And keeping it on indigenous affairs and self determination, several days ago, women from the Toledo villages of Conejo Creek and Sunday Wood played a very important role in the delimitation of boundaries between their communities.
5 weeks ago, we showed you how a similar process was completed between the villages of Santa Teresa, Laguna, Jordan, and Aguacate. These communities now have signed boundary treaties which is part of the ongoing process of formally recognizing Maya Communal Lands.
Part of the process is actually going out to the agreed boundary areas and formally marking them with the use of GPS equipment. Well, for the establishment of boundaries between Conejo Creek and Sunday Wood, a group of women from both communities was trained in the use of GPS equipment. And, when the village elders and leaders went out formally to mark the boundary, these women joined them in the difficult trek through thick jungles and deep swamps.
Freelance Journalist Jose Sanchez got a chance to speak with members from the 2 communities, and with his help, we bring coverage of the treaty signing. Here's what they had to say:
Rosendo Pau - Resident, Sunday Wood Village
"Today was a historic day, as the boundary signing agreement was made. I believe that's the first step to moving forward for our community."
Pablo Te - Resident, Sunday Wood Village
"That is the way how we come together and do our boundary line all around the villages of Conejo, Crique Sarco, Corazon, San Lucas, and Santa Teresa."
Enrique Makin - 1st Alcalde, Conejo Creek Village
"The purpose of our meeting or visit here in Sunday Wood is to do the signing agreement with them in terms of the verification of our boundary line."
Clara Cucul - Member, Conejo Village Council
"We went along with the leaders to verify the boundary line between Sunday Wood and Conejo. It was very hard swampy, but we made it to where they wanted the boundary."
Rosa Teul - Resident, Conejo Creek Village
"We went safely, and we came back safely. So, this is a historic day for me, and I hope it is also for the villagers of Sunday Wood."
Albina Makin - Resident, Conejo Creek Village
"We said that we would like to be trained with the GPS. We want to learn because all of the time, it's only men. [We] noticed that, but we thought that we ladies could learn that too. So, we are trying, and we're working with the GPS, with the waypoints now."
Maya Ch'oc - Executive Director, SATIIM
"About 2 weeks ago, they visited the boundary area with their leaders and their neighbors, Sunday Wood leaders, and I believe the leaders from Sunday Wood were very impressed. They did not expect the ladies to be out there because that's a 2-hour trek all the way to the boundary, and it's through thick jungles, swamp, and so, when they saw them, they were very impressed by them. And actually, they've been invited to assist that community in their demarcation efforts."
As viewers will remember, there 8 steps to auto-delimitation of the territories of each Maya community. This was step #5, and as part of the process, the Ministry of Natural Resources has to confirm and accept that the agreed boundary markers are right and proper.
