In the discussion with Elder Lopez, the first thing he pointed out was that Maya people are “the Children of Corn”. I found it impressive how Mr. Lopez and his community are still deeply attached to the Mayan traditions, to the Popol Vuh, the orality, the centrality of maize. Throughout the discussion, the attachment to maize was especially palpable. Not only when he explained about the cultivation system, based on growing the “three sisters” (maize, squash and beans), but also when he talked about his homeland, his community and his ancestors. He mentioned more than once how without maize there is no society or culture, how in the absence of maize men were just hungry and could not start building cities. When he explained how maize was hidden in a rocky mountain that cracked open after multiple tries by the animals and lightening, I could see how maize represents the center of everything, as if the world revolved around maize. It seemed to me that maize is the glue of the social, the supernatural and the natural worlds, like a sort of point of connection between animals, nature, people and gods.

It struck me how the Mayan orality takes up a big role in how he sees and interprets the world and its dynamics. It was really impactful for me to learn how he associates serious changes in the world (like climate change) to the story of how men obtained maize. He mentioned that, when the cracks in the rocky mountain close, the soul of maize will leave, and big changes will come. The main crack was about to close in 2009, and this was a signal for us to prepare ourselves for the changes that are coming. Apart from the centrality of maize, when Mr. Lopez was talking, I could see how much he relies on his ancestors and the stories that have been passed down for generations. It was clear that the traditions and explanations of the world that are part of Mayan orality have not been forgotten by him; conversely, they help him interpret the world we live in.

Finally, combining Mayan orality and the centrality of maize, I understand why his community decided to set up the “Mayan in Exile Garden” here at UBC. I feel like, in this way, they feel closer to their homeland and their ancestors, while passing down the traditions to the young generations of Maya Mam people born in exile.