Trip Schedule

May 5 - Guatemala City
May 6 - Guatemala City to El Estor
May 7 - El Estor
May 8 - El Estor to Rabinal
May 9 - Rabinal
May 10 - Rabinal to Río Negro
May 11 - Río Negro to Guatemala City
May 12 - Guatemala City to San Marcos
May 13 - San Miguel Ixtahuacán to Comitancillo
May 14 - Comitancillo to Antigua
May 15 - Antigua
May 16 - Guatemala City
May 17 - San Lucas Tolimán, Lake Atitlán
May 18 - Chimaltenango
May 19 - Chimaltenango to Antigua

GUATEMALA - MAY 2008

May 6 - Guatemala City to El Estor

On our way to El Estor, in the department of Izabal, we detoured southeast to attend a meeting in Jutiapa with the Xinka community (90000 members on 328 km2 of communally owned land), an indigenous community facing Canadian mining development on their traditional territory. Goldcorp holds a 100 km2 concession on Xinka territory. A concession is a license provided by the Guatemalan government that permits a mining company to conduct mineral exploration and, if fruitful, extraction. Usually, the community learns of the concession once the company shows up to drill for gold, nickel, silver, etc. The meeting, attended by several Xinka community representatives and our delegation, served to share information, ask questions, and focus on the economic impacts of Canadian mining. One community member articulately summed up the real issue: "Kill Mother Earth and we kill ourselves."


JP Laplante, a mining coordinator with Takla Lake First Nation, in northern British Columbia, Canada, and a delegation participant, expressed understanding and solidarity with the Xinka community. His career has provided him with first hand knowledge of the social and environmental impacts on indigenous people and their lands.
(Photo credit: Catherine Nolin)


The gentleman (on the left), whose name I did not get, impacted me greatly with his comment: "We do not have the funds to travel to Canada and complain to the Canadian government. Indigenous people have not received the support or education. We are slaves to ignorance and hunger. Together we can achieve good things. Even when one dies, the cause lives on."


A local reporter interviews Grahame Russell. During the meeting, Grahame spoke about the strategies that other communities are utilizing in their struggle against Canadian mining, specifically the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169 , a law which protects indigenous rights and lands and states that communities have the right to consultation prior to mega project development on traditional lands. Unfortunately, this law holds no weight in the Guatemalan courts.


The arid environment characteristic to southeast and central Guatemala. Drought, poor soil fertility, low crop productivity, and famine are common. (Photo credit: JP Laplante)


In contrast to the above photo, the lowlands of the Izabal department are lush and humid with organically rich soils.


Cattle are generally used to occupy lands owned by international corporations which are not currently in production. The cattle serve to deter indigenous communities from moving back onto their traditional lands.


The hotel in El Estor where our evening reflections took place; right on Lago de Izabal featuring beautiful sunsets and excellent food.
(Photo credit: JP Laplante)


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Trip Overview

In May of 2008, Dr. Catherine Nolin of the University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George, British Columbia, Canada), along with several undergraduate and graduate students, went on a 2 week delegation led by Grahame Russell of Rights Action to Guatemala to meet with a number of indigenous Mayan communities and speak with them about their experiences. Issues explored included the genocide of the early 1980's and the environmental and human impacts resulting from land use changes due to Canadian mining development.

The trip itinerary involved travel throughout the country starting from 'la capitale' or Guatemala City. To read about each day's events, click on the location links provided. A complete map of the itinerary is available here.

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