Working for Indigenous Rights

As promised, over the coming months we will be highlighting a few of the service workers that make up the MCC Guatemala/El Salvador team. Tobias Roberts and Yasmin Mendez recently moved from El Salvador to start a position with MCC's partner, Q'anil, in the area of Nebaj, Guatemala. Toby worked with MCC in El Salvador for a number of years where he met Yasmin. They are both very talented and creative individuals and we're excited to have them in Guatemala! In addition to the work they are doing with youth in the outer lying communities of Nebaj, Toby has also been asked by the local communities to be an official observer in the negotiations between these indigenous communities and an international corporation building a hydroelectric dam in the area. We often talk about the mining situation in San Marcos, but think it is equally important to be aware of similar issues happening in other areas of Guatemala that may not get as much attention. We hope you will take the time to read Toby's article about this situation here: A Precedent for Indigenous Economic Rights?


"Yasmin and Tobias are living in the Mayan Highland community of Nebaj where they are working with different groups of youth on small scale economic development projects to try and create options other than migration into the cities, coastal farms and to the United States and Canada. They are also supporting indigenous communities in Nebaj and Cotzal who are resisting the construction of hydroelectric dams by foreign companies on their ancestral lands."

el equipo

One of the joys of this work is partnering with a team of people who are intelligent, dedicated, and supportive, not to mention fun and good looking :) Just a few photos of the Guatemala/El Salvador team at our recent retreat in Copan, Honduras. Stay tuned in the coming months for updates from each person and the fabulous work they are doing.

What now?

This question of what one can do after learning and being challenged through experiences here is one that comes up again and again; a question that we want groups to struggle with and one that we ourselves struggle with on a daily basis. How can we connect our experiences here to our lives at home? What can we do? Is it even possible to do anything in the face of so many huge issues? An email I recently received from a group leader expresses this inner struggle well:

"It’s very strange to realize that it’s almost been a month since we’ve been back in Canada. It sometimes feels like it’s so easy to lose touch with experiences such as what we had. One thing I always struggle with when I travel is how to reconcile the two realities. It boggles my mind that flying 6 hours can put you in such a different situation."

In the work we do with MCC, we often use this great word "advocacy" as an answer to these questions. But really, do we even know what advocacy means? How can advocacy be turned into concrete actions that make sense in our daily lives? Rebecca Bartel, former policy analyst for MCC Latin America and the Caribbean, has written a great article that outlines some basic steps in starting this process; see below for highlights from her article. For more information on what MCC is doing and how you can become engaged, contact the current policy analyst at: policyanalyst@laca.mcc.org
MCC Latin America Advocacy Blog

What is Advocacy?
A tool for carrying out MCC’s mission by
fomenting change in the structures and
policies that create injustice, as well as
creating the conditions necessary for
sustainable development,
reconstruction, peace and justice work
to be possible. It is a necessary tool in
the building of God’s Kingdom.

Advocacy is more than only witnessing to
government; it is a process of raising awareness
in ourselves and in our communities about the
root causes of the issues we are working with in
our service assignments. Advocacy is about
taking concrete situations of poverty, violence,
injustice and lack of human dignity, to a
broader level of analysis which looks at the
structural and systemic reasons for the
problems we work to address in our work with
communities and churches.

How you can get involved
SEE – Experience
What do I know of this issue?
What have I experienced of this?
Who are affected most by this and how?
How has the issue arisen?

JUDGE – Analyze
Why is this happening?
Who gains from this situation?
Who loses out?
Why does this situation continue?

REFLECT – A Faith Perspective
What particular insight/view does our faith, church teaching, and scriptures give us on this issue?

ACT - Advocate
What needs to be done to resolve this situation? What can I/we/my church community do?
How will your action change those involved?
How can you tell if it is successful?

And...A Few Action Ideas
(thank you to the staff at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for sharing these)

SHOP WISELY: Choose and ask for environmentally sustainable goods and services, and Fair Trade. Avoid products subject to boycott due to severe violations of human rights, and labour rights.

SPEAK UP: Communicate your interest in these products to stores and businesses that don’t offer them at present. Research alternatives.

GIVE: Volunteer and financially support organizations doing good work for hunger and food security, caring for Creation, protecting human rights, bringing about trade justice, etc.

SHARE: Communicate your views with your elected government officials— MP’s , MLA’s, the PM. Write a letter, email, or postcard. Or call them up and ask for a visit.

ADVOCATE: For civil, provincial, and federal adherence to the highest internationally binding environmental, and human rights standards, peace campaigns, etc. E.g. the Human Right to Food.

LEARN: Cultivate a spirit of passionate curiosity. Keep yourself informed about the issues. Keep learning and share what you learn with colleagues, family and friends.

WATCH: Peruse the internet, radio, television, newspapers, magazines and other media for signs of hope and struggle.

DISPELL: Be a myth buster, avoid perpetuating stereotypes and prejudices about people, and poverty, anywhere in the world.

BUILD: Incite solidarity & compassion for all people facing hunger and injustice, at home and abroad.

USE: Consume God’s gifts of Creation wisely. Use less fossil fuels, energy, water.

PRAY: For these issues, for the people you have met, for an end toinjustice, hunger and oppression.

El Migrante Spanish School opens in San Marcos

For those of you who have been thinking about returning to Guatemala (or coming for the first time!) and are interested in studying Spanish, there is now a new and exciting option in San Marcos where many of you have visited. We encourage you to take some time and look at what El Migrante Spanish School has to offer.

"Many of you may know that Guatemala is a popular place to study Spanish. The cities of Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Antigua are the two principal locations for schools. We are very excited to announce the opening of “El Migrante Spanish School”, the first and only Spanish school in San Marcos. For those of you familiar with the city of San Marocs, “El Migrante” is located close to the Central Park, a few streets from the Cathedral. Our teaching staff is comprised entirely of local teachers from San Marcos who have experience teaching in the Spanish schools in Xela. The mission of El Migrante Spanish School is not only to provide the one-on-one, interactive Spanish classes that have been developed here in Guatemala, but also to create meaningful, empowering employment for the people of San Marcos. El Migrante Spanish School is also an important space for cultural exchange for the teachers, host families, staff, and population in general. We would like to invite those folks who have come through San Marcos with MCC to come and study Spanish here. If you have been looking to come back to Guatemala and/or San Marcos, this is great opportunity to do so. Learning Spanish with us will most certainly deepen and enrich your travels in Guatemala and beyond. Visit our website at www.elmigrantespanishschool.com and connect with us via www.facebook.com/elmigrantespanish and www.twitter.com/elmigranteguate

Tribute to San Marcos: CFGB visit

San Marcos is a beautiful and rugged part of Guatemala with many interesting and complex issues, amazing landscape, and even more amazing and generous people. Many of you have had the pleasure of exploring this area, as did a group of young adults with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank a few weeks ago. Ellen Paulley, the leader of the group, has put together a great story and slideshow about their time here; please visit here to see the pictures (the images are fantastic!) and read the story.

Also, many of you have asked for suggestions on books, articles, etc., that touch on the issues you learned about while you were here. One of those issues is the mining situation that continues to greatly impact San Marcos and other parts of Guatemala. Below you will find a short list of suggested books and articles if you are interested in continuing to learn about this complex issue.

• Bowing to the Gold Calf; Prisim Magazine - Introduction to the Marlin Mine and development from a Christian perspective http://www.resistance-mining.org/english/?q=node/208
• Gold on Hold; Cultural Survivial Quarterly - Current issues concerning the Marlin Mine http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/guatemala/gold-hold
• MCC Ottawa Mining Justice Campaign http://ottawa.mcc.org/miningjustice
• Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for our Planet, Jonathan Merritt http://www.amazon.com/Green-Like-God-Unlocking-Divine/dp/0446557250
  
• Christianity, Wilderness, and Wildlife, Susan Bratton http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo6166745.html
  

We hope you enjoy these images and reflections from the CFGB group! Thank you to Anne Barkett and other past participants for the pictures.

what trip experiences have been the most meaningful for you?

the mine was mentally and emotionally challenging, but highly important
empanadas and basketball in La Vega; loved seeing two cultures coming together
the home stays; they were the hardest, but most meaningful
the hike! proving to myself that i could do it

what did you hear/see/experience that impacted you in a powerful way?

the issue of land ownership
learning about and seeing the mine
seeing all the barbed wire and gates around the houses
the visual of the dump reminds me of issues that transcend countries; how are we caring for the earth?
everything

were any assumptions challenged by what you experienced?

the assumption that indigenous people have a terrible, hard life
home stays had a high level of cleanliness; not what is stereotypically depicted
view of Roman Catholic church is shifting
experienced a great amount of hospitality and joy visiting and staying with Guatemalan people

what do you feel compelled to do or share with others?

the mine!
i want to share the mine story
the issue of mining justice, both in Guatemala and elsewhere; as Canadians, we have a responsibility to be engaged in this issue

For one more look at what there is to see and learn in San Marocs, watch this great video: Sibinal, un destino de montaña por descubrir
www.youtube.com
You may be surprised to see yourself or other familiar faces in the video!

Learning Together

“Who is my Neighbor?”

Service and Learning Together in Guatemala 2011 - Jim Epp Rosthern Junior College

It began with a robbery. A traveler, in a foreign country, was accosted by bandits who took all he had and left him alone on the side of the road. This is how Jesus begins his well-known parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37 in answer to the question “who is my neighbor?”

The parallels are unavoidable. RJC has traveled to Guatemala for the past number of years to enjoy a cross-cultural experience, partner in service with MCC and local communities, learn and discover who our neighbors are. This year, the RJC group of 13 students and adults left March 20 with the same expectations. Two days later we were robbed at gunpoint by two men who demanded “dollars” and “cameras”. We were all in the MCC Microbus at an Esso gas station in Guatemala City fueling up for our first out trip to El Salvador. We had only traveled for 10 minutes when “the incident” occurred.

The robbery took less than two minutes. While it occurred the group remained calm and composed. Immediately afterward we sat in our van and wondered “what now”? as we waited for the police. Their investigation was brief, to say the least, and soon we were on our way to the MCC Guatemala offices. This is where our real learning began. We were met at the gate by Antony Sanchez Solano, who with his wife Irma directs MCC in Guatemala and El Salvador. All of the other MCC staff available had been called in. A space was all ready for us to gather. We were surrounded by concern, warmth and friendship. We were all given time to share thoughts and feelings with each other. MCC made phones available to all so calls could be made home to explain, find support and plan next steps. Adrianna Koehn, our MCC contact and traveling companion was a constant support. We were surrounded by the “good Samaritans” Jesus spoke of.

The whole RJC group felt strongly they wanted to continue their trip. All the parents at home supported this decision. As a result, new plans were made to move forward. The next day was to be spent at the Canadian Embassy replacing the lone passport that had been taken. While eating breakfast Mario, our driver, joined us, fully expecting that we would be leaving. We were shocked! Mario is a 66 year old retired church member who occasionally serves as an MCC driver. He was the one in our group who had been threatened with the gun. Yet, here he was ready to drive us again the next day! We asked him why he had returned and he replied, “I am a man of peace and faith. I choose not to let the violence of this world decide my life for me. I am here to be with my new Canadian friends.” Jesus spoke of Mario when he told of the Good Samaritan!

For the remainder of our trip we continued to encounter many who embodied God’s love to us through their hospitality, generosity and friendship. We were hosted in Carranza by Meme and Julietta where we were invited into many homes to see first hand the lives of Guatemalan people.

We were welcomed in La Linea, El Salvador, by Bernada, the matriarch of the community and church who proudly showed us the “promised land”, a large tract of land her community was hoping to buy so they could move from the slum they were forced to live in as refugees since the 1980’s. We were joined by Sylvia and Israel, two youth from La Linea, who became our traveling companions and friends for the remainder of our trip.

We were welcomed into the homes of the people of Tonina who hosted us as we worked together on a community project led by Juan Pablo and the farmer’s cooperative. Time and time again we encountered “good Samaritans” as we were gifted with friendship, acceptance and love.

We were fed wonderful food and saw spectacular sights. We enjoyed many new and unique experiences such as bartering in the Antigua market, swimming in the Fuentes Georginas hot springs and standing above the clouds in the Guatemalan mountains. Most significant of all for us was the Parable of the Good Samaritan alive in our trip. What could have been a demoralizing and devastating experience was turned into one of richness because of the wonderful people who became neighbors to us.

it's been too long

I was a bit shocked to realize that the last time we updated the blog was in January....and now it's MAY, and almost the end of May at that. Since that time, we have had the pleasure of hosting 4 groups: Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Rosthern Junior College, and a learning tour from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (Go Canada!!) I hope to be able to share some reflections from each of these groups in upcoming posts, but for now, enjoy the collection of photos from a few of the visits. And thank you to those of you who shared these pictures with us; there are some really great ones here!

people and places from:
panabaj, santiago atitlan
la linea, tonina, san marcos
acul, nebaj
la linea, san martin