Doña Maria by James Rodriguez

Doña Maria, the family matriarch as noted by her white huipil (embroidered blouse) sits proudly in her kitchen.

Doña Maria is just one of the family members from the Ixil Maya community of the Guatemalan highlands that featured in a recent photo-documentary by Rodriguez. From his Flickr photoset page:

During the devastating 36-year civil war which Guatemala suffered from 1960 to 1996, people from the so-called Ixil triangle suffered perhaps the worst atrocities. Dozens of systematic massacres ravaged the area and thousands were displaced internally, some spilling over the border into Mexico.

Today, ten years after the peace agreements were signed between the government and the guerrilla groups, like most other Guatemalan regions, Nebaj is attempting to go forward with war reparations programs established by the accords. Unfortunately, there are those who would benefit from avoiding such implementations.

The following Ixil family has received direct anonymous threats for its involvement in campaigns seeking social reforms.

Readers interested in learning more about the Guatemalan Peace Accords are encouraged to follow the weblog of the Guatemala Solidarity Network.