POQOMANN INDIANS

POQOMANN ARE A MEMBER OF POQUOMAMCHI INDIANS IN NORTH GUATEMALA. SOME HAVE MOVED TO EL SALVADOR. BY 1980'S THEIR POPULATION WAS 45,000. THEY LIVED IN THE HIGHLANDS OF GUATETO EL SALVADOR

BY THE 16TH CENTURY THE SPANISH MOVED INTO THE REGION AND CONQUERED THE POQOMAM. DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD THE EUROPEAN DISEASES AND WARFARE REDUCED THEIR POPULATION. MANY RELOCATED TO MISSIONARY SETTLEMENTS. GUATEMALA POLICIES THAT OUTLAWED COMMUNAL LANDS FORCED THEM TO SMALLER PARCELS OF LAND. IN THE 20TH CENTURY THEIR POPULATION WAS STABLE. THERE STILL IS MILITARY POLITICAL FORCES, SO MANY HAVE MOVED TO THE U.S.

THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSES OF CANE OR ADOBE, THE ROOFS ARE THATCHED WITH LONG GRASS AND THE LADINO HOUSES ARE BUILT OF BRICK WITH TIN ROOFS. THESE FOLKS MAKE CHARCOAL POTTERY AND PLOT AGRICULTURE. STAPLE CROPS ARE MAIZE AND BEANS. MANY MEN PRODUCE CHARCOAL TO SELL IN GUATEMALA CITY. THIS IS DONE BY BURNING OAKS IN A PIT FOR 5 DAYS. THEY MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY BURN. THIS PLUS MAIZE AND BEANS FURNISHES THE FAMILIES SUBSISTENCE.

WOMEN 'S WORK IS COOKING MAINTAINING THE GARDEN, RAISING CHILDREN, WASHING CLOTHES. MANY SELL THE POTTERY THEY PRODUCE. THEIR POTTERY IS POLISHED AND FIRED.

MARRIAGES INVOLVE A LONG SERIES OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN FAMILIES. THEY HAVE BOTH A CIVIL AND A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY FOR 3 DAYS.

THEIR RELIGION IS TRADITIONAL FRAMEWORK INTO WHICH CATHOLICISM HAS BEEN ASSIMILATED. THEY ACCEPT CATHOLICISM AND THE POKOMAN TAILOR THEIR BELIEFS TO REINFORCE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. LUCK IS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF POQOMANN REGIGIOUS LIFE. THEY HAVE MYTHS THAT ARE UNKNOWN. CENTRAL TO MANY STORIES. IT IS A BELIEF IN CHARMED PLACES WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO PASS INTO THE UNDERWORLD. HERE THEY FIND WEALTH AND KNOWLEDGE. LUCK MAY COME TO BIRTH OR AS A GIFT FROM THE UNDERWOOD.

DISEASE IS THOUGHT OF BY THE SUPERNATURAL FORCE. THEY BELIEVE THAT WITCHES CATCH CAST SPELLSTHAT CAUSE ILLNESS. THEY CONDUCT RITUALS DURING 68 DAYS OF THE YEAR TO MAINTAIN BALANCE BETWEENEARTH AND THE SUPERNATURAL.

AFTER DEATH THE FAMILY GATHERS TO HOLD A FEAST. THEY PRAY FOR THE SOUL FOR 9 DAYS AND THEY MUST PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF THE DECEASED DURING EACH DAY. THEY BELEIVE IN A HEAVEN AND THEY PLACE FOOD BY A GRAVE.

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