Among the many challenges facing contemporary Indigenous communities in the Global South is language endangerment. In Mexico and Central America, state persecution, economic pressure, and barriers that reflect the deep legacies of colonialism led to precipitous declines in language learning among Maya youth throughout the twentieth century. These trends are exacerbated today by migration crises and the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Indigenous researchers have created new strategies, transnational networks, and tools to meet young learners where they are: online. With a new approach to colonial archives, K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Tz’utujil, and Yukatek collaborators at UVA’s Multepal Project are converting ancient texts like the Popol Wuj into digital tools to promote language acquisition, literacy, and cultural empowerment among youth in Mexico, Guatemala, and the diaspora. Presenters will speak in Spanish, with English-language slides translated by UVA students enrolled in SPAN 4040 (Translation): Alisa Negron Damsky, Natalie Axelrod, Lauren Mason, and Sarah Alverson. Audience members are invited to participate in English, Spanish, and Mayan languages.
Register here.
Schedule:
Session 1: 6-7 pm (EST): U túumben Póopol Wuuj: Una versión electrónica [A Digital Popol Wuj in Yukatek Maya]
Miguel Óscar Chan Dzul (Yukatek), Universidad de Oriente: “Retos para la lengua maya” [Challenges for the Mayan Language]
Miriam Uitz May (Yukatek), Universidad de Oriente: “El audiovisual: herramienta para el aprendizaje significativo” [Audiovisual Materials: Tools for Significant Learning]
Irma Yolanda Pomol Cahum (Yukatek), Universidad de Oriente: “Producción de materiales en lengua maya” [Producing Mayan Language Materials]
Session 2: 7-8 pm (EST): “Mesa redonda: Los retos del Maya para elaborar una versión infantil del Popol Wuj” [Roundtable on the Challenges of Producing a Mayan-Language Popol Wuj for Young Readers]
Beatriz Par (K’iche’), Universidad Rafael Landívar and Fundación Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín
Saqijix, Candelaria López Ixcoy (K’iche’), Universidad Rafael Landívar and Fundación Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín
Ajpub’ Pablo García Ixmatá (Tz’utujiil), Universidad Rafael Landívar and Fundación Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín
Hector Xol (Q’eqchi), Universidad Rafael Landívar and Fundación Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín
Session 3: 8-8:30 pm (EST): Discussion with panelists and audience
