- 6 minutes ago
Beyond The Ruins
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Let's go.
00:00:46So we can say that we as maya, if they have been called to do sacrifices,
00:00:59then we can say that life is a sacrifice.
00:01:17It is not necessarily to sacrifice a human, but to sacrifice our time,
00:01:25under the circumstances that our ancestors had the truth.
00:01:36They kept something real.
00:01:41It is a community that lives, when we say in Lak'ech,
00:01:45a Lak'en.
00:01:56It is a community that lives in Lak'en.
00:02:16It is a community that lives in Lak'en.
00:02:21I used to think of the maya as an ancient civilization buried in the past.
00:02:32Until, one day, I traveled to a land where the maya still exists,
00:02:42and uncovered a culture that has defied the test of time.
00:02:50Through my journey, I discovered not just theories of the past or archeological findings,
00:02:57but of vibrant and living culture.
00:03:05Contrary to popular belief, the maya are alive and well.
00:03:14Their traditions and customs are still woven into the fabric of their daily lives.
00:03:21From the way they farm the land, to the way they celebrate their spirituality.
00:03:28By sharing life with two indigenous maya families,
00:03:32I have learned firsthand what it means to honor the natural world,
00:03:39and live in harmony with one another.
00:03:43This is my story of traveling beyond the ruins,
00:03:47and into the heart and soul of the Yucatecan maya.
00:04:13I can still remember the excitement I felt journeying to my first Mayan ruin.
00:04:20I was headed through Belize to northern Guatemala to visit Tikal,
00:04:26the largest maya city in the ancient world.
00:04:33As I traveled from site to site and temple to temple,
00:04:38I marveled at the breathtaking architecture, intricate carvings,
00:04:43and stunning landscapes that surrounded me in the heart of the Guatemalan rainforest.
00:04:49It was larger than life.
00:04:55But as I looked back on that trip, I realized I was missing something crucial.
00:05:03Despite my fascination with the ancient maya,
00:05:08I had somehow completely overlooked the fact that the indigenous maya people still exist,
00:05:15living and thriving in the very places I was visiting.
00:05:21Taking pictures and visiting landmarks wasn't enough.
00:05:27I needed to engage the people who made up that culture.
00:05:32So on my next trip, I decided to change my approach.
00:05:39And make a conscious effort to learn about the culture through the local people.
00:05:47Little did I know, not only did this decision completely change the way I think about the maya,
00:05:54but what it means to live a meaningful life.
00:06:09The Yucatan.
00:06:11Home to a dense jungle full of life.
00:06:22Its roots tightly grip what were once ancient cities.
00:06:31cities like Coba.
00:06:34The second largest in the ancient maya world.
00:06:42Now thousands travel from all over in awe of what might have happened here.
00:06:53Some people hire a guide to tour the ruins.
00:06:58Others just take pictures.
00:07:02But I happen to find someone who, instead of offering a tour,
00:07:08invited me to have an authentic Mayan experience.
00:07:13This is where my story begins.
00:07:16Because it is where I met Rene.
00:07:20An indigenous Mayan offering invaluable information passed down through generations.
00:07:31I was born in this area.
00:07:35My father too.
00:07:38And my grandfather, they was the first people arriving in this area.
00:07:48My information come from some part from the school, but mostly from the family.
00:07:56So when people go on a tour with you, they're actually getting way different information than they may get on
00:08:03a tour with someone else.
00:08:03Exactly, yeah. It's completely different.
00:08:06I couldn't believe I was standing before an indigenous maya.
00:08:11A truth obscured by the false narrative I was taught in so many history books.
00:08:18Rene is a living testament to a marginalized culture.
00:08:23And my curiosity is running wild.
00:08:27You are maya, right?
00:08:29Yes, yes.
00:08:29And a lot of people think that the maya just disappeared one day.
00:08:33Why is that?
00:08:34Because the people now, they live completely different.
00:08:41When the technology arrives in the places, that's changing the life of the people.
00:08:51So, did the maya abandon these cities? Or did they really just move?
00:08:57They don't like to continue for the deforestation in the same place that was the reason to move in other
00:09:10places.
00:09:11It was part of their migration, so it was all really one balance and part of living one with the
00:09:18earth.
00:09:18Exactly, yeah.
00:09:20Most of the people, they moved to Chichen Itza, but not all of them.
00:09:24The rest, they moved 10, 15, 20 kilometers in other sites around here.
00:09:32And they still with the original last names.
00:09:37Chichen Canul.
00:09:40I am from the other small Mayan cities.
00:09:47The population in the ancient times from this city was 55,000 people.
00:09:5655,000 people?
00:09:57Yes.
00:09:59They were together, like a big family.
00:10:04And there are still how many maya living throughout the Yucatan, would you say?
00:10:08More than one million people.
00:10:10More than one million indigenous maya are still in the Yucatan.
00:10:16Yeah.
00:10:17We never say mayas disappear.
00:10:21Ujpen Kushtal continues.
00:10:24What is the Ujpen Kushtal?
00:10:26The ancient Mayan life, how people live, how they are together, how they help other people close around.
00:10:40So the Ujpen Kushtal is actually centered around helping other people.
00:10:45Exactly.
00:10:46Yeah.
00:10:47What would you say is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about the maya?
00:10:53Many people believe the Mayan civilization practiced the human sacrifice.
00:11:01But no.
00:11:03Mayans, they never practiced human sacrifice.
00:11:08It was the Toltecs during the post-classic period.
00:11:14Yeah.
00:11:14In the Mayan civilization, they used the jaguar to represent the sacrifice in this ceremony about the ball game.
00:11:26Just twice a year.
00:11:30During the equinox and the solstice, which represent the time to plant and the harvest.
00:11:39That's the reason it was really important for them.
00:11:43They would sacrifice animals like the jaguar, but they never actually did the human sacrifice.
00:11:48The human sacrifice came in with the Toltecs.
00:11:51But not here in Kobach. That was in Chichen Itza.
00:11:58Because the Toltecs never actually came into Kobach.
00:12:00Exactly, yeah.
00:12:02So oftentimes in the books that we read, and maybe some of the things that we see, with the violence,
00:12:09it's actually showing it when the Toltecs took over.
00:12:12Yeah.
00:12:12Wow.
00:12:12Each civilization was completely different.
00:12:17Everyone was important too.
00:12:22All this time, I thought the Maya were just an ancient civilization that practiced human sacrifice, had a special calendar,
00:12:31and mysteriously disappeared.
00:12:35But in just a matter of hours, Renee had completely turned my view of the Maya upside down.
00:12:44I had to know more.
00:12:47But before I take you any further, we must go back.
00:12:51To get a better grasp on some of the things Renee mentioned about why Kobach is so special.
00:13:01Mexico has felt the influence of several ancient civilizations over the last few thousand years.
00:13:08The Maya.
00:13:10The Teutihuacans, the Teutihuacans, the Toltecs, the Aztecs, and the Spanish.
00:13:21However, one civilization dominant in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is the Maya.
00:13:30Well known for their masterful use of astronomy, mathematics, writing and architecture, the
00:13:37Maya civilization emerged around 2000 years before the Common Era.
00:13:42Their numerical system introduced the concept of zero and calculated astronomical events.
00:13:52Their advanced engineering yielded sophisticated architecture to create structures that have
00:13:59endured through the ages.
00:14:02And their farming techniques allowed them to sustain large populations in a relatively
00:14:08small area.
00:14:10But despite all of their achievements, the Maya were not invincible.
00:14:17They faced physical invasions by outsiders like the Toltecs and a brutal conquest by the Spanish,
00:14:25impacting their way of life, including spiritual beliefs and practices.
00:14:33However, one ceremonial center managed to remain relatively untouched by outside forces.
00:14:42Unlike other centers of trade and ceremonies that were physically invaded in the Yucatan,
00:14:48Coba was able to retain a more pure Maya culture because the Toltecs and the Spanish never physically
00:14:58set foot there.
00:14:59And that's what makes this region so special.
00:15:03the city of Coba and the natives surrounding it still stand as a testament to the enduring legacy
00:15:12of the Maya.
00:15:31After visiting the ruins, Renee took me to a local cenote.
00:15:42A natural geological formation found throughout the Yucatan, they are gateways to a vast network of underground rivers
00:15:51and caverns consisting of crystal clear water.
00:15:59And it just so happens we ran into one of the men who discovered this cenote.
00:16:05He said 30 years ago he was farming here and a big hurricane passed through, knocking down a lot of
00:16:22big trees.
00:16:23And one of them revealed the cenote when it fell.
00:16:29Today, this place is open for tourists to come swim.
00:16:39He said yes, he's okay with people swimming here.
00:16:43Because the income goes directly to local Maya families in need.
00:16:50They take all of the economy to help the other families around here.
00:16:55But not all cenotes are like that?
00:16:58No.
00:16:58Like many beaches in the Maya Riviera, some cenotes have become so commercialized, they're owned and operated by foreigners.
00:17:09Now, would the ancient Maya swim in the cenotes?
00:17:15The ancient Mayans, no.
00:17:16No.
00:17:17No.
00:17:17Because why?
00:17:19Because they consider the water just a drink.
00:17:24What's sacred for them?
00:17:26No.
00:17:27So all of the cenotes and all of the Yucatan were sacred to the ancient Maya?
00:17:33Mm-hmm.
00:17:33Yes.
00:17:36Then, Rene took me a little further into the jungle, where we reached a massive grotto.
00:17:46The ancient Mayans, they use these places to make the ceremonies.
00:17:53As we made our way down the steps, I noticed there was another man.
00:17:59Oh, it's the shaman here.
00:18:01It was a shaman.
00:18:03Who was willing to perform part of a rain ceremony.
00:18:10In the small towns, the importance is the ancient ceremonies.
00:18:15Yeah.
00:18:16We're still doing.
00:18:18Even in Koba, we're still doing the ancient ceremonies.
00:18:28The most important one we make for the reigning God, named in Maya, Yunchak.
00:18:38When they pray, it's really important for the agriculture.
00:18:45There are many kinds of vegetables that we plant in the ground.
00:18:49And when we don't have rain, we don't have harvest.
00:18:58When the ceremony is finished, the rain is coming.
00:19:03Yeah.
00:19:05Like now.
00:19:27Not all of the shamans are original ones.
00:19:32Someone just makes a show for the money.
00:19:36But when the ceremony finishes, we don't have rain.
00:19:40That's the difference.
00:19:43Is he concerned about finding the next shaman to teach?
00:20:02The young guys, they don't take importance, the ancient ceremonies like this.
00:20:09He don't know who will be the next.
00:20:13Yeah, yeah.
00:20:16Probably when he dies, he's gonna trust.
00:20:22It became clear, many of the Maya's spiritual beliefs and practices
00:20:27are centered around the natural world,
00:20:30seeking harmony and balance through rituals and ceremonies.
00:20:36The rare opportunity to witness this ceremony
00:20:40gave me a first-hand look at the foundation of Maya spirituality,
00:20:45showing their appreciation to a supreme being
00:20:50manifested in various aspects of Mother Nature.
00:20:54This is why they very rarely engage in verbal discussions about their beliefs.
00:21:01Rather than adhering to rigid creeds or dogma,
00:21:06they choose to embody their spirituality through their actions and attitudes of gratitude.
00:21:27Heading north from the ancient ruins of Coba, I arrived at a nearby village,
00:21:34where I had the opportunity to connect with more descendants of the Maya.
00:21:41I grew up here, and this is basically my whole life.
00:21:47I like being into the jungle all the time, looking for birds, looking for animals, or just, you know,
00:21:55looking for a spot where I can sit and enjoy the different sounds of the jungle.
00:22:02We have to respect Mother Nature because we believe it's where we get all we need.
00:22:12Your family has been here for how long?
00:22:15Since 1950, my great-grandfather came all the way through the jungle of Chemash.
00:22:23They were the first villagers to arrive here in Punta Laguna
00:22:27and make people more conscious about protecting the area.
00:22:32Everything I have comes from my great-grandparents, my grandparents, and my parents.
00:22:40Mainly my father, who is really being into nature.
00:22:48I taught Jesus a lot to take care of all the places and protection in the lake.
00:22:57He learned a lot from me, from my father.
00:23:00My father taught me a lot to take care of everyone.
00:23:13We have a really big family of monkeys.
00:23:18Look at that!
00:23:21So important and one of the few reserves in Mexico where we can study the monkeys.
00:23:28So my father became an assistant biologist to study the spider monkey social behavior.
00:23:37Now he is better known by some universities, even from other countries, teaching students who come here to finish their
00:23:44master's degrees.
00:23:49Since I was little, I know there were monkeys.
00:23:53My father told me,
00:23:55son, son, there are 100 monkeys.
00:23:57Well, I believe it, because I don't know any monkeys.
00:24:02It was like in the year 1994.
00:24:05I started doing my paintings of the characteristics of the monk face.
00:24:10Sometimes they are black here, and sometimes they are white in the chest, and sometimes they have black tail.
00:24:18And that's how we put their names on each other.
00:24:25And then I also learned that they are territorial,
00:24:28they live in communities.
00:24:30I learned how to live their lives, how they are living.
00:24:3527 years, and you've watched their families grow.
00:24:40And you watch them have babies and grow up.
00:24:44Because in this territory, there are 15 families.
00:24:50The bond Ejolojio has with these wild monkeys
00:24:54is not just a simple friendship.
00:24:56It's a testament to the incredible potential
00:24:59for humans and animals to connect on a profound level.
00:25:03These monkeys know him.
00:25:05Sometimes they even come down from the trees and run up to him.
00:25:08They say, go up to the tree.
00:25:09And I'm standing there, looking.
00:25:12And they're telling me to go up.
00:25:16They're very important because I'm with them.
00:25:20I've dreamed of a monkey.
00:25:24So your father really became passionate about the monkeys.
00:25:29What would you say that your passion is,
00:25:32that you've taken on as far as this jungle goes?
00:25:35To show the world the real Maya are still here.
00:25:40The Maya haven't disappeared,
00:25:41but we have changed over the years.
00:25:45We have to adapt to the new world.
00:25:47So you can see, like,
00:25:49Mother Maya in this place, for example,
00:25:52but also preserving all of the ancient traditional ways of living.
00:25:57And one of these activities is organizing excursions.
00:26:01So I'm here at home, but at the same time,
00:26:05I'm helping other families
00:26:06in order not to force the future generations
00:26:09to move to the cities to look for an income.
00:26:13So you started your own ecotourism company,
00:26:17empowering the other people in the village
00:26:20to be able to support themselves.
00:26:22Yeah, that's right.
00:26:23I've never seen the tours we offer as money.
00:26:28It's everything about helping my community
00:26:32and also giving at the same time to the visitors
00:26:35an experience in which they can really feel the life of the Maya.
00:26:39When the babies have, you know, this mark,
00:26:42they should have, you know, the Mayan roots.
00:26:44Try to imagine the whole area, it was red.
00:26:47Wow, I've never seen a picture like that.
00:26:49That's my idea, the people keeping, you know,
00:26:51all of this information about the culture.
00:26:54We're just part of the area, part of the community.
00:26:57You know, like being another Maya.
00:27:00Because as I was telling you, we don't see things individually.
00:27:06Everybody is like a whole family, a whole community.
00:27:10A lot of people don't achieve a professional career
00:27:13in a traditional village.
00:27:15And I want to increase that number.
00:27:18If I'm, like, getting an extra income from that, great!
00:27:22Because all that money I get is to the people,
00:27:26to the Mayan communities.
00:27:28And some people say, you will never get rich in this way.
00:27:31I'm not looking for money.
00:27:33I don't want to be rich.
00:27:35Rich, you know, being rich is being here.
00:27:38Having all I have.
00:27:39I don't need anything else.
00:27:42You are living a very rich life.
00:27:44This is the life, yeah.
00:27:46We are richer than some people who have a lot of money.
00:27:52Jesus is yet another Maya, embracing a generational legacy.
00:27:57Built on the foundation of living as one with the natural world.
00:28:02Not all of the birds can do it.
00:28:04And what it means to be a community grounded in helping others.
00:28:09Our shared passion for wildlife brought us closer together.
00:28:13And after spending some quality time with them,
00:28:16something really special happened.
00:28:19Jesus and his father extended the rare invitation for me to visit their home.
00:28:25Revealing more of their values and traditions
00:28:28that have been passed down for centuries.
00:28:36Like sleeping in hammocks all together in one room.
00:28:42Okay, yeah, see.
00:28:45Okay.
00:28:47That?
00:28:48Okay.
00:28:50Me gusta este.
00:28:51The Maya are so united.
00:28:54Yeah, you use it for swinging, okay, yeah.
00:28:56The families are all living together.
00:28:59When a family is growing, it grows usually around our parents.
00:29:06We don't move to different cities to be far from our family.
00:29:12Because we have to continue a legacy.
00:29:15And the way to do it is being there.
00:29:18This is one example of why they grow so close.
00:29:22At night, they can easily talk to one another about everything going on.
00:29:26What's on their mind.
00:29:28Creating an intimate and supportive environment.
00:29:30Where individuals feel heard and understood.
00:29:35This is where we can apply or say in Maya, in Lak'ech, Alak'en.
00:29:42Because we cannot conceive living a part of our family, of our community.
00:29:50It's like being a relational person, you know, not individual.
00:29:58While Jesus carries on the legacy of his father, his sister also follows the footsteps of their mother.
00:30:06Carrying on the Maya culture through cooking, sewing and gardening.
00:30:19Here is something very important to learn to cook, to wash, to wash.
00:30:25Because they are very important requirements to be able to bring a house.
00:30:31Here is something very important to cook.
00:30:43Here we go.
00:30:45We have to work together.
00:30:47You must be able to cook.
00:30:47To work.
00:30:49To wash, to plant.
00:30:51Because the day when you find a man to marry,
00:30:55You know how to work.
00:30:57You know how to cook.
00:30:57You know everything. You don't have to depend on anyone.
00:31:07We want that tradition and culture continue.
00:31:11Through her, when she has her children and her grandchildren,
00:31:15she can follow the tradition.
00:31:20Cooking is an integral part of the Maya culture.
00:31:24It's not just about nourishment and flavor,
00:31:28but a celebration of life.
00:31:33The fire is the centerpiece of the cooking process
00:31:36in a traditional palapa kitchen.
00:31:39A thatched roof structure providing shade and shelter
00:31:43from the intense Yucatan sun.
00:31:49The fire is started early in the morning,
00:31:52using a mix of hardwood and natural charcoal.
00:31:56The heat is then carefully controlled throughout the process
00:32:00to achieve the perfect temperature for each dish.
00:32:04The aroma of the wood not only fills the air,
00:32:07but its smoke strengthens the thatch.
00:32:12It deposits tar and other substances,
00:32:15making it more resistant to water and fire.
00:32:18The secret to Maya cooking starts with fresh ingredients.
00:32:24Grown in the rich soil found in pockets throughout the Yucatan's rocky surface.
00:32:31Rosa has all kinds of fruits and vegetables growing right in her backyard,
00:32:36while other villagers still maintain a traditional farm.
00:32:40This is natural.
00:32:41My father, he don't use chemicals.
00:32:44Additionally, the Maya people have a long tradition of using natural compost,
00:32:49such as vegetable scraps and manure,
00:32:51which enriches the soil and helps to maintain the fertility of their crops.
00:32:58Today, Rosa and Marisol are teaching me how to make pollo con mole,
00:33:03a traditional dish typically involving marinating chicken and a mixture of spices,
00:33:09and then cooking it in a rich sauce made with chocolate and chili peppers.
00:33:15It varies slightly depending on the family recipe,
00:33:18but often includes spices like cumin, cloves, cinnamon,
00:33:22and then blending them with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and chili peppers.
00:33:28And then adding chocolate and chicken broth to create a thick, flavorful sauce.
00:33:34The marinated chicken is then added to the sauce
00:33:37and simmered until tender and fully cooked.
00:33:44When ready, it's served with rice and tortillas.
00:33:51Rosa is also letting me help her make the tortillas from scratch.
00:33:56This technique promotes family involvement and it's a sacred tradition,
00:34:01offering a deeper connection to the ingredients and the land.
00:34:05as the corn from the farm, called the milpa,
00:34:10has its own spirit and energy that must be honored and cared for.
00:34:16Yeah. There you go.
00:34:18The milpa provides sustenance, economic stability,
00:34:21and a connection to their cosmology.
00:34:23It is a traditional form of farming still used today,
00:34:28allowing the cultivation of multiple crops in a single field.
00:34:34And promoting biodiversity.
00:34:38Maya cooking is not just about the food itself.
00:34:43But the social connections it creates.
00:34:46With family and friends coming together to prepare and enjoy the meal.
00:34:51The palapa kitchen is a place where stories are shared,
00:34:56laughter is heard, and memories are made.
00:35:00And here I was, becoming a part of those memories,
00:35:04enjoying the same methods and ingredients that have been here with the Maya for thousands of years.
00:35:13The timeless taste of this dish is a tribute to the colorful heritage of the Yucatan.
00:35:19And a way of life I am quickly getting used to.
00:35:23Para pescado.
00:35:23Para pescado, muy rico.
00:35:29Like Jesus said, the jungle can provide everything you need.
00:35:34Más chiles.
00:35:34Más chiles.
00:35:35Más chiles.
00:35:35You take care of it.
00:35:36It's hush pop.
00:35:37And it'll take care of you.
00:35:38But I want a maracano.
00:35:47I learned sewing because my mother knew sewing.
00:35:54That's why my mother taught me.
00:35:56She always told me,
00:35:58I like to learn everything I know.
00:36:02So that in the morning, when you have your children,
00:36:06you can teach them.
00:36:10Traditionally, Maya women would weave cloth on backstrap looms
00:36:15to create clothing and other textiles through sewing.
00:36:28Sewing is not only a practical skill, but an important artistic expression.
00:36:37To create a bird, a flower, everything that she likes to do.
00:36:42Some of the textiles are used to portray social and political status,
00:36:49as well as to communicate important cultural and religious ideas.
00:36:53Es una tradición que nosotros todos seguimos.
00:36:57De, bueno, yo digo que de los mayas.
00:36:59Porque la mayorÃa de las mujeres saben culturar.
00:37:02SÃ.
00:37:03One form of Maya embroidery that is particularly notable is bordado,
00:37:09often used to create traditional blouses worn by Maya women.
00:37:13These blouses are highly decorated with intricate patterns,
00:37:18and they have even become important symbols of Maya resistance and resilience
00:37:23in the face of colonization and cultural oppression.
00:37:28Despite centuries of attempts to suppress Maya culture and traditions,
00:37:33many Maya people have continued to create and wear traditional textiles
00:37:38as a way of asserting their cultural identity in the face of outside pressures.
00:37:55Rosa has worked hard for extra income, and her artwork is one of the ways she has helped
00:38:01support her family and get her kids an education.
00:38:05We can earn a little bit of money with sewing.
00:38:11Not a lot, but it's something.
00:38:15It's important because if she, in the future,
00:38:19she likes to continue or teach her children,
00:38:23she already knows,
00:38:24she already has in mind that she knows how to sew.
00:38:28That's the tradition that continues for generations.
00:38:33While Marisol continues the traditional role of the Maya woman,
00:38:38she has expanded that role by pursuing a college degree in dentistry.
00:38:43She plans to start her own practice,
00:38:46while continuing to embrace the legacy of her father and brother
00:38:50through her desire to help animals.
00:38:53Yes, I'm studying cirujan dentista.
00:38:58I love this career.
00:38:59I love this career.
00:39:01Because in a future,
00:39:02I don't only think about the savings that will give me this career,
00:39:06but because I have a purpose and a special purpose.
00:39:11Well, there are two.
00:39:12To give my parents a lot of what they gave me in this process,
00:39:18that they paid my career, my materials, my books.
00:39:21But a special purpose is that, with the savings that I have in the future,
00:39:27I want to create a refuge for animals,
00:39:30those who are on the street, especially.
00:39:34Because when there is cold,
00:39:36it gets me a lot of sad to see
00:39:39how there are carous dogs that are very thin,
00:39:43that are sick,
00:39:45and there are people who support them,
00:39:47there are society who support them, but not all.
00:39:51So, I want to achieve that goal based on my career.
00:39:58At this point in my journey,
00:40:01the depth and richness of the Maya culture
00:40:04had left a profound impact on me
00:40:07as I began to appreciate the stark differences
00:40:11between their world and mine.
00:40:22Within 24 hours, I was back home.
00:40:28I felt like a foreigner in my own land.
00:40:33The stark contrast between this concrete jungle
00:40:38and the sense of community I had just experienced
00:40:42had me yearning for the feeling of oneness with the natural world and others.
00:40:50Here, we're taught to chase individual achievements and material gains,
00:40:58programmed and plugged in to an artificial system.
00:41:06I was struggling to fit in with the herd.
00:41:10The call of what it means to prioritize genuine relationships
00:41:16and live a more pure way of life
00:41:19had me eager to return to Koba.
00:41:24I wasn't planning a vacation away from the familiar,
00:41:29but an expedition towards something greater.
00:41:48I was finally able to reconnect with Jesus,
00:41:54Rene, and some of the other Yucatecan Maya.
00:41:58They took me to the mouth of an uncharted cave,
00:42:03and even to a Maya ruin inaccessible to tourists
00:42:08and unexplored since archaeologist J. Eric Thompson a hundred years ago.
00:42:15And as if all of that wasn't already another unforgettable adventure,
00:42:21they extended the invite for me to visit a very special place.
00:42:29Deep in the jungle, completely hidden away from unwitting travelers,
00:42:37lies a village.
00:42:41A family that has chosen an even more traditional way of life.
00:42:47Cache, Cache.
00:42:49Cache.
00:43:10Cache.
00:43:37The story of the Cahums.
00:43:40The story of the Cahums stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and enduring presence of the Maya.
00:44:10The story of the Cahums is a radical in our life and in our work.
00:44:15It's beautiful when we learn, as Mayas, to value certain structures,
00:44:23as to value our Maya language, as to value our Maya constructions.
00:44:37And sometimes, for many people, it's difficult to understand.
00:45:11The work that you did one day when you were little.
00:45:18You can live grateful that the work and the life are hard.
00:45:25My father lived in another community.
00:45:29For him, it was very difficult to walk every day 16 kilometers.
00:45:36So, from more than 40 years ago, he came to live in this community.
00:45:43And at about 500 meters from this community, there is a laguna.
00:45:49So, he founded the name of this community, Laguna Chabela.
00:45:55It was a reason for him to work in beef production.
00:45:59He worked in beef production, beef production, beef production.
00:46:04And he worked in beef production, beef production, beef production, beef production,
00:46:05So, it was a bit easier for my dad.
00:46:16Until, in 2004, a hurricane happened.
00:46:24It was a hurricane.
00:46:27It was a hurricane.
00:46:30It was a hurricane.
00:46:34The hurricane was in category 5.
00:46:38It was practically a hurricane to destroy everything.
00:46:48It would only destroy everything you had built every 16 years.
00:46:56So, my dad, as he knew all the area of here,
00:47:03he knew that there was a cave, a cave that was dry.
00:47:09So, he thought that it was the only refuge we could have.
00:47:16We were in the cave for four days.
00:47:22After the hurricane happened, after the hurricane happened, after the rain was finished, we were out of the cave.
00:47:30I had eight years old.
00:47:33Victor was little, six years old.
00:47:37When we came back home, we found that many of the palapas, the walls were destroyed.
00:47:47Many of his animals died.
00:47:51It was a total loss.
00:47:54And then, he began to think about how he could have a refuge where he could not be able to
00:48:05escape.
00:48:07So, he was born between us, ElÃas, EfraÃn, my dad, I and Victor,
00:48:15to build a house to see if he could resist more than 16 years old.
00:48:22So, that's why we came to build this house.
00:48:31It was big, resistant.
00:48:35It lasted for two years, more or less, the construction.
00:48:43Aún pensamos en un año más para concluirla de una forma adecuada, donde, pues, en una temporada ciclónica,
00:48:55podemos invitar o compartir este hogar que es grande para la familia.
00:49:01Mi casa es su casa.
00:49:05Tú eres mi hermano y yo soy tu hermano.
00:49:10En un lágrado, un álacado.
00:49:21Ya nos podemos ayudar.
00:49:24Nos podemos, este, compartir muchas cosas.
00:49:31Inteligencia, sabidurÃa.
00:49:34Que tenemos que compartir, no nos podemos quedar con ello,
00:49:39while some of the Yucatecan Maya have adopted more of the modern technologies,
00:49:55the Cahuls have chosen a more traditional approach.
00:50:00But just like the Canuls, not only are they living one with the natural world,
00:50:05they are grounded in the same spiritual Maya philosophy that we, as humans, are all one.
00:50:13We are all interconnected, and by sharing life together and helping one another
00:50:19without expecting anything in return, we can all live a fulfilling life.
00:50:25This is the true meaning of Enlakech Alaken.
00:50:31Enlakech Alakench
00:50:31Ashush
00:50:32En Mayan?
00:50:33En Maya
00:50:33Ashush
00:50:35El anhelo de nosotros, o el anhelo de nuestra familia Cajun Cajun,
00:50:40es compartir y aprender.
00:50:44Over the next couple of weeks, I was welcomed into their homes and their hearts.
00:50:51We both had the same desire, to simply share life together and learn from one another.
00:50:58Through their patient guidance, I learned about their day-to-day life.
00:51:03Che
00:51:03Che
00:51:04O cuando es una construcción, Winky Che
00:51:08Winky Che
00:51:09And made an effort to learn their language
00:51:12Che
00:51:13Which really helped build a relationship, because their language is not just a means of communication,
00:51:21but an integral part of preserving their traditions for the future.
00:51:25Este es Chaya
00:51:26Chaya, sÃ, el espinaca
00:51:27En Maya le decimos Ca'anche
00:51:29Ca'anche
00:51:31Ca'anche
00:51:32And an essential link between their ancestors and present-day community.
00:51:38They believe that words have the power to shape the world around them, and that speaking
00:51:44their language is a way of connecting with the divine.
00:52:06The Kahoums showed me the art of hand-weaving their beautiful hammocks.
00:52:12Another cherished tradition that holds deep cultural significance.
00:52:20I taught them how to tune their guitar.
00:52:24And they taught me how to cut my own coconut.
00:52:33I taught them an ancient western technique to start a fire using wood and friction.
00:52:42And they taught me the sustainable way to wash clothes, using wood ashes for their detergent.
00:52:50That's good.
00:52:52The ash acts as a natural cleaning agent and helps to break down the oils and dirt in the clothes.
00:52:59After applying the ash mixture to the clothes and scrubbing them, they are then rinsed with water to remove any
00:53:08remaining dirt and ash.
00:53:11Then, they are hung up to dry and the wind and sun.
00:53:17One day, I showed up with some footballs I was able to find in the town of Cobá.
00:53:25And they were really excited about that.
00:53:28The moment I arrived, they immediately started kicking the balls around the village.
00:53:34And even started building goals for us to have a match.
00:53:40Despite the language barrier and our vastly different upper means, we were all connected by our love for this game.
00:54:05It was amazing to see how something as simple as a ball could bring people together from different cultures and
00:54:12backgrounds.
00:54:12And help us connect more.
00:54:15The beautiful moment of community and shared experience.
00:54:20It doesn't matter where you come from or what language you speak.
00:54:24We all have something in common that can bring us together.
00:54:30You wouldn't know it from his football skills.
00:54:33However, Elias, the oldest brother, started to have some eye problems.
00:54:39But the Maya possess a rich history of using natural medicine with extensive knowledge on plants, honey, and tree bark.
00:54:50We try to find out how to control any type of disease with natural plant.
00:55:00At least there are times when there is a problem that we don't know about it.
00:55:10So we can only go to a doctor to help us to tell us what type of problem it is.
00:55:19So once they tell us what type of problem it is, we attack the disease with medicinal plants.
00:55:28For example, I have problems with my eyes.
00:55:33I have...
00:55:34The doctor told me that I have arthritis.
00:55:36But it is.
00:55:37It is.
00:55:38It is.
00:55:38So I tell them that I have a bit of milk.
00:55:43You can put it all day.
00:55:46You put it all day.
00:55:47You put it all day.
00:55:49You put it all day.
00:55:58I give it all day to wake up.
00:56:01I've just learned so quickly.
00:56:05I fit it from medicine.
00:56:09And I hope it's the chance to understand this and assess the community.
00:56:14As the Cahons and I got to know each other on a more personal level each day,
00:56:20the culmination of our time together had yet to take place.
00:56:33it was time for a very special celebration
00:56:41today i am honored to help create a ceremonial maya meal called pollo pibil
00:56:49and i'm certain with all of the organic ingredients here it will be one of the best
00:56:58pollo pibil is a marinated chicken dish slow cooked in banana leaves and seasoned with a
00:57:04blend of spices that give it a rich and tangy flavor and in this case we'll be cooking it
00:57:11in the traditional way underground
00:57:27so jose and i set out to forge for some dogwood
00:57:37while the women prepared the chicken and all of the other ingredients for the marinade
00:57:43a pit oven is dug in the ground
00:57:47then the wood is strategically stacked and lit
00:57:53to maintain a continuous supply of coals to be spread in other places
00:57:58they keep wood burning in the village consistently
00:58:04once the fire starts to grow rocks are stacked on top of the wood
00:58:10that will soon become hot coals
00:58:15efrain gathered some banana leaves
00:58:18while jose and i collected palm leaves
00:58:24it was a beautiful effort involving the whole family
00:58:29including the children
00:58:37once the chicken is cleaned and the marinade is ready
00:58:41it is all wrapped in banana leaves
00:58:43and the ends are folded over to seal it
00:58:48about a half hour later
00:58:50it was time to add the pot to the pit
00:58:55it is placed on the hot coals
00:58:57and covered with branches and the palms
00:59:02the leaves insulate the chicken
00:59:05and other ingredients as they cook
00:59:09while promoting moisture
00:59:11to prevent the chicken from burning
00:59:13then it's covered up with dirt
00:59:17once it's all covered
00:59:18it is left to cook in the pit for several hours
00:59:22while the rest of the meal gets prepared
00:59:37it was time to uncover the pit
00:59:40piece by piece
00:59:45and i had my first glimpse of the results
00:59:49an earth-baked chicken
00:59:52cooked to perfection
00:59:56the moment had arrived
00:59:58to enjoy the fruits of our labor
01:00:13here i was
01:00:14in the middle of a remote jungle
01:00:17enjoying what i believe to be
01:00:20as good as any michelin star experience out there
01:00:24but what made it truly exceptional
01:00:27was knowing the combined effort
01:00:29that went in
01:00:33i noticed before we ate
01:00:35they said grace
01:00:39the maya are a people of strong faith
01:00:45there was nothing left to do
01:00:47that expressed my deepest gratitude
01:00:50to which in mayan
01:00:52i would say the expression
01:00:54yum botic
01:00:55yum botic
01:00:57yum botic
01:00:58maya le decimos yum botic
01:01:01la palabra yum es Dios
01:01:04y botic es pagar
01:01:07o que Dios te lo pague
01:01:11vivimos entonces en una
01:01:13en una sola experiencia de que
01:01:16lo que tú hagas
01:01:18la familia no te lo va a pagar
01:01:21el que te va a pagar es Dios
01:01:35when some people see a village like this they may see poverty but I can assure you it is quite
01:01:45the opposite I see nothing but riches Laura Anita a world driven by authentic human connection
01:01:57instead of economics and status in an increasingly cyber world it was refreshing to know there is
01:02:07still a place where people prioritize face-to-face interaction and being present
01:02:17living traditionally and sacrificing modern comforts may seem daunting but it presents an
01:02:25opportunity for us to rethink what we truly value in life and whether our pursuit of material wealth
01:02:32and convenience has led us astray from a more meaningful existence rooted in compassion
01:02:38community and a deeper connection with the natural world by embracing a more sustainable way of life
01:02:46we may discover a sense of purpose and fulfillment that eludes us and the rat race of modern society
01:02:56many times the children, for economic need, have gone to the city and the majority will live in a community
01:03:10where it is more accessible
01:03:13more accessible and have not accessible and have a system of electricity and water systems
01:03:21so life is still going to be easier in the world
01:03:25but experiences are missing and so on
01:03:31Instead of having more families, the culture will grow.
01:03:38Our systems of work have been lost.
01:03:46Our goal as families, as brothers,
01:03:50is to push other families to return,
01:03:55to return to what is a culture,
01:03:59that we are brothers,
01:04:03sharing with other people
01:04:05that, from a certain age,
01:04:08push children to respect the right of life as brothers.
01:04:21It is a way of life,
01:04:23it is a way of work,
01:04:25it is a way of education.
01:04:29You already need to strengthen yourself
01:04:32a community
01:04:33and not only think about economy,
01:04:37but share with other communities,
01:04:40share with other families.
01:04:42We learn
01:04:48that being brothers
01:04:51is to share life.
01:04:54Yes, yes, for the kitchen.
01:04:56Yes, for the kitchen.
01:04:59For the kitchen.
01:05:00That's why we can say,
01:05:01like the Cajun family,
01:05:02that the Maya civilization is real and true.
01:05:08we will continue to hold
01:05:11to our families,
01:05:13to keep our families
01:05:16and keep our families
01:05:18and keep them up.
01:05:28It is a structure of life.
01:05:31I lived here.
01:05:34I used to think about it.
01:05:37I used to think about it.
01:05:39I used to think about it and I used to think about it.
01:05:46So I used to think about it and I went to the city.
01:05:49It's a little bit more.
01:06:03Through the hearts of the Yucatecan Maya families I have come to know.
01:06:10I have been deeply moved by the depth of their culture and efforts to preserve it.
01:06:17They emphasize family, community, and preserving the natural world for future generations.
01:06:28In contrast to the materialism and individualism dominating Western culture, the Maya offer
01:06:37a powerful alternative vision of what it means to live a fulfilling life.
01:06:44They understand true happiness is found in human bonds rather than artificial machines.
01:06:53Perhaps the answers we seek to make the world a better place and give our kids a better future
01:07:00are not found in technology and new ideas, but in the ancestral knowledge and cultural
01:07:07legacy passed down to us.
01:07:11The wisdom of our ancestors offers guidance.
01:07:16It reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with each other and the earth and
01:07:24the need to cultivate community and interconnection.
01:07:29So, as we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, we would do well to venture beyond
01:07:38the ruins and to learn from the wisdom of indigenous cultures like the Maya.
01:07:44India.
01:07:45By doing so, we can build a more sustainable and compassionate world.
01:07:50world.
01:07:52Grounded in a deep appreciation for the richness and diversity of real life.
01:08:02world.
01:08:03What kind of relationships do you want to cultivate?
01:08:07What kind of legacy are you choosing to follow and carry on?
01:08:14No matter what you decide, we are all one.
01:08:20One.
01:08:23Remember, we are living the same line.
01:08:32Where you are living the same line?
01:09:16For more information visit www.fema.org
01:09:55For more information visit www.fema.org
01:10:24For more information visit www.fema.org
01:10:54For more information visit www.fema.org
01:11:25For more information visit www.fema.org
01:11:48For more information visit www.fema.org
01:11:50www.fema.org
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