Snapshots of Maya Self-determination in Southern Belize

Abstract

I n southern Belize, the Maya people of Toledo District have been resisting colonial power and state authoritarianism while fighting for territorial rights and self-determination for generations. This is due in part to their deep connection with their ancestral lands, defined by the notions of aj ral ch’och’ (being “children of the Earth”) and se’ komonil (living well together in dignity), which lie at the heart of Maya culture, community, and relations. Over the past three decades, however, state-sponsored industrial logging, mining, and agribusiness activities have increasingly threatened Maya land rights as the government has granted concessions to multinational corporations without consulting Maya villages. To advance their land rights, the Maya have used various tactics and strategies, including legal cases, direct action, and community mobilization. They have also formed alliances with other Indigenous groups and international human rights organizations and researchers to amplify their message and