Guatemala’s Cultural Heritage Medal is awarded to indigenous peoples

During a ceremony held at the National Palace of Culture in the capital (seat of the executive branch), President Bernardo Arévalo noted that the country’s history has often made invisible those who shaped and worked to make society pluralistic.

He included the various forms of organization and noted, for example, that the 48 cantons of the Totonicapán province had their roots in the administration of the Western Quiche people.

The Head of State stressed to the representatives of these indigenous communities that they are all heroes of the national and popular resistance to the attempt by some criminals to obstruct the democratic transition.

He mentioned the 48 cantons, the mayors of Sololá and Santa Lucía Otatlán, and that each one of them is an expression of the power of the indigenous and ancestral authorities.

Arevalo added that the goal is not only to support and ensure the well-being of its people, but above all to represent them at the state level.

He added that their forms of authority, governance and organisation are valid and legitimate and this is an acknowledgement that the state has a lot to do in terms of learning from them as well as integrating them into governance schemes.

He stressed that during these six months we have maintained a constant dialogue with the ancestral authorities in the different cities, and although some would like to see this as an easy way out, or a distraction, it is a really complex process.

However, the governor stressed that this dialogue is bearing fruit and will bear much more fruit because it is an honest, deep and sincere exchange, which goes to the roots of the problem and understands that the solution includes discussing specific issues.

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He expressed his commitment that they would not abandon the dialogue efforts and that they would lay the foundations for a new relationship between the four peoples and the state authorities.

The Guatemalan President congratulated the Ministry on being awarded this honour, which he said was a cultural recognition in its broadest sense, in its social and political sense.

The medal is awarded to individuals or local or foreign legal entities that have contributed to the defense, appreciation, research, scientific dissemination, protection and preservation of heritage.

The indigenous Chichicastenango community, the Quiche, also received tribute; the indigenous and ancestral authorities of Iximulo; and the Ixil Mayan Mayor’s office.

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