•Oral History Project Menu

The oral history project was undertaken to document the changing lifestyle and cultural aspects of the Maya-Mestizo inhabitants. They are descendants of the Yucatec Maya Indians of the Yucatan peninsula. For many centuries they have lived in harmony with nature and their environment. The introduction of sugar cane as a farm crop in the mid-20th century started a transformation from self-sufficient farming to dependence on job income to purchase food and livelihood requirements. With independence from England in 1981, lifestyle and cultural changes accelerated with the introduction of electricity. Older citizens who had grown up in the self-sufficient style began seeing the younger generation preferring a lifestyle of NikeTM tennis shoes, Reggaeton music and television. The oral history project was undertaken to record the disappearing knowledge of the older lifestyle. Video and audio versions of the unedited interviews are found in the oral history section along with supplemental research information related to the interviews.

Interviews:

• Alejandro Avilez - San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize
• Elida Avilez - San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize
• Enrique Barrera - San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize
• Doñ Francisco Campos - San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize
• Urbano Campos - San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize
• Doñ Felipe Castillo - San Victor, Corozal District, Belize
• Rafael Cob - San Pedro village, Corozal District, Belize
• Maestro Benito Pantin - San Victor, Corozal District, Belize
• Maestro Filiberto Teck - San Victor, Corozal District, Belize
• Doña Cresencia Ucan - San Victor and San Narciso, Corozal District, Belize

Special Videos Menu - Menu includes an explanation of each video.

Photographs and Special Studies:

Oral History Narrators
Ancient Mayan artifacts

Trees and Plants:

• Calabash Tree and Vine
• Madre de Cacao and Logwood Trees