OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTSDilemmas of Indigenous Handicrafts Vendors in Guatemala by Walter E. Little

Contrary to the expectations of the author, Maya handicraft vendors do not participate as a unified group in the Maya Movement largely because the movement’s narrow definition of the identity “Maya” limits the vendors economically

Compañía de Jesús Artisan Marketplace More than 200 vending stalls Represent Kaqchikel, K’iche, Ixil, Mam,

Ladino Tz’utujil ethnolinguistic groups Largest handicrafts venue in Antigua

1992- Sunday market in main plaza discontinued by law

Caused vendors to seek vending locations elsewhere

Compañía de Jesús monastery- main destination

Other Social Factors: 1980’s

Decreased government/guerrilla military campaigns against Mayan communities

Decreased wages and property ownership for Mayan farmers

Increased tourism Decreased political violence Tourism promotional campaigns by

Guatemalan Tourism Commission

2 Levels of Economic Participation

Vending laws Import/Export of

Handicrafts Taxes

Tourism El Salvador Europe Japan United States

National Economy Global Market

A Look at the Maya Vendor

Sales of handicrafts of: Vendor Extended Family Fellow Villagers Generic items of weaving/blanket/rug firms

Informed about current events and Maya Movement

Utilize Mayan language between vendors, but Spanish/language of buyer in business transactions Effort to attract tourists

Maya language for authenticity Language of buyer to put tourist at ease

Comparative Wages

Maya handicrafts vendor (at Compañía de Jesús)- $2700-$8000 annually

Agricultural/Construction worker- up to $1000 annually

Rural schoolteacher- $2000 annually Domestic servant- $1000 annually

Vending as Theaterical Interaction between Tourist and Vendor Tourist- amateur, “character role” Vendor- perpetuate romanticized Maya image

Women are main vendors Wear traditional dress Work at loom

Emphasize “Mayanness” of handicrafts Use stage to voice inequalities suffered by

Maya people Discrimination by Ladino-dominated society Decreasing Maya identity through growing U.S.

influence

Women’s role in Handicrafts Sales

Most vendors- Kaqchikel women Related to tourists’ conception of

Maya woman as main producer of handicrafts and participant in market economy

Part of tourist theatrical performance Involved in organizational

structure Vice President Treasurer Secretary Chairs of various committees

Women’s roles continued…

Economic contributions through handicraft sales increased their overall importance within the household Many female-headed households

No dichotomy of marketplace/ household Instead, easy flow between two spheres Household chores become part of tourist

theatrical performance to emphasize authenticity

Men take over domestic duties Women became active in decision-

making where income is spent (mostly with Kaqchikeles)

Obstacles to Vending Practices Posed by Ladino-controlled Society Mayor of Antigua- attempts to charge vendors even

though vending on Spanish-owned space Harassed by police when transport goods to storage

units 1997- New ordinances on vending stall and aisle sizes Merchandise seized Fined for non-existent violations Imprisoned for supposed theft and illegal street sales Confronted by stereotypes associated with the

marketplace and Mayas Thieves Sell poor quality goods Sell at unfair prices

Reactions to Discrimination

Restructure marketplace to new governmental codes immediately following mandate

Contact Human Rights Office in Antigua and the UN in Guatemala

Create deferent and collaborative bartering dialogue with tourists Counteracts misconceptions about Mayas Encourages greater attendance by tourists

Appeal to tourists Outlet to voice inequalities

Refusal to participate in “Ladino” institutions Antigua Chamber of Commerce Greater business associations

Do not use striking Souvenirs are not subsistence products Do not contribute to local businesses Little revenue to government from their sales Causes vendors to have little influence from

striking as a method of protest Discontinued appeals to police when robbed

Understand that police will not intervene in these cases

Sometimes charged with illegal street vending when sought help from the police

Artisan Association

Establish overall image to present to tourists to encourage attendance Monitor cleanliness Police pick-pocketers Clear aisles Regulate goods- authentic, not foreign manufactured

Negotiate with government for public services, official recognition, and a secure selling location Write demands to government Sign documents as a group Present documents to Mayor

Debate affiliations with economic/political organizations Against official affiliation with Maya Movement

Maya Movement

Advocate against history told by the oppressors Demonstrate distinctly Mayan perspective

Based on language, cosmology, reverence to elders, clothing, ecology

Goals at local level- establish Maya language education improve general education increase political rights improve health care encourage cultural practices

Goals at national level- increase political participation/representation of Maya

communities promote of Maya identity increase political awareness

So, why not active in Maya Movement? Women do not want to participate in greater political

organizations because male-dominated and do not want to lose the power of their status as primary source of income

Political activity limits activities that directly benefit handicraft sales Focus on cultural identity over efforts to improve economic

conditions for Maya vendors Vendors’ concern with economically-practical improvements

Education focused on literacy, math, useful languages (English) Health care Employment opportunities

“Maya” identity encouraged by movement does not correspond with the vendors’ conception of their identity, too narrow

Vendors reject concept of national identity Ladino government relegates Mayans to the past Homogeneity encouraged through pressures of conformity to

national structures

Identity of the Maya Handicrafts Vendor

“Maya” term from perspective of vendors: Seen as commercialized identity used for

tourist-oriented business transactions Success with tourists based on ability to “sell”

their authenticity to the foreigners Describes their ancestors

Due to depiction by Ladino government of Mayas as label for Pre-Colombian people

Instead, identify themselves as “indígenas artesanos,” or indigenous artisans

Identity strategically utilized to enhance their livelihoods in market vending

“The processes that generate the contexts in which identity is practiced constitute a global arena of potential identity formation. This arena is informed by the interaction between locally specific practices of selfhood and the dynamics of global positioning.”

-Friedman (1992:87)