Cultural Coherence and Diversity

Ethnic Relations

 Rigoberta Menchu

source: http://cdn1.beeffco.com/files/poll-images/normal/rigoberta-menchu_2094.jpg

Guatemala with other Central American colonies declared their independence on September 15 1821, until 1839 it belonged to Mexico and then to the United Provinces of Central America, but it was not until 1945 that a constitution was adopted which guaranteed civil and political rights for all citizens including women and native Central Americans. However the native people continued to be exploited and treated unfairly until recently when international opinion forced the elites to change their way of thinking. This change was also helped along with the selection of Rigoberta Menchu for the Nobel Peace Prize .

Language

Indigenous languages of Guatemala tree

source: http://nimg.sulekha.com/others/original700/guatemala-religion-2010-6-29-18-39-7.jpg

Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, after the civil war ended in December 1996, 22 indigenous languages most of them dialects related to the Mayan language have been recognized. Many natives expecially women and those that live in the highlands do not speak Spanish , but many native families are beginning to abandon their own languages to ensure that their children learn Spanish which they see as essential to function in the world, Even more so when the many dialects are not ineligible with each other, the need for a common language is increasingly important. 

Religion

 

source: http://nimg.sulekha.com/others/original700/guatemala-religion-2010-6-29-18-39-7.jpg

 Catholicism which was brought over by the Spanish and then modified by the Mayan people was widespread throughout Guatemala until the early part of the 20th century when Protestantism began attracting the Mestizo elite and Maya people. It is estimated that around 40% of the populations follows the protestant church. Many Maya have beliefs that mix both Christian religion with indigenous beliefs and practices which have been inherited from ancestors.  Indigenous people still perform rituals for good harvest, easy child birth, and healing of illnesses. Many indigenous people believe in the spirits of nature which reside in caves, mountains and bodies of water and will perform rituals on site. The catholic church is more tolerant of indigenous beliefs than the protestant church which is very strict about non christian beliefs including Catholicism[1].

[1] http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Guatemala.html