During a ceremony held at the capital’s National Palace of Culture (headquarters of the Executive), President Bernardo Arévalo pointed out that the country’s history often made invisible those who forged and worked to make society plural.

He included the various forms of organization and recalled, for example, that the 48 Cantons of the department of Totonicapán have their roots in the management of the Western Quiche people.

Before representatives of these indigenous communities, the head of state stressed that they were all protagonists of the national and popular resistance to the attempt of some criminals to prevent the democratic transition.

He mentioned the 48 cantons, the mayorships of Sololá, of Santa Lucía Utatlán, each one an expression of the capacity that the indigenous and ancestral authorities have.

Not only -Arévalo added- to support and guarantee the well-being of its people, but above all to represent them at the country level.

Their forms of authority, management and organization are valid, legitimate and this is an acceptance that the State has a lot to do in terms of learning from them, as well as integrating them into governance schemes, he expanded.

During these six months, he stressed, we maintained a permanent dialogue with the ancestral authorities of the different towns and, although some would like to see it as an easy way out, a distraction, it is really a complex process.

However, the Governor assured, it is bearing fruit and will bear much more because it is an honest, deep and sincere exchange, which goes to the roots of the problem and understands that the resolution involves the discussion of specific issues.

He expressed his commitment that they will not give up on the effort of dialogue and that they will lay the foundations for a new relationship between the four peoples and the State authorities.

The Guatemalan president congratulated the Ministry for granting this recognition, which, he said, is one of culture in its broadest sense, in its social and political sense.

The Order is delivered to local or foreign individuals or legal entities that contribute to the defense, valorization, research, scientific dissemination, protection and conservation of heritage.

The indigenous community of Chichicastenango, Quiché also received the tribute; indigenous and ancestral authorities of Iximulew; as well as the Ixil Mayan mayor’s office.

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