Why you should care

Mayan priests bless the arrival of Cultural Survival representatives to Chimaltenango.

Guatemala is one of only two countries in the Western Hemisphere with a majority indigenous population. Guatemala’s indigenous population (principally Mayan) speaks 25 different languages. Indigenous peoples in Guatemala have inadequate representation in the government, have been historically marginalized by the dominant ladino culture and are severely underserved by public services. During Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, hundreds of thousands were massacred by the national army and state security forces, while many others were conscripted into service by guerrilla fighters. Now that democracy is taking hold, it is important to ask how Indigenous people can participate in the nation state so they are better served by their government—but without having to sacrifice their own distinct cultures.

The foundation of any democracy is an informed citizenry, and currently, radio is the best tool to provide Indigenous Guatemalans with the news and information that they need. While Guatemala now has an uncensored press, its commercial radio stations, television, and print media are available only in Spanish and broadcast mainstream culture, music, and information, rarely addressing the interests of Indigenous communities, particularly in remote rural areas. Community radio stations, on the other hand, which broadcast in Indigenous languages, provide a vital and reliable source of news and information about health, human rights, development, the environment, and other issues critical to Guatemala’s Indigenous Peoples. The country’s 168 community radio stations, which broadcast locally (the average broadcast range is 3 to 5 miles), provide a crucial venue for primary school education, and supply both the public and private sector with an active, participatory mode of communication. National police use them to broadcast health and safety alerts; municipal governments use them to announce public meetings; environmentalists use them to educate farmers about sustainable agricultural methods; educators use them to provide distance learning programs; and businesses, large and small, use them to advertise. Community radio also provides a forum for public debate and the interchange of ideas—a key element of any democratic society.