Article by PBI-Canada

On July 15, the Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project hosted a livestream presentation with two members of TZ’KAT.

The promotion for this online discussion noted: “We talk with Lorena Cabnal and Alex Vásquez, members of TZ’KAT Network of Ancestral Healers of Territorial Community Feminism from Iximulew, about the situation of the heirs of ancient wisdom Maya.”

PBI-Guatemala has accompanied Lorena Cabnal, a Mayan Q’eqchi’-xinka healer and feminist, since 2006, and TZ’KAT since February 2018.

A recording of the 2-hour livestream in Spanish can be watched here.

PBI-Guatemala also posted its monthly information package for June the same day.

That reported noted: “We have maintained constant contact with TZ’KAT – Network of Ancestral Healers from Community Feminism.”

“The members of the Network are continuing to support other women human rights defenders from different territories, assisting them in facing the difficulties they have encountered due to the measures to contain the pandemic and situations of patriarchal violence.”

“In addition, this month we have followed up on the security situation of one of the members of the Network during a ceremony held in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, in memory of the spiritual guide Domingo Choc Che, murdered earlier this month in Poptún (Petén).”

“Through this ceremony, the participants claimed the deep meaning of Mayan spirituality and denounced the criminalization and stigmatization of spiritual expressions, as well as the persecution of defenders of the Maya Q’eqchi territory.”

PBI-Guatemala monthly information packages can be accessed on their website here.

Just prior to the pandemic, PBI-Guatemala accompanied TZ’KAT on a tour of Q’eqchi’ communities in the departments of Alta Verapaz and Izabal.

You can read more about that accompaniment here.