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A collection of personal stories from Garifuna women who are master singers in their home communities around Central America come together for the latest project from Stonetree Records and Cumbancha. Umalali: the Garifuna Women’s Project includes traditional songs with a contemporary twist of family, love and betrayal, subsistence, natural disaster, the vagaries of everyday life, and the tragedy of untimely death. Umalali continues the legacy of Andy Palacio to promote, maintain, and preserve the Garifuna language and culture.
To learn more about this beautiful album and the Andy Palacio Tribute Tour featuring the Umalali Women, the Garifuna Collective, Paul Nabor, and Aurelio Martinez and go to Stonetree Records, Cumbancha, and
Tumul K’in Center of Learning, located in Blue Creek, is a non-governmental organization established by Maya people to offer education to underprivileged youth in Southern Belize based on Maya cultural values and heritage.
Last week we traveled to Blue Creek for Maya Day. The theme was Celebrating Our Identity and people from around the Toledo District along with students from Tumul K’in gathered together to celebrate. Several activities and events went on throughout the day including a traditional ceremony, marimba music, a performance by Florentino Mes on the harp. Many took part in the various competitions that included traditional corn grinding, tortilla making, weaving, as well as a greasy pig and greasy pole competition. Booths were also set up with games, food, and displays from Tumul K’in.
The crowd had a great time, and we enjoyed being a part of such a meaningful day.
Celebrated world wide, Earth Day in Punta Gorda was a full of activities.
A local organization sponsored tree-planting activities at schools throughout the district. Students learned first hand the importance of planting trees to help the environment, and they helped plant mahogany trees, the National Tree of Belize, Molly Apple trees, and flowers around the school.
TIDE sponsored Earth Day Activities at the Civic Center. Several schools from around the area set up educational displays promoting environmental conservation and awareness. John helped out at the Painting Booth, where students had the opportunity to paint messages encouraging others to do their part protect our environment.
Earth Day was great. The weather was beautiful, and the kids had a great time learning about being responsible and taking care of our environment.
So remember-
“Tugeda wee kan! So big op & doo yu paat tu protekt di Earth”
The Tumul K’in Center of Learning in Blue Creek offers post-primary education while incorporating the values of Maya Culture and heritage. In working towards keeping Maya traditions alive, last weekend Tumul K’in presented the sacred ball game of the Mayas, Chaj Chaay.
Chaj Chaay is a game played between two teams of up to 4 players. The players are usually painted and adorned to represent the warrior Eagles of the Orient and the warrior Jaguars of the Occident. The ball game represents the struggle between necessary oppositions; light and darkness, man and woman, water and fire, birth and death, heat and cold, good and evil. A solid rubber ball weighing 3 pounds or more, is passed back and forth between to the two teams. Players use their hips and legs to move the ball, and it is imperative to have quick reflexes as the ball rebounds at a very high speeds. The ball game is played in the Jom, a place of much respect, as it is also a ceremonial altar. There are two ways to win, either by having the ball pass through the suspended ring, known as the Lupjom, or by accumulating a total of 8-0 points. A team earns points by hitting the ball across the opposing team’s line. Each time a team scores, a point is taken away from the other team.
On Saturday night we headed over to the PG Sports Complex to watch the Chaj Chaay. A traditional ceremony along with Marimaba music and the sound of the conch shell opened the game, and the players from Instituto Kukulkan in Gautemala were honored and blessed. The Black Jaguars wore dark clothes and their bodies were painted dark blue. The Red Eagles wore red clothing and their bodies were painted with traditional symbols. The game was pretty intense as players displayed amazing strength, power, and agility to send the ball across the basketball court. The crowd cheered as players attempted to pass the ball through the Lupjom several times, missing only by inches. It was a tough battle, but in the end, the Red Eagles won. They danced around the court with pride and excitement. What a great experience it was to see this ancient Maya tradition played.
Schools from across the Toledo District gathered in Punta Gorda for the 3rd Annual Toledo Food Fair. The Toledo Food Fair was sponsored by the Toledo School Feeding Program to raise awareness and funds while promoting healthy living. This year’s theme was Healthy Foods, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, a Healthy Belize. Activities included singing and dancing, a Volleyball tournament, and presentations by various schools, organizations, and individuals. Several schools sold various foods and drinks, and the winners of the Toledo Garden Contest were announced with a student from St. Benedict winning 7th place. The sun was hot and the crowd was big, but everyone had a great time.
I have recently begun working with Teachers for a Better Belize as a secondary project. Teachers for a Better Belize, or TFABB, a U.S. non-profit, is a partnership of professional educators from North America and Belize who work together as volunteers to improve preschool and primary education here in the Toledo District of Belize. TFABB works to equip preschool and primary school teachers as well as principals with training, supplies, and facilities they need to help their students achieve educational success and broaden their opportunities.
TFABB is currently providing training on the Balanced Literacy Approach to reading and writing. Major TFABB activities include a one-week Balanced Literacy workshop during the summer led by North American Volunteers and the Toledo Literacy Coaches, a group of Belizeans that are trained by TFABB to provide assistance and support to fellow teachers in the Balanced Literacy Approach, as well as three one-day Balanced Literacy “refresher” courses led by the Literacy Coaches and held at various times throughout the school year.
My work with TFABB includes providing assistance here Belize with organization and communication. I am working with the Literacy Coaches, and the recruitment of new coaches. I am also hoping to visit at least two schools a month to determine what further training or assistance teachers might need in the Balanced Literacy Approach. This is a great opportunity, and I am very excited about working with TFABB.
around the Toledo District along with students from Tumul K’in gathered together to celebrate. 
