A Different Account of the History of the Yucatec Mayas

This morning, a new book was unveiled that offers a fresh perspective on the history of the Yucatec Mayas of northern Belize. Inspired by the life and activism of Jesus Ken, the book presents an alternative narrative to the traditional history. Author Ricardo Moguel’s book, ‘Ken,’ sheds light on different versions of historical events involving the Yucatec Mayas. Much of the change the Mayas experienced, especially regarding their land, was driven by the efforts of Jesus Ken, who is now ninety-two years old. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the launch and filed this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Today, the book ‘Ken’ hit the bookshelves in Belize. This publication documents the history of the Yucatec Mayas of Northern Belize through the eyes of Jesus Ken, a 92-year-old revolutionary who fought for Maya rights in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Author Ricardo Moguel says the book offers a different take on Yucatec Maya history in Belize. To the Yucatec Maya, Jesus Ken is seen as a hero, Moguel noted.

 

Ricardo Moguel, Author

“Jesus Ken is a son of a Maya general in the Maya Liberation War. His father, Wendik, died in battle. They emigrated to Belize because they were afraid of consequences that they would go after him because of the power struggle that always emerges when a leader is surging. And Jesus grew up listening to the stories, to the music, and all that. And then the “abuelitos” used to tell him about the struggles. And then he started being a Maya organizer for the cane cutters that work for Plantation Limited and he became a politician in  1961, got elected to the Legislative Assembly, and made a lot of changes to benefit the Maya. So, he’s a revolutionary.”

 

Maya researcher Hugo Carrillo shares untold stories about the hardships his ancestors faced, stories that history books have overlooked.

 

Hugo Carillo, Researcher

“If we want to know the present, we must understand the past. This will break the barriers or learning attitudes of the people. Therefore, the Maya social war exploded in 1847 in southern Mexico, Yucatan. Because of that war, the people were taxed, the women were raped, the young men had to work long hours for little or nothing. The children were separated.”

 

Jesus Ken championed the cause for Mayas to own the land they farmed sugarcane on, instead of being subservient to colonial settlers. His efforts put significant pressure on Belize’s Premier, George Price, according to Prime Minister John Briceño.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“He put a tremendous amount of pressure on George Price to be able to ensure that then George Pric can go to Tate and Lyle and say, “Well, it is time for us to be able to take these lands and pass it on to Belizean cane farmers in the north. But George was also quite a revolutionary, but also he was thinking long-term, that we could not just seize these lands because if we seize it, then pretty much nobody would want to come to Belize. He knew we had to continue to attract investments in Belize. So what he did, he negotiated a purchase price but a very low price and so that it could be affordable to the farmers.”

 

Jesus Ken was a dedicated PUP activist, known for his fiery personality, which some believe led to his estrangement from the mainstream PUP. However, Briceno, who compared Ken to the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, insists that Ken remained a loyal PUP supporter. The lifelong struggles and victories Jesus Ken experienced in his fight for Yucatec Maya rights are deeply personal for his daughter, Dr. Ninfa Ken.

 

Dr. Ninfa Ken, Daughter of Jesus Ken

“We were growing up as children, that was the time he was in the big struggle and leading the cane farmers, you know, in trying to acquire the land for the cane farmers at the time, so he was like a warrior fighting all the time. And then, well, we were just there listening to all what they were saying. And apparently you liked all the slogans “Patria o muerte, venceremos.”

 

Marion Ali

“Which means?”

 

Dr. Ninfa Ken

“Patria o Muerte -that’ll be, patria is the nation, right. Country or death.”

Marion Ali for News Five.