Guatemala
Cabinet Ambassador for the
Indigenous - Rigoberta Menchu Tum publicly and privately urged this NGO
and American International University on about May 18, 2005, a need
exists for the Maya to hear their dialects used while being gainfully
employed and without experiencing prejudice. At the time Secretary
Menchu Tum said,
"Can you people help
us come up with ways and means to develop Schools for teaching Maya dialects;
that would help tribal members have
gainful incomes as well as a chance to hear our tongues used in
public without being chastised. Besides once foreigners begin to leave
our
country speaking even a few words of Maya, for instance Mam or Queche,
think of it,
respect would evolve.
Doing this could after centuries of repression, horror and racism
finally
give our people opportunities we have not had since 1520 when the
Spaniards came here and set a precedence that has ended up
dominating our people ever since."
Following Secretary
Menchu Tum's
urging, we have learned small Maya
classes covering various dialects are now underway. Some of these
classes are not
closed to travelers if an appropriate remuneration takes place.