QANJOBAL INDIANS

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

THE SPANISHCONQUEST OF QUANJOBAL BEGAN IN THE 1520'S WHEN DEDRO ALVARADO HAD SOLDIERS THROUGH GUATEMALA TO CONQUER THE INDIANS. EUROPEAN DISEASES AND MILITARY ATTACKS SERVED TO WEAKEN AND DEPLETE THESE NATIVES.

DURING THE COLONIAL PERIODTHE PRIVATE LAND HOLDERS STOLE INDIAN LANDS TO GROW COFFEE WHICH BROUGHT THEM MUCH MONEY. BECAUSE OF THE THEIR GOVERNMENT, THE QUAJOBAL INDIANS LOST MORE THAN 70% OF THEIR LANDS TO LADINOS IN 1880 TO 1920. THEIR LANDS HAVE BEEN UMDER CONTINUED PRESSURE. THEY LIVE IN HOUSES NEAR FIELDS. THEIR HOUSES ARE MADE OF ONE ROOM DWELLINGS MADE OF POLES WITH THATCHED WITH THATCHED ROOFS. THEY MAKE SWEAT BATHS ADJACENT TO THEIR ENTRANCE.

THEY MAINLY GROW CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH. THEY GROW SURPLUS CORN AND SELL IT FOR CASH. THEY FARM ON STEEP MOUNTAINS SIDES. THEY USE A HOE AND NO PLOWS OR ANIMALS.MANY BECOME MIGRANT LABORERS.

WEAVING IS THE MAIN ECONOMIC ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN. THEY USE INTRICATE LOOMS WITH CLOTHES AND BLOUSES. EACH TOWN HAS IT'S OWN DESIGN - IT IS POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY BASED ON THEIR CLOTHING. MARRIAGES INVOLVE MUCH RITUAL AND SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE COUPLE MOVES INTO THE HOUSE OF THE GROOM'S FATHER.

THIS RELIGION COMBINES TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND CATHOLICSM. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A CATHOLIC GOD, JESUS AND THE VIRGIN MARY, THEY PLACE THEM INTO THEIR OWN TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVES.THEY HAVE DIETIES WHO DO EVEIL . A CROSS SECTION IS THE CENTRAL SYMBOL THAT STANDS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCHES. THE CROSS IS THE THE INTEGRAL PART OF THE MAYA CALENDAR.

EVERYCULTURE.COM