indi geno u s k n ow le d g e
Decolonizing Culture
and Experiencing the Fullness of Life ABOVE:
Girls from the Loctoc Village School in Santiago Chimaltenango, receive food support from Pop No’j.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
A
sociación Pop No’j is a nonprofit grassroots association in Guatemala that facilitates education, organizing, advocacy, and sustainable development among Indigenous Maya communities in the northeastern department of Huehuetenango. Through their women’s, youth, and migration programs, they work directly Photo by with families and communities across a range of projects Fredy Sitaví, providing resources, accompaniment, and technical expertise. Pop No’j. So far this year, they have supported families in building and INSET: maintaining household gardens, held educational workshops Girls participate with children and youth to prevent sexual abuse and violence, in the Danzamos and broadcast their monthly radio program designed to reach por la Vida (We local residents with information and conversations of particuDance for Life) lar interest to Maya communities. The Unitarian Universalist Festival. Photo by Service Committee recently spoke with members of Asociación Fredy Sitaví, Pop No’j about their work to maintain and revitalize Maya Pop No’j. cultures. UUSC: Could you tell us the history of the Association and the work it does? Asociación Pop No’j: In 2005, Pop No’j was established
with an Indigenous Peoples’ approach to interacting with the world. In the history, identity, and culture of Indigenous Peoples, we see great potential in building other ways of living. We base our work on the ancestral Maya worldview: their unique way of seeing, understanding, feeling, and being in the world. We accompany Maya leaders and organizations, particularly in the department of Huehuetenango, contributing to
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the defense of their rights through processes of training, organization, participation, advocacy, and communication. In 2010, seeing that forced migration was affecting Indigenous people and communities, we incorporated it into our work. Because of our approach, we could not disregard migration since the majority of Guatemalan migrants are Maya and the greatest effects of migration are being experienced in Indigenous communities. UUSC: At Pop No’j, what is your perspective on decolonization? How does it manifest? APN: The Spanish invasion and colonization of Abya Yala
began more than 500 years ago and initiated the military, political, economic, and ideological oppression of Indigenous Peoples. Although Guatemala formally achieved its independence in 1821, this did not mean freedom for Indigenous Peoples or other impoverished sectors of the population. We continue to live under new forms of colonialism. This imposition is supported by a racist ideology, which shows contempt for the culture and ancestral knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the intention to annihilate Native communities. However, Indigenous Peoples have a history and culture that are rich in knowledge and practices that are alternatives to the dominant system. They have managed to survive, stay, and resist as peoples. For Indigenous Peoples, the challenge is to eliminate colonial domination and exercise their right to autonomy, which means decolonization in feeling, thinking, and acting. At Pop No’j we support the strengthening of identities and the recovery of ancestral knowledge. We promote the use of
