Mapping Indigenous Self-Determination in Highland Guatemala

The challenges of building research partnerships around community mapping are critically reviewed in reference to the politics of heritage and identity among Indigenous Maya communities in highland Guatemala. This paper discusses how the goals and interests of archaeologists meshed with those of ind...

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Published inInternational journal of applied geospatial research Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 1 - 23
Main Authors McAnany, Patricia A, Rowe, Sarah M, Cholotio, Israel Quic, Menchú, Evelyn Caniz, Quic, José Mendoza
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hershey IGI Global 01.01.2015
Subjects
Archaeology
Buildings
Cartography
Communities
Community involvement
Community participation
Construction
Cultural heritage
Digital mapping
Highlands
Historical buildings
Literacy
Mapping
Mathematical models
Mayas
New technology
Organizational aspects
Partnerships
Projects
Thematic mapping
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Honduras
Belize
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Summary:The challenges of building research partnerships around community mapping are critically reviewed in reference to the politics of heritage and identity among Indigenous Maya communities in highland Guatemala. This paper discusses how the goals and interests of archaeologists meshed with those of indigenous mappers in five communities that chose to participate in the mapping program. Based on responses to a survey about the mapping project, participants report joining in order to enhance self-determination, gain cartographic literacy, and improve life opportunities. Community authority over the project and a broad base of participation (including young and old, male and female) proved essential to the program, which combined traditional practices of governance with new technologies. This paper describes the community organizational model and protocols for selecting features and topics for thematic maps as well as for gaining community consensus on map content. Finally, it reflects on this transmodern approach to indigenous mapping and the future of research partnerships.
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ISSN:1947-9654
1947-9662
DOI:10.4018/ijagr.2015010101