Ixil Community

The Ixil Community is a name given to three neighbouring towns in the Quiché department in the western highlands of Guatemala.[1] These towns are Santa Maria Nebaj, San Juan Cotzal, and San Gaspar Chajul.[2] The area's population is predominantly of Ixil descent. When viewed on a map, the three Ixil towns appear to form a triangle, because of this, is also named "Ixil Triangle".[3]

Contents

Culture

Due to its location in the Cuchumatanes mountains,[4] the Ixil Community has remained mostly isolated from the rest of the world. Its people have therefore maintained their traditional culture free from influences of the outside world. Most of the men are farmers, and most of the women are weavers.

The people of the Ixil Community primarily speak the Ixil language.[5] Some villagers speak Spanish as a secondary language.

Turmoil During Civil War

Main article: Guatemalan Civil War

During the Guatemalan Civil War, the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP) used the surrounding mountains as a base of operations.[6] The Guatemalan Army pursued a scorched-earth policy to destroy villages.[1] The villagers of the Ixil Community were caught in the crossfire, and thousands of civilians were killed, tortured, or disappeared.[6][7]

The army's campaign against civilians in this region may have been motivated partially by a desire "to weaken and eventually eradicate Maya culture." Villagers learned not to wear their traditional Maya clothing, because its distinct appearance made them easy targets.

The game

Ixil Triangle is also the name of a marble game played by the children of La Laguna, a small village about forty minutes from Nebaj. It may be a game widely played throughout the region or simply a game that was made up by a handful of kids. Three marbles are placed in the shape of an equilateral triangle, drawn in the dirt about 7 to ten inches from each other. A line is drawn in the dirt about 2 meters from the triangle. Marbles are shot from that line to try to knock the other marbles off the points of the triangle. This is not exact but it is how it was observed by someone who could not communicate with the young boys playing the game. More rules may apply, based on location.

References

  1. ^ a b Manz, Beatriz (1988). Refugees of a hidden war: the aftermath of counterinsurgency in Guatemala. SUNY Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8870-6676-4. 
  2. ^ Manz, Beatriz (1988) p.97
  3. ^ Argueta, Al (2007). Moon Handbooks Guatemala. Avalon Travel. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-5988-0057-9. 
  4. ^ Argueta, Al (2007) p.150
  5. ^ Perera, Victor (1995). Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy. University of California Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-5202-0349-5. 
  6. ^ a b McNally, Shelagh (2003). Adventure Guide to Guatemala. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-5884-3347-3. 
  7. ^ Argueta, Al (2007) p.151

External links