rigoberta Menchú's testimonial biography I, Rigoberta Menchú, there has been increased domestic and international recognition of the issue, which has resulted in great strides towards equality.