GANJOBAL INDIANS

THE GANJOBAL ARE A MAYAN GROUP. THE GANJOBAL ARE ONE OF THE MAYAN GROUPS LIVING IN THE CHUCHANMATAN MOUNTAINS. THEY LIVED IN VARIOUS CLIMATE RANGES. THERE RE 70,000 LIVING IN THE INDIANS LIVING IN THE NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS. THEY SPEAK GANJOBAL IN THIS AREA.

THE SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE GANJOBAL BEGAN IN THE 1520'S WHEN PEDRO ALVARADO HAD SOLDIERS THROUGH GUATEMALA TO CONQUER THE INDIANS. EUROPEAN DISEASES AND MILITARY STACKS WEAKEN AND DEPLETE THESE NATIVES.

DURING COLONIAL TIMES THE PRIVATE LAND HOLDERS STATE INDIAN LANDS TO GROW COFFEE, WHICH BROUGHT THEM MUCH MONEY. BECAUSE OF THEIR GOVERNMENT THE GANJOBAL INDIANS LOST MORE THAN 70% OF THEIR LAND TO LADINOS IN 1880 TO 1926. THEIR LANDS HAVE BEEN UNDER CONTINUED PRESSURE. THEY LIVE IN HOUSES NEAR FIELDS. THEIR HOUSES ARE MADE OF ROOMS, DWELLINGS ARE MADE OF POLES WITH THATCHED ROOFS. THEY MAKE SWEAT BATHS ADJACENT TO THEIR ENTRANCE. THEY MANLY GROW CORN, BEAM=NS, SQUASH. THEY GROW SURPLUS CORN AND SELL IT FOR CASH. THEY FARM ON STEEP MOUNTAIN SIDES. THEY USE A HOE, NO PLOWS, OR ANIMALS. MANY BECOME MIGRANT LABORERS.

WEAVING IS THE MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN. MEN USE INTRICATE LOOMS FOR WEAVING CLOTH AND BLOUSES. EACH TOWN HAS ITS OWN DESIGN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR CLOTHING.

MARRIAGES INVOLVE MUCH RITUAL AND SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE COUPLE MOVES INTO THE HOUSE OF THE GROOM'S FATHER. THEIR RELIGION COMBINES TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND CATHOLICISM. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A CATHOLIC GOD, JESUS, AND THE VIRGIN MARY. THEY PLACE THEM INTO THEIR OWNTRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVES. THEY HAVE DIETIES WHO DO EVIL. A CROSS IS THEIR CENTRAL SYMBOL THAT STANDS ON THE FRONT OF CHURCHES. THE CROSS IS THE INTEGRAL PART OF THE MAYA CALENDAR.

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