Indian Culture and Identity

The readings this week I think were very useful in helping to explain a lot of the topics we've discussed in class on a level that is going to be helpful to students like ourselves that are going to be visiting the country. I feel that Jesse provided a great first hand account on what it was like living in a place like Nahuala and the customs and religious practices that he observed while he was there.

The topic that I found most interesting was the ideas surrounding what actually makes someone an "Indian". Jesse states that Javier's beliefs would probably hover around "the fact that he and his townspeople dress differently from the Ladinos, speak K'iche', and plant maize" (68). After reading the entire chapter I think this can be seen as a somewhat accurate description. One of the interesting aspect that was discussed was the use of the K'iche' language in everyday communication. This was topic we discussed in class when Manuel was here and I find it to be one that really deals with Indian identity. I feel that learning Spanish is something most Indians in Guatemala have come to see as a necessary pathway to success, however, I don't think they should feel obligated to lose the identity that comes with being a native K'iche' speaker. GOing along with what Rachel discussed I also belief that bilingual education should be stressed more in school and it should also be stressed at home if older generations wish to keep the language around. I know we had this discussion when Manuel visited about how parents wish there children spoke the native language and I find that Javier and Manuel share some of the same frustrations. Javier went as far as to say his son didn't "speak anything at all!" (72). What I don't understand is why older generations don't just speak K'iche' more to their children at home and allow their children to practice Spanish outside of the home. If K'iche' truly is an important part of Indian identity then something is going to need to be done to keep it alive.

The one thing in this reading that we haven't spoken a lot about in class but is clearly a big reason for the changes in Indian culture is the Pan-American Highway. Construction of the highway lead to many changes in Indian culture including dress, jobs, and language. Now there were more opportunities for work outside of farming seasons. It was also interesting that so many people were forced to change their clothing simply to fit in the more Westernized society. It's amazing to me that so many of these changes in Indian culture, good and bad, were all based around the construction of this highway.