Guatemalan court ruled in favor of Mayan women weavers

At the end of 2017, several groups of Guatemalan Mayan women weavers decided to file legal appeals against the use that the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) makes of the image of Mayan women and the culture of indigenous Guatemalan peoples to promote to the country as a tourist destination.

“In December 2017 the National Movement of weavers promoted constitutional protection process against the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, in which it raises the existence of systematic grievances and a folklorization of the image of weavers,” published the Women’s Association for the Development of Sacatepequez (AFEDES).

This institution argues that “folklorization as an expression of racism is a form of violence against indigenous women, because it uses us as a tourist attraction, stripping us of our humanity, turning us into exotic objects, for exhibition, entertainment, colorful, curious, without context, without history, such as towns frozen in time, perfect objects to be sold to tourists as attractive elements or picturesque destinations along with the landscapes, animals, flowers or plants of some place. It also underestimates our creativity, innovation, knowledge and skills because we consider ourselves “inferior”, without intelligence, without our own initiative, incapable of creating.”

Angelina Aspuac, a member of AFEDES, stated that the decision taken by the Constitutional Court is a “step” in the fight to “recognize the rights of women and the Mayan peoples,” and avoid the “use” of its “culture and traditions,” with the sole objective of generating foreign exchange for tourism, without any of these profits being reinvested in the communities and in the development of the people.

“What we want is to be consulted before using our image, since of what INGUAT generates, no percentage goes to support women weavers,” Aspuac said.

The announcement of the Constitutional Court of Guatemala was made on November 5, so there has not yet been an official reaction from Inguat. “We are waiting to know their reaction (Inguat). We are always willing to generate dialogues, as long as these are not impositions. We do not seek money, only that they do not take advantage of us,” added Aspuac.