BTS Intern, Georgia working at the IMAP offices in San Lucas Tolíman. Intern update: Reflections on my time at IMAP ~ reverse culture shock and how you can get to know a person through translating their words (not in that order) When I began what affectionately became known [...]
Xinka Parliament (PAPXIGUA): “In the name of life, land and water—the resistance continues." Press release: SANTA ROSA, GT, June 8, 2025 — Today, we commemorate eight years of peaceful resistance by the Xinka People here in Casillas to the Escobal mining project located in San Rafael Las Flores and operated [...]
Maya Achi women come together outside the courthouse. After more than 40 years of struggle, Maya Achí women achieve justice On May 30th, 2025, the Maya Achí women of Rabinal presented themselves for the last time at the Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala City to hear the [...]
The Atitlán and Tolimán volcanoes, towering over IMAP fields. Putting in the Work for the Sake of the Trees By: Georgia Sachs, Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute (IMAP) Intern I understand that I am the first person in the BTS network to spend substantial time at the Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute [...]
CCDA member, Luis Xol Caal detained and facing criminalization We demand freedom for Luis Xol Caal, defender of the territory and life of the Chabil Choch community. (photo credit: CCDA) On March 15th, 2025, Luis Xol Caal, a member of the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA) and [...]
An offering to the respected fire and to the ancestors: Honouring the lives of those who came before us By Javier Every March 13th, in the area called Pak’oxom in the community of Río Negro, community members, students, activists, spiritual leaders known as Ajq’ijab’, and elders gather to commemorate the [...]
Río Negro Presente: Honouring the lives of family members lost at the hands of the state By: Cristina Jerez, Rabinal Community Legal Clinic Intern On March 13 1982, the Guatemalan army and Civil Defense Patrollers (PAC) murdered 177 innocent people from the community of Río Negro. 43 years later, the [...]
Unpacking the role of the PAC in the Maya Achí Women's case On January 28, 2025, Maya Achí women survivors went to Guatemala City to demand that three ex-civil defense patrolmen (PAC) be held accountable for crimes against humanity, including sexual violence, committed against them during the Internal Armed Conflict. [...]
CCDA National Assembly: 43 years of resistance in the struggle for agrarian reform The CCDA celebrated its 43rd anniversary with a General Assembly in Quixayá. On March 2nd, 2025, the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA) held their 43rd annual General Assembly in the community of Quixayá in [...]
Violent eviction in CCDA community of Río Tebernal Community members' homes were destroyed as part of the violent eviction. Photo credit: Carlos Ernesto Choc On March 5th, 2025, armed paramilitary groups entered the community of Río Tebernal in the municipality of Livingston, Izabal, and forcibly removed 35 Q’eqchi' [...]
