Ixil-Maya Migration from Cotzal to the United States: Tichajil and El Vivir Mejor

Giovanni Batz

PhD Candidate in Social Anthropology

University of Texas at Austin

Indigenous and Central American Immigration

• Central American migration drastically increased during the civil wars

• Guatemala (1960– 1996)

• El Salvador (1980 – 1992)

• Nicaragua (1979 – 1990)

• In 2013, there were approx. 15.5 million Guatemalans and an estimated 1.2 – 1.6 million living in the US where an estimated sixty percent were living as undocumented people

• Two main narratives of migration: Poverty and Violence

• With recent Central American surge, region has been described as a ”death trap”

• Alliance for Prosperity (Security, Good Governance, International Investment)

Ixil Displacement and Migration: The Four Invasions

• Four Invasions: a local perspective towards the decolonization of Indigenous Histories

• Spanish Colonization (1524)

• Arrival of Fincas (late 19th early 20th century) – Almost half of Cotzal was finca

• 36 Year Civil War (1960 – 1996)

• The arrival of Megaprojects (mines, hydroelectric dams)

• Characterized by displacement, genocide, social divisions, conflict, diseases, and violence

• Being Ixil, indigenous, a campesino is viewed as backwards, in need of “moderinzation”/

• Social and psychological trauma: Low self-esteem, alcoholism, verguenza (shame) in being Ixil and/or campesino

Ixil-Maya Migration to the US

• Significant international migration in the Ixil Region began in late-1990s and 2000s.

• 2010 Municipal Report/University of San Carlos Study: 28% of the Population migrated outside of the municipality

• 82% leave for economic reasons, 12% due to the war, 6% personal and family reasons.

• 62% are in Guatemala City, 12% in Mexico and the US.

• Interviews and the use of theatre revealed other reasons for migrating

• Tichajil and el vivir mejor

• Family problems and family reunification

• Many people who left were professionals such as teachers, nurses and accountants who couldn’t find jobs

Internalized Racism, Verguenza and Education

• Ladinization in Guatemala and Latinoizatino/Mexicanization in the US

• “indio”, “no seas indio”, ”cara de indio”

• Loss of language and indigenous dress

• Many young professionals migrate• In order to attend school, parents take out loans or sell a piece of land with the

expectation that the student will become a professional. Many do can not find employment

• Some professionals refuse to work the fields since according to many they have “verguenza” since field work is viewed as a step “backwards”

Land, Debt and Remittances

• Migration has led to a cycle of debt, loss of land and increase in land prices

• 40,000Q-45,000Q ($5,200-$5,850). • Agricultural workers in Cotzal is 30-35Q ($3.89-$4.54) a day.

• Prices of land sometimes doubles due to remittances coming from the US. In order to buy land one sometimes has to migrate

• Land is left as collateral for bank, personal loans or loans from coyotes with monthly interest rate ranging from 7-11%

• 3 tries and if you don’t make it, you lose your “investment” and/or land titles

• Some have lost their lands and homes trying to migrate

Migrant Experiences and Shifting Identities

• Andres: Trauma and Psychological impacts crossing through Mexico and the US

• Influence of “gringo” culture in the Region• Returnees act more “creidos” (conceited) upon returning

• Naming of children

• Many decide to return since they can not readjust to life in Guatemala again

Local Solutions to Migration

• Ixils have promoted the diversification of crops and the creation of mercadoscampesinos (farmers markets)• Many of the people who sell in the markets are revendedores (re-sellers)

• Ixil University• Founded in 2011 without state recognition (nor seeking it), the IU has three objectives

within their curriculum• Territorial Development

• Management of Resources and Environment Preservation

• Ixil History and Culture

• The focus is not to prepare students to be employees of the state or corporations as in formal educational and colonial institutions, but rather serve their communities and defend their natural resources and territories, especially with the arrival of megaprojects.