INRESPONSETOTRUMP’SSECONDADMINISTRATION,WESAY: ASLONGASTHEREISAGRAINOFCORN,OUREXISTENCEISASSURED
Piscataway Nation Territory (Washington, D.C.): The International Mayan League calls for solidarity, permanent organizing and vigilance in the face of a second Trump Administration and denounces the large-scale human rights violations to come Since the election on November5th,we again entered a cycle of state sponsored violence, repression, criminalization, and discrimination against our peoples, bodies, Mother Earth, and our future. The enactment of the Trump Administration’s dehumanizing policies against women, the environment, immigrants - will only further violence against Indigenous and Black peoples, communities of color, immigrants, and Mother Earth We underscore that colonial borders, nation states and governments have never considered the rights and humanity of Indigenous Peoples and violate our right of autonomy and self-determination. The Mayan League has received messages and calls from members of our community expressing fear of the forthcoming large-scale family separation that will likely ensue from Trump’s proposed militarized mass deportations Trump has previously stated that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country” and thattheyarean“invasion”forgettingthathehimselfis animmigrantontheseIndigenouslands.
We as Indigenous Peoples have always been here, long before colonial borders, nation states and governments were imposed over our lands Per a Maya community leader, “These struggles have been a struggle forcenturies,thishateisnotnew Butwehaveresisted,andwecontinuethisstruggle as we have done for thousands of years against dispossession and genocide in our territories, this is called survival.” Such policies of hate led to separation of thousands of mostly Indigenous families and the horrific deaths of Maya children and youth at the border, and under U.S. custody. Another Maya leader stated: “The government has always marginalized us and violated all our rights Now, perhapsitisnotgenocide;theycontinuetokillususingotherstrategies”
Such fears and concerns are exacerbated by the fact that the Trump administration has nominated South Dakota’s Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of HomelandSecurity(DHS).Noem, known for her anti-immigration stance, claiming not to accept any “illegal” migrants from the southern border into South Dakota and even offering to send troops to the border to stop migrants from crossing. But across Turtle Island, solidarity between Indigenous Nations has always existed; from the defense of our Mother Earth and sacred waters like Standing Rock to the solidarity statement made by President Frank Star Comes Out from the Oglala Sioux Tribe in February 2024, when in response to Gov Noem’s stance, stated: We “believe that manyofthepeoplecomingtothe southern border of the United States in search of jobs and a better life are Indian people from such placesasElSalvador,
Guatemala, and Mexico and don’t deserve to be dehumanized and mistreated by people like GovernorAbbottandhiscohorts.Theydon’tneedtobeputincages,separatedfromtheirchildren.”
Colonial violence, and structural racism, are linked with erasofIndigenousPeoples’expulsionfrom their lands and territories across Abiayala (The Americas). In this newest wave offorcedmigration, many Indigenous Peoples are resettling on Turtle Island due to land conflicts and militarization of their territories thatfavortransnationalcorporations,intrinsicallylinkedtoenvironmentaldestruction and degradation leading to accelerated climate change and forced migration We must highlight the role that countries like the US have in the militarization and financial support of regimes that commitgenocide,asoccurredinGuatemalaagainstamajorityIndigenousPeoples.
But we must hear our Elder’s teachings and rememberthatwearestillhere.PeraMayaMamElder, “We must be intelligent and have the values of humanity and learn our history Thelawsareagainst us regardless of administration, they have their machinery Mother Nature and the cosmos are with us. The greatness of Mother Naturehelpsustopushawayfear.ReceivetheenergiesofGrandmother Moon, ask her to continue to enlighten us.Alwaysinceremonywehavereceivedthemessageofthe problems that we will face. But we will find strength in Mother Earth, Mother Nature. Do not be overcomebyfear,askforstrength”
We anticipate unprecedented challenges ahead; in particular, for Indigenous Peoples who have been forcibly displaced and forced tomigratetotheU.S.Aspeoplewhohaveexperiencedandcontinueto survive some of the worst atrocities, we want to assure our community thattheInternationalMayan League is a safe space We will continue to build strategies in the coming weeks andmonthsacross movements to stand up for and defend the rights of our communities and Mother Earth Allyship is more important than ever. Our struggles are woven together, and we are stronger united. We know that many of you are likely to be evaluating your situations, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Please join us as we build a response together, one rooted in our human dignity and that uplifts our diverse peoples, cultures, and histories “Our Elders tell us, as long as there is a grain of corn,ourexistenceisassured”Wearestrongertogetherincommunityandwearewithyou
Insolidarity,light,andresistance, InternationalMayanLeague November19,2024|13B’atz’ ###
The International Mayan League (Mayan League) is the only Maya women and youth-led organization in theUS working with allies, and is located in Piscataway Nation Territory (Washington, D.C.) It was founded in 1991 by Maya refugees fleeingthewarandgenocideinGuatemala OurpurposeistouniteMayapeopleinthediasporawith allies in the United States (U.S.), educate on the root causes of forced migration, offer a platform to advance and protect the Maya peoples’ humanrights,andassistintheinclusionofMayaleadersandotherIndigenousPeoplesin decisionmakingspacesthataffectourpeoples,communities,andfutures.