QUANJOBAL INDIANS IN MAYA

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

THE SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE QUANJOBAL BEGAN IN THE 1529'S WHEN DEDRO ALVARADO HAD SOLDIERS THROUGH GUATEMALA TO CONQUER THE INDIANS. EUROPEAN DISEASES AND MILITANT ATTACKS SERVED TO WEAKEN AND DEPLETE THESE NATIVES.

DURING COLONIAL PERIOD THE PRIVATE LAND HOLDERS STOLE INDIAN LANDS TO GROW COFFEE, WHICH BROUGHT THEM MANY DOLLARS. BECAUSE OF THEIR GOVERNMENT THE QUANJOBAL INDIANS LOST MORE THAN 70% OF THEIR LANDS TO LADINOS IN 1880 -1926. THEIR LANDS HAVE BEEN IN UNDER CONTINUED PRESERVE.

THEY LIVE IN HOUSES NEAR FIELDS. THEIR HOUSES ARE MADE OF ONE ROOM DWELLINGS MADE OF POLES WITH THATCHED ROOFS. THEY MAKE SWEAT BATHS ADJACENT TO THEIR THEIR ENTRANCE. THEY MAINLY GROW CORN BEANS AND SQUASH. THEY GROW SURPLUS CORN AND SELL IT FOR CASH. THEY FARM ON STEEP MOUNTAIN SIDES. THEY HAVE BECOME MAINLY MIGRANT LABORERERS.

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

MARRIAGES ARE INVOLVE MUCH RITUAL AND SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT. THE COUPLE MOVES INTO THE HOUSE OF THE GROOM'S FATHER. THEIR RELIGION COMBINES TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND CATHOLICISM. ALTHOUGH THEIR CATHOLIC GOD, JESUS, AND THE VIRGIN MARY. THEY PLACE THEM INTO THEIR OWN TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVES. THEY HAVE DEITIES WHO DO EVIL. A CROSS IS THEIR CENTRAL SYMBOLTHAT STANDS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCHES. THE CROSS IS THE INTEGRAL PART OF THE MAYAN CALENDAR.

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