INGUAT shows for the OAS

As always, Guatemala’s tourism institute, INGUAT for short, put up a show of “Mayan” ceremonies and dances to welcome the members of the OAS General Assembly being held in Antigua Guatemala for the next three days.

Honest, I have never understood why Guatemala’s tourism board or institute, INGUAT, hires real Maya people to perform ceremonies or dances whenever they put a show to display our Mayan heritage. I would really like to know why they hire mostly ladinos and white Guatemalans to “recreate” the Mayan ceremonies and dances.

Does anyone know the reasons? Please, share them with us in the comments.

photos by Nelo Mijangos

INGUAT shows for the OAS by Nelo Mijangos

5 Responses to "INGUAT shows for the OAS"

NYChapin says:
June 6, 2013 at 9:10 am
First posted on wrong caption.
The answer can be found on 5ta Calle Oriente, numero 5, CIRMA. A number
of studies conducted under the project ” Porque Estamos Como Estamos”
explain it all. We can beat around the bush all we want, but a big part
of the answer has to do with the institutionalized discrimination
towards indigenous people in Guate.
Reply
Erick! says:
June 6, 2013 at 11:27 am
I think that NYChapin hit the nail on the head with his comment. But I also love the photo, especially the outfits, so colorful against the dark background.
Reply
TomdeNY says:
June 7, 2013 at 11:10 am
INGUAT’s policy here is no different from that of Univision and Telemundo. In their world the “beautiful people,” such as the romantic leads in the telenovelas, look nothing like the vast majority of real Latin Americans.
What does this say to the young people, especially the girls, of Guatemala? I’ll tell you exactly what it says to them:
Years ago my daughter was studying Spanish in Antigua, and was struck when her teacher said, without reservation, that “American” girls like my daughter are pretty, whereas chapinas like her, “pues somos feas.”
Who told that beautiful young woman that she and her friends were ugly? A pop culture machine that, among many other horrors, promotes standards of beauty that are, among other things, racist.
Just sayin’
Reply
elgordo says:
June 8, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Most, if not all, of our Mayan folkloric dances are still ceremonial. The Ballet Folklorico y Moderno re-interprets (and not recreates) them using the tools of ballet and modern dance. I’ve been to enough fiestas patronales and performances of the ballet folklorico to know that they are two different things. How many ladinos participate in the ceremonial dances in occidente? How many indigenas have applied to and been denied entry into the ballet folklorico? Let’s not assume too many things. Guatemala is a segregated country, but racism flows both ways. There are few saints in Guatemala and a whole lot of self-righteousness.
Reply
1. Rudy says:
  June 11, 2013 at 9:14 am
  Thanks Gordo for your clarification. I will pay more attention next time I see them.
  El 8/06/2013, a las 14:04, Disqus escribió:
  Reply

INGUAT shows for the OAS

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