Location: Chiapas, Mexico Length: 24 min
Until recently, the 10-year old boy K'ayum lived much as his ancestors did, learning about forest plants and animals from his grandfather, Chan K'in. The Maya Lacandon fled into the Chiapas rainforest 500 years ago, escaping enslavement and death at the hands of the Spanish Conquistadors. For centuries, Lacandons skilfully managed their lives in this environment and focused on the transfer of ancient knowledge. In 1970, a road was pushed in and everything changed. Deforestation now casts serious doubt on the survival of Lacandon Culture.
Copyright 1992 Hall Productions
Made available by Environmental Media Corporation
Web links:
Environmental Media Corporation
Hach Winik Home Page: A website for the Lacandon Maya communities
Lacandon Rain Forest Region (Smithsonian Institution)
Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years on the Shaman’s Path (Cambridge Journals Online)