Unique Belize

FOREWORD Belize, the beautiful jewel in the heart of the Caribbean and Central America! From its breathtakingly beautiful flora and fauna to its wondrously rich multi-ethnic and cultural diversity, it is truly unique. Ergo, “Unique Belize”, the brand!

“Unique Belize”, the catalogue, which is presented here in the next few pages, is a collection of the work of local artisans from across Belize. The arts and crafts presented herein are a reflection of the beauty, diversity and uniqueness of this country. They represent the varied ethnic traditions of the people - Maya, Garifuna, Creole, Mestizo, East Indian – and the gifted skill of the amazing artisans who create these products.

As you turn the pages of this portfolio, you will witness years, perhaps centuries, of Belize’s artistic traditions that have been diligently passed down from generation to generation -father to son, mother to daughter, grandparent to grandchildren. These traditions in and of themselves make them uniquely Belize.

This “Unique Belize” collection of artisan portfolios introduces you to 30 of our contemporary Belizean artisans and their products. Most of these artisans come from rural communities surrounding archaeological sites that have been a part of the European Union and Government of Belize funded project, Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites (MTBCAAS). They are as follows: • Lamanai • Altun Ha • Nohoch Che’en (Caves’ Branch) • Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM)

• Barton Creek • Xunantunich • Nim Li Punit • Lubaantun • Blue Creek They come from villages in the Toledo, Cayo, Belize and Orange Walk Districts, representing most of the ethnic cultures of Belize. They are by no means the only artisans who produce arts and craft products in our country. However, the artisan portfolios found in this publication characterize the variety of cultural and artistic traditions and the mark of quality craftsmanship that are intended to exemplify the brand, “Unique Belize”. This collection is a template for the brand, which we hope to eventually extend to many more artisans that meet the criteria.

I am extremely proud of the work that was started here with this collection of artisan portfolios.

I truly believe that it represents the wonders of artistic and cultural traditions that typify what is uniquely Belize. I am especially proud of the artisans who took part in the MTBCAAS Project, and indeed all artisans in the country of Belize. On behalf of NICH, the Belize Tourism Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, and the Government of Belize, I thank and honour them for their contribution, on a daily basis, to preserving our artistic and cultural traditions, and signifying through their work, the importance of culture to the sustainable development of Belize.

Diane Haylock Diane Haylock President of NICH National Institute for Culture and History

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ARTISANS 10

Jose Maga単a

40

Florita Chan 12

Candelaria Pop

42

Sharondale Humes

14

Sericia Coy

44

Elmer Panti

16

Sara Saria Sam

46

Maria & Paulita Garcia

18

Marta & Rosa Chiac

48

Icolyn Stuart

20

Marvin Meza

50

Javier Mendez

22

Maria Gomez

52

Augustine Smith

24

Maria Meza

54

David Gabourel

26

Susano Blanco

56

Cecilia Cal

28

Guillermo Melchor

58

German & Omar Maga単a

Elena Bo 30

Alberta Cho 60

Evarlina Coy 32

Ofelia Novelo

62

Prudencio Cucul

Elva Wiltshire

64

Patricia Bolon

66

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Adelina Cus 36 Petrona Hun

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ABOUT THE PROJECT The Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites (MTBCAAS) Project is proud to announce the official launch of its “Unique Belize” artisan programme. The launch will take place over two days, October 22 and 23, 2014, at the Princess Hotel in Belize City. The event will include the launch of the Unique Belize Brand and the exhibition of the first Unique Belize artisan product line. The Unique Belize artisan programme was made possible through The Government of Belize with counterpart funding from the European Union via The Belize Rural Development Programme II (BRDPII).

Unique Belize is a standardization, certification, and branding programme aimed at helping Belizean artisans working at or near to nine archaeological sites in the country to promote their work in the local and international marketplace and to help consumers to identify and purchase authentic Belizean artwork.

The Unique Belize label is designed to indicate that the artwork attached meets three criteria: • First, the artwork was created by a Belizean citizen or legal resident; • Second, the artwork is the original design of the artisan; • Third, the artist has been licensed or otherwise legally been given the authority by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) to use the design.

The Unique Belize Artisan Programme is one of the major outcomes of the “Diversification of Community Based Tourism Products and Services” component of the MTBCAAS project. This component was initiated in November 2013 and involved a rapid assessment of the sector, the development and delivery of a small business and product development training as well as a three month mentorship programme for the artisans.

Over sixty-four artisans participated in the small business training programme of which forty-two were women. The artisans were then invited to participate in the advanced product development training, which focused on introducing product design innovation and production to piloting a new line of artworks that meet current market trends and are more appealing to identified target markets. Forty-nine (49) artisans took part in the advanced product development training, and thirty-five (35) of them were then provided with a three month mentorship programme at the end of which they completed new product prototypes.

The Government of Belize received counterpart funding from the European Union via the Belize Rural Development Programme II (BRDP II) to finance a project entitled “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites:” Co-financing for the project is being provided by the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation represented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History. The project is being implemented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History through a Project Execution Unit housed at the Belize Tourism Board offices.

The MTBCAAS Project was launched in March 2013 and is made possible with grant funding of BZ$2.75m from the European Union and BZ$1.25m contribution from the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History for a total estimated cost of BZ$4 million. It is being implemented over 24 month period and scheduled to be completed in November 2014.

The objectives of the project are: • To improve economic opportunities in rural communities and contribute to the reduction of poverty; • To enhance the tourism experience through improvements in tourism infrastructure and services at selected sites.

The project intends to achieve three main sets of results: • Result One: Improve the monitoring systems at archaeological sites; • Result Two: Improve health and safety provisions and infrastructure at archaeological sites; • Result Three: Enhance the diversification of community based tourism products and services offered at archaeological sites in Belize.

The MTBCAAS Project targets communities adjacent to the following nine archaeological sites: • Lamanai • Altun Ha • Nohoch Che’en (Caves’ Branch) • Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) • Barton Creek • Xunantunich • Nim Li Punit • Lubaantun • Blue Creek

GERMAN AND OMAR MAGAÑA Mr. German Magaña was born in San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District of Belize and still resides there today. He is the proud owner, along with his son Omar, of Magaña’s Pottery and Woodworks which provides a wide variety of hand made products such as sculptures, vessels, ornaments, bowls, whistles, and decorative item replicas of ancient Mayan artifacts, to name a few. He also does paintings and slate carvings. Mr. Magaña works with his son Omar which makes four generations of his family working in the pottery, slate carvings and woodwork business, which Mr. Magaña sees as a way of preserving his culture.

Mr. Magaña got the gift of carving from watching his grandmother carve clay bowls that she would use for “finados” ceremonies such as “El Día de los Muertos” or All Souls’ Day. Both German Magaña and his Dad Ireneo would watch German’s grandmother making these bowls and became inspired to do the same. German’s father then took up the mantle and began carving and selling his works in the 1960s at Altun Ha and German’s brother followed suit. German himself sold his first piece of carving – a wooden bowl – in 1983 at the Cuello archaeological site in the Orange Walk district.

Mr. German Magaña has now expanded his art into a full time business called Magaña’s Pottery and Woodworks and is regarded as one of the best at combining both ancient low firing and modern clay pottery making techniques. This is how his products are unique in Belize. His workshop owns its own kiln and can do clay pottery, slates and word carvings. His main product today, however, is the clay pottery from which he can do magnets, whistles, pipes, bowls etc…

According to Mr. Magaña, his dream is to see the other members of his ten person family become a part of the business. So far, two of his children have taken a love for the craft, which Mr. Magaña says is essential for one to do a good job at carving: you must love it. He would like to see his sons and daughters expand Magaña’s Pottery and Woodwork into a real big business with a store and workshop in addition to his gift-shop which he operates outside the Xunantunich archaeological site in Cayo. He is located just two short blocks from the Xunantunich ferry on the Mopan River.

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Mr. German Magaña and his son Omar can be contacted at: Magaña’s Pottery and Woodworks San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-667-6746 or 501-669-3252 Email: omarmga14@gmail.com

FLORITA CHAN

and the Succotz Women’s Group

The Succotz Women’s Group – Developing Better Living is a women’s group comprised of 18 women from the San Jose Succotz region of the Cayo District and whose President is Mrs. Florita Chan. Mrs. Chan explained that the main reason that the group was formed was to allow women from the area to raise themselves out of poverty by becoming more entrepreneurial. The women began by making pottery and cakes, then branched out into crochet and embroidery. Today, they also sell habanero pepper sauces and jams. Most of women learn from other older family members and most of the women now sell to neighbours and friends.

According to Mrs. Chan, the group developed out of a need for women from the San Jose Succotz area to find ways of earning more income and also finding ways to express their creativity. Mrs. Chan herself works at the Maya Mountain Lodge and she sells a lot of the products from the group there. She explained that embroidery and crochet are things that women in the Succotz area have been doing traditionally for many years; therefore, women tend to learn from their parents or older siblings. They also use the flora and fauna in their craft to express the culture of the area which makes their product truly unique.

Mrs. Chan also explained that the group’s vision is to branch into other areas such as habanero pepper sauces and jams. As stated earlier, they have 18 members currently; therefore, they will need to have expand into different products based on their members’ abilities and market demands. They would also like to expand the group into a true business and work with entities such as Beltraide and the Belize Chamber of Commerce to be able to market and expand their sales beyond just selling to their neighbours.

Mrs. Florita Chan and the Succotz Women’s Group can be contacted at: Florita Chan San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo Belize, Central America Tel: 501-666-9464 Email: chanflorita@yahoo.com

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SHARONDALE HUMES Mrs. Sharondale Humes is an artist and budding designer who lives in the beautiful village of Burrell Boom. She sells her products at the Black Orchid Resort in Burrell Boom. Mrs. Sharondale began her artistry in the Christmas season in 2007 when she began looking for materials to make Christmas wreaths. She had the idea of using the natural materials from her village to make products such as wreaths.

She then began making other products from local materials including: • Jewelry using coconut shells and bamboo mosaics; • Bracelets and necklaces using local seeds; • Picture frames using coconut flowers;

• Vase and trinket boxes from bamboo;

• Chairs made from “ti tie” vines that are found in the bush;

Mrs. Sharondale believes that being an artist comes from the inside of a person. She also believes that her products are unique because it is made with natural products from the environment surrounding her village.

She also believes that her products are uniquely and 100% Belizean because her products cannot be found anywhere else in the world and they are all her unique designs. Mrs. Sharondale is also a budding designer and was part of the Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites (MTBCAAS) Project as the local counterpart to the Belzeb Consulting designer Daniela Viscarra. Mrs. Sharondale expressed that she would love to see an artist design industry develop in Belize so that young artists can learn from older ones how to develop products that are uniquely Belizean. She aspires to fulfil her dream of owning her workshop and gift shop so that she can teach others and display her products to the world.

Mrs. Sharondale can be contacted at: Sharondale Humes Post Office Box 1894 Belize City, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-604-2723 Email: rusticdesignbysharon@gmail.com 14

ELMER PANTI Mr. Elmer Panti is an artist from the San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District. He works as a slate carver in San Jose Succotz and has been carving since the age of 12. He learned to carve slate from his father, Juan Panti, in San Jose Succotz. Mr. Panti does slate carvings on order and sells at Cave’s Branch. He has made logos using slate carvings for a U.S. University.

Mr. Panti does a variety of slate carvings much of which are relevant to his culture and this is what makes his products unique. He has done slate carvings of the Maya Calendar, the Maya stelae from Xunantunich, and animals from Belize such as Jaguars and Toucans. He has done carvings of large stelae (some 9 feet by 1 ½ feet) made of slate.

Mr. Panti’s dream is to have a gallery in the future to display his works. He would also like to form a company of slate artists as a business and perhaps build a factory and warehouse where they could produce slate carvings of a quantity that can be exported. He would also like to teach others, especially young people, to do slate carvings as well.

Mr. Panti can be contacted at: Elmer Panti San Jose Succotz Village Cayo District, Belize Telephone: 501-634-5241 Email: elmerpanti@yahoo.com Facebook: Elvin Elmer

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MARIA AND PAULITA GARCIA Ms. Maria and Ms. Paulita Garcia are two of the now famous Garcia Sisters. The Garcia Sisters live in the small village of San Antonio, called Tanah in their native language, nestled between the blue Maya Mountains and the town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The Garcia Sisters discovered “art” after they began carving slate years ago. They came to realize that something moved from within the depth of their souls which expressed itself through an incredible energy and vision into action.

Several years later when the daughters found their father’s carving-a large jaguar-they were surprised. It was then that they learned about their father’s own carving experience. As a boy, he had no money and would carve bowls from limestone to exchange for food in order to survive.

Now their art has become part of the Garcia sisters’ lives. They exhibit in galleries around the world, teach art classes, and have made it possible to purchase their original Maya art through Art Center Exports. The Art Center purchases and promotes the preservation of the Tanah Maya Art Museum and the Maya culture.

Along with the Ms. Maria and Ms. Paulita, 15 members of the family are now involved in slate carvings. Ms. Maria hopes to expand her “market” worldwide through the help of agencies such as the Belize Tourism Board and others as she believes that she and her sisters have created a world class product.

Maria and Paulita Garcia and their sisters can be reached at:

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The Garcia Sisters PO Box 37, San Ignacio Cayo District, Belize, Central America Phone: 501-669-4023 Email: info_tanah@awrem.com Website: http://www.awrem.com/tanah/ Facebook: Mayan Culture Healing Art

ICOLYN ELAINE STUART Ms. Icolyn Elaine Stuart is a master doll maker from the beautiful village of Gardenia in the Belize District and is the owner of “Ethniccreations”. She made her first doll over 20 years ago from scraps of left over cloth and foam and sold it to a vendor in Belize City. She remarked that she was actually surprised when the vendor asked her to make some more as people actually wanted to buy them. This made her realize that there was a market for her dolls and that she could sell them all over Belize. She then became her own salesperson by going all over the country selling her dolls. She also branched out from dolls and began making and selling handbags and cushions as well, although her dolls are still her primary product.

Ms. Stuart explains that her dolls are cultural in nature as they reflect the different ethnic groups of Belize. This is what in fact makes them unique and authentic Belizean products. Her handbags are also cultural in nature and are made of burlap or canvass. The bags have braided straps and display Belizean tropical motifs on the front. They also have the word “Belize” woven into them. The cushions that she makes takes the longest time to produce of all her products; therefore, they are usually made to order. They are a patchwork of different material that are sewn together into different shapes and sizes (square, rectangular and round) and can be custom made. She believes that her dolls, handbags and cushions are unique in Belize and are also very reasonably priced. Today, she still travels all around the country selling her products.

Ms. Stuart’s aspiration is to train more young people to make the dolls, cushions and handbags as she has only one helper. Of course, this would necessitate increasing the market for her products so that she would be able to employ more people. She would also love to own a gift shop in Belize City so that she can permanently display her products.

Ms. Stuart can be contacted at: Icolyn Elaine Stuart Gardenia Village Northern Highway, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-627-4470 Email: icolyns@gmail.com 20

JAVIER MENDEZ Mr. Javier Mendez comes from Lucky Strike Village in the Belize District and co-owns a gift shop “Mayan Treasures� with his wife Andrea at the Altun Ha archaeological site. He learned how to carve by watching his uncle carve as a boy. Javier started carving with Zericote and Mahogany at the age of 15.

He sold his first Zericote wooden carving of a dancing lady at this age. He then began selling his carvings at Maruba Resort with his brother but then stopped carving for a while when he decided to join the Belize Defence Force (BDF). However, he resumed his love of carving full time when he retired from the BDF about eight years ago. He now carves bowls, fish, animals, birds and plants from Zericote, Mahogany and logwoods. The wood that he uses for his carving comes right from his surrounding area including the use of scrap wood.

Mr. Mendez states that what is unique about his products is that everything that he creates is his design: he does not copy from anyone or out of a book. He now sells his carvings full time at his gift shop at Altun Ha and he goes out to sell in San Pedro and Placencia as well. The carvings that he sells the most are those made out of Zericote and Mahogany.

Mr. Mendez desire is to be able to market his carvings abroad so that he can sell internationally. He would also like to train young people as apprentices who are interested in carving. He would also like to create a website where he can market his products around the world.

Mr. Javier Mendez can be contacted at: Javier Mendez Lucky Strike Village Old Northern Highway Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-635-1051 or 501-205-5507 Email: jd.soldiersboy22@gmail.com Facebook: Javier and Andrea Mendez Woodcarving

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AUGUSTINE SMITH Mr. Augustine Smith comes from the beautiful village of Lucky Strike in the Belize District and he sells his carvings at his gift shop at the Altun Ha archaeological site. He started sanding for his cousin at the age of 15 and branched out into selling at what is now the Radisson Fort George Hotel. He sold his first finished carving – a Zericote carving of a parrot – at the age of 16.

Mr. Smith now specializes in the sale of dolphins, sharks and manatees -all of which are found in Belize – carvings from Zericote, Mahogany and Granadilla woods. He also does carvings of bowls and conch shells. He states that his carvings are unique because they are 100% Belizean hand­ made, are of high quality and are reasonably priced.

Mr. Augustine has been operating a gift shop, along with his wife Ester, for the last eight years at the Altun Ha archaeological site where he sells his carvings. He would like to be able to sell his carvings nationwide and not only at Altun Ha in the future. He would also like to create a workshop to teach young people to carve and have them work with him; however, to do that he would have to be able to expand the market for his carvings.

Currently, he hires 10 apprentices during the height of the tourist season; however, he has to let them go when the tourist season is over because orders for his carvings drop significantly when the tourist season wanes. Of course, if he had more orders, he would be able to hire more apprentices for a longer period of time or perhaps permanently. Mr. Smith’s desire is to have a workshop where he can train these apprentices for longer periods of time.

Mr. Smith can be contacted at: Mr. Augustine Smith Lucky Strike Village Old Northern Highway Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-205-5546 or 501-636-7089 Email: esthersmith277@gmail.com

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DAVID GABOUREL Mr. David Gabourel is an artist from the Hattieville area in the Belize District. His bamboo shop “Fruit of my Labour” is a very familiar sight on the side of the George Price Highway when one is passing through Hattieville Village. Mr. Gabourel began carving with bamboo just about four years ago. Before this, his specialty was the making of local wine. He believes that the inspiration for engaging in bamboo carvings came from his religious faith. He learned how to carve from another member of his Rastafarian faith who took the time to teach him how to carve using bamboo.

According to Mr. Gabourel, he sold his first bamboo carving – a bamboo cup with a fish design - about 4 years ago. He states that he sells mainly to Belizeans. He has sold bamboo cups, jewelry boxes, and walking canes all made from bamboo. He has also endeavoured to create napkin holders and lamp shades made of bamboo. He has sold products at the Belize Zoo, at the White Safari Gift Shop in Corozal and, of course, at his own shop in Hattieville on the George Price Highway.

Mr. Gabourel believes that his products are unique because they are his designs and he stands by the quality of his finished product. He also states that one can observe him making the product at his bamboo shop in Hattieville.

Mr. Gabourel hopes to be able to export his products to other regions of the world. He also hopes to expand his workshop and get some quality precision tools so that he can store the bamboo and his finished products adequately. This would enable him to produce more of his products and perhaps hire and train some young people to work with him. Currently, he works essentially alone with the assistance of his wife and kids.

Mr. Gabourel can be contacted at:

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David Gabourel Mile 16 George Price Highway Hattieville, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-602-5343 or 501-660-9090 Email: gabourel.david@gmail.com Facebook: David Gabourel

CECILIA CAL Mrs. Cecilia Cal is from the beautiful village of Crique Sarco in the Toledo District. She has been carving her bowls for the last 5 years. She states that she has always liked carving since she was a child. She learned to carve by watching her husband and her brother do so for many years. She then decided five years ago to begin to carve herself using the two woods native to her area: Rosewood and Mahogany. She sold her first bowl, entirely made by hand and utilizing hand tools, five years ago. She still makes her bowls by hand and sells them in Punta Gorda or Placencia.

One of the main challenges, according to Mrs. Cal, is being able to sell enough products to make a living off her craft.

Because of the distance between Crique Sarco and urban centers such as Placencia and Punta Gorda, it is difficult and costly to get her products to the places where they can be sold. Therefore, she and the other women of her village are always eager to find more and better markets for their carvings.

Besides making bowls, Mrs. Cal and many of the other women from Crique Sarco also make bags and the following items from Rosewood and Mahogany: • Spoons • Kneading bowls • Mortar • Forks • Small Boats Mrs. Cal and the other women of Crique Sarco are among some of the few people in Belize who use the Rosewood for carvings and that is what makes their products unique. The males in their families would go into the forest to harvest the wood that they would use for the carvings, and then the women would carve, sand and then sell the carvings. The women who carve in Crique Sarco would love to be able to work with Beltraide and other organizations to form a cooperative or association and apply for funding to get better tools to be able to produce their carvings more quickly.

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Mrs. Cal can be contacted at: Cecilia Cal Crique Sarco Village Punta Gorda Post Office Toledo District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-664-9081

ELENA BO Mrs. Elena Bo is an artisan from the beautiful southern village of Crique Sarco in the Toledo District. She was one of the first women in her village to begin to carve using Rosewood and Mahogany. She began carving almost 20 years ago and is still carrying on the tradition today. She states that she has always liked carving since she was a child and that carving is hard work as one has to go into the forest sometimes for half a day to find the Rosewood that she uses to carve. She is also challenged to find enough markets to sell her products as she has to make the half day trek to Punta Gorda and Placencia with her bowls to make a living off her craft. Because of the distance between Crique Sarco and urban centers such as Placencia and Punta Gorda, it is difficult and costly to get her products to the places where they can be sold. Therefore, she and the other women of her village are always eager to find more and better markets for their carvings.

Besides making bowls, Mrs. Bo and many of the other women from Crique Sarco also make bags and the following items from Rosewood and Mahogany: • Spoons • Kneading bowls • Mortar • Forks • Small Boats Mrs. Bo can be contacted at: Elena Bo Crique Sarco Village Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda Town Toledo District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-650-3491 30

EVARLINA COY Mrs. Evarlina Coy is from the beautiful village of San Pedro Columbia in the Toledo District. She began working with Cuxtal by watching her mother using the fabric. Among the Maya people of Belize, the Cuxtal fabric has been used to make the bags men carry into the fields and use to hold their corn seedlings when they plant. Mrs. Coy began making needlework and embroidery products as well as products from Cuxtal as she saw her mother did and sold her first piece – a tablecloth embroidered with a butterfly - five years ago. She now produces pillow covers and bracelets made of Cuxtal, tablecloths and wall hanger decorations. She specializes in her Cuxtal bracelets which come decorated in the diamond, X, V, and butterfly shapes.

Mrs. Coy believes that her products are unique as they reflect a tradition spanning generations and are 100% handmade. They also reflect the flora and fauna of her area.

She also expects her kids to carry on the tradition as they are eager to learn the craft.

Mrs. Coy sells her craft primarily at the Lubaantun archaeological site which is near to her village. She hopes that one day she will be able have a shop and a group of workers to expand to a true business in the future.

However, in order to do that, she would have to be able to find other markets for her products both nationally and internationally through agencies such as the Belize Tourism Board, NICH and Beltraide.

Mrs. Coy can be contacted at: Evarlina Coy San Pedro, Columbia Village Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda, Toledo Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-600-5023

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PRUDENCIO CUCUL Mr. Prudencio Cucul is a slate artist from the beautiful southern village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. He does beautiful slate carvings that replicate artifacts from the archaeological site near to his village called Nim Li Punit or “Big Hat”. He does calabash carvings as well along with wife Dominga who does basket weaving and the making of handbags. They both sell at the Nim Li Punit site. Mr. Cucul began carving five years ago by watching his wife’s family doing the carvings. He now does primarily replication of the stelas at Nim Li Punit, namely: • Stelae #1 – the Mat Stelae • Stelae #2 – the Jaguar Stelae • Stelae #14 – the “Big Hat” Stelae • The emblem glyph of the site He started doing carvings using grey sandstone and sold his first carving to a tourist at Nim Li Punit. He believes that the reason that he sold his first carving so quickly, and the reason his carvings are unique, is because they represent the archaeological site of Nim Li Punit. Many tourists are very interested in the replicas of important artifacts that were found at the site that they just visited and Mr. Cucul provides that service at Nim Li Punit.

Mr. Cucul carves with both grey and yellow sandstone. He expresses great enthusiasm about the new craft center that is being built at the Nim Li Punit site by the Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites (MTBCAAS) Project because he believes that he will be able to sell more from being located in the new craft center. He would also like to have other outlets for his products besides visitors at the archaeological site of Nim Li Punit. He believes that people from other countries would also like to buy replicas of antiques from Nim Li Punit.

Mr. Prudencio Cucul can be contacted at: Prudencio Cucul Indian Creek Village Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda, Toledo, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-602-3906 or 501-666-6802 Email: prudcucul@gmail.com 34

ADELINA CUS Mrs. Adelina Cus is from the beautiful village of San Pedro Columbia in the Toledo District. She does weaving and makes baskets which she sells at the Lubaantun archaeological site near to her village. She began making baskets using “jippi jappa� from the time that she was nine years old by watching her mother and grandmother doing it. The Jippi Jappa is a plant that grows wild and abundant in the Belize rainforest. It resembles a type of palm. The shoots and flowers are edible.

The plant is also known as Sabal Mexicana and belongs to the Cyclanthaceae family of flowering plants. When weaving a light colored basket, the closed palm-like leaves are used.

Dark colored baskets use the open palm leaves. Using a knife or sharp object, the center of the leaf is removed so as to expose the fibres.

The fibres are tied together at the bottom eight in a bunch and then boiled in water for five or ten minutes to prevent discoloration from fungi. They are then washed and dried in the sun. Once this process is complete the basket weaving can begin.

Mrs. Cus has now branched out into a variety of items besides the making of baskets. She now makes traditional Maya dresses using Mopan Maya embroidery techniques passed down through generations in her family. She also makes bags using Cuxtal and carvings using the calabash. In addition, she makes bracelets, purses and backpacks using Maya Mopan embroidery techniques.

Mrs. Cus believes that her products are unique because they are 100% Belizean and are made using Mayan techniques that have been in her family for generations. She also believes that the products that she makes, such as the purses and backpacks, can be used by the people who buy them.

Mrs. Cus would love to expand her business to include a gift shop one day as well as a restaurant that sells exclusively authentic Maya food. She is very grateful to the MTBCAAS Project for building the craft center at Lubaantun archaeological site. She believes that it will be very helpful for artisans like her who sell at the site and will enable them to sell more of their products.

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Mrs. Cus can be contacted at: Adelina Cus San Pedro, Columbia Village Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-604-2610

PETRONA HUN Mrs. Petrona Hun was born in the beautiful southern village of Silver Creek but now lives in Punta Gorda town in the Toledo District. She is a member of the Fajina Women’s Group which operates the Fajina Craft Center in Punta Gorda Town to house and sell arts and craft produced from various Maya villages. This center serves as a main outlet for these products. The Fajina Craft Center displays baskets, clay pots, bracelets made out of threads, beads, embroidery, clay earrings, and other crafts made by the women’s groups in the villages and is funded by donor agencies. Mrs. Hun has been a member of the Center since its inception.

Mrs. Hun is now well recognized in the town of Punta Gorda as a seamstress. She has been doing this type of work since she was 16 and learned from her husband’s family how to sew as an apprentice. She learned from her husband’s family how to do the Maya Mopan cross stitch weaving technique. She then began learning how to make Maya blouses but did not sell a lot except to her immediate family. However, three years ago, she became aware of the Fajina Women’s Group and she became interested in joining the group so that she could sell her blouses to others. She then asked to join the group and was accepted. From that point she began selling her blouses through the Fajina Craft Center. She now sells the Maya blouses, “Jippi Jappa” and Lionfish earrings, and Cuxtal baskets. She believes that all of the women who sell though the Fajina Craft Center and that are part of the Fajina Women’s Group are unique in that they create products that are 100% Belizean. She would like to see the Fajina Craft Center expand their physical area so that they can display and sell more. She would also one day like to see the Fajina Women’s Group expand their membership so that more women can benefit from the Group.

Mrs. Petrona Hun can be contacted at: Petrona Hun Fajina Craft Center Front Street, Punta Gorda Town Toledo District, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-620-8916

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Jose MAGAÑA Mr. Jose Magaña is an artist from the beautiful village of San Antonio in the Cayo District. He is the chief proprietor of the “Living Mayan Site” in San Antonio, a unique replica of a Maya archaeological site where visitors can get to relive authentic Maya experience through the provision of a Maya meal, participate and learn about Maya dances, see a reenactment of a Maya wedding, and experience Maya healing methods. The Living Maya Site, as the name implies, is designed to show that the Maya culture is alive and well in Belize and is truly a unique experience that every Belizean and visitor should do at least once.

Mr. Magaña is also an artist, as was his father and grandmother. His grandmother made clay bowls and glasses for utility purposes: they were used as kitchen utensils. Mr. Magaña would watch his father carve Maya pieces from wood based on his vast experience working at archaeological sites for such famous archaeologists as Dr. David Pendergast. In fact, Mr. Jose Magaña himself spent his early childhood at the Altun Ha archaeological site where his father worked for a couple of years. He sold his first carving – a wooden plate – at the age of nine at a school exhibition in Benque Viejo Del Carmen where he was going to school at the time.

Of course, Mr. Magaña has expanded his repertoire of products since then. Today, he produces sculptures, plaques, countertops and doors from wood, replicas of Mayan stelae from slate and limestone as well as sculptures, bowls and jewelry (such as pendants, necklaces and earrings) from clay. Mr. Magaña believes that what is unique about his products is that they reflect his own day to day living experience: his art reflects his world. His art also incorporates the flora and fauna of his environment.

Mr. Magaña’s dream is to expand his Living Mayan Site to include more artisans actually producing their art right on the site. He believes that this would truly contribute to the authenticity of the site by providing a wonderful experience for visitors to our country and Belizeans alike to experience.

Mr. Magaña can be contacted at:

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Jose Magaña San Antonio Village, Cayo District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-662-1283 Email: saktunich@gmail.com | Facebook: Saktunich

Candelaria POP Mrs. Candelaria Pop is from the beautiful southern village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. Mrs. Pop has been making bracelets, earrings and necklaces from Jippi Jappa for the last 25 years. She is one of the founding member of the Fajina Women’s Group which now operates the Fajina Craft Center in Punta Gorda. She started by selling baskets made of Jippi Jappa. Basket weaving is the process of weaving unspun fibres into the shape of a basket using the “Jippi Jappa”. One regular size basket takes about four days to complete.

Mrs. Pop makes necklaces, earrings, bangles made of Jippi Jippa and sells them through the Fajina Craft Center. She believes that her products are unique because they are made by her by hand using techniques that have been in her family for generations. She would also like to see the Fajina Craft Center move into a bigger building. The building that currently houses them is small for the almost 20 women in the Fajina Women Group that want to display their products there. She also believes that there is a lot more young women who would want to learn the craft but they need the space to train them.

Mrs. Pop can be contacted at: Candelaria Pop Fajina Craft Center Front Street Punta Gorda Town Toledo District, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-628-5955

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SerIcia COY SerIcia Coy is from the southern village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. She is a proud member of the Ixchel Women’s Group from the village. As part of the economic development of Indian Creek Village, twelve of the women of the village organized a craft cooperative in 1999 called the Ixchel Women’s Group, providing Maya arts and crafts for the pleasure of tourists and collectors. They also provide demonstrations on how their crafts are created, and cater delicious traditional Maya dishes. Ms. Coy has focused on the making of baskets and coasters out of the Jippi Jappa. She sold her first coaster at the age of 17.

She was motivated to make coasters and baskets out of Jippi Jappa because she saw older women doing it and that they were making money doing it. This was something that she knew she would like to do. She decided to join the other women in the group and branched out to making Jippi Jappa baskets including bread baskets and grapefruit baskets. She also decided putting “flower” and “leaf” designs on her coasters and baskets so that they are more attractive. She also uses “heart” and “kite” designs on her baskets.

Currently, Ms. Coy can deliver the following products: • Jippi Jappa Coasters with flower and leaf designs • Baskets designed with hearts, kites and flowers • Hair clips, holders and carvings Belonging to the Ixchel Women’s Group, according to Ms. Coy, has really enabled her to enhance the quality of her work as the group is known for their high standards. She believes that her work and the work of her Group are unique because it reflects the Group’s Maya heritage and traditions and that their work provides great value for money.

Ms. Coy can be contacted at: Sericia Coy Ixchel Women’s Group Indian Creek Village, Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-636-3168 or 501-626-2338 44

Sara Saria SAM Sara Saria Sam is from the beautiful southern village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. She is a part of the Yum Kax Women’s Group from the village, a group that does arts and craft development for women of the village. She learned to do arts and craft including the baskets, beads and clay pottery from her mother who used to produce such crafts and sell them at the Nim Li Punit archaeological site. She herself started to produce and sell baskets and beads about five years ago. She sells mainly in Placencia and at the Nim Li Punit site. Sara and her women’s group produce the following products: • Baskets • Bracelets • Cuxtal • Coasters Sara believes that her products are unique because they are: · 100% Belizean · Hand-made · High quality · Useful to the buyer · Culturally relevant Sara Saria Sam can be contacted at: Sara Saria Sam Indian Creek Village; Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-604-7508

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• Necklaces • Bracelets • Earrings • Hair Clips

Marta AND rosa CHIAC Ms. Marta and Rosa Chiac are from the beautiful southern village of Big Falls in the Toledo District. They are part of a family of artisans who make functional crafts out of materials gathered by hand from the surrounding jungle.

The family is an integral part of the “Living Maya Experience” of Big Falls. The Living Maya Experience offers visitors cultural insights and experiences in Maya homes where guests will learn about Maya crafts, language, history, medicine and culture. The Chiac family home on Big Falls is a new cultural tourism experience with a focus on craft making. What makes this different is that the family makes their living selling their crafts to other villagers rather than tourists, although that is likely to change when visitors learn of the incredibly fun and learning experience to be had there.

Marta and Rosa learned how to do calabash carvings and Cuxtal weaving by watching their Mom and Dad. Their father, Juan, makes baskets and hammocks using cane derived from the taitai vine which is also gathered from the rainforest and is a nasty looking thing with sharp needle like spines an inch or more in length. It needs handling with great care. Their mom still weaves using a hand loom attached to the wall.

Today, Marta does the Cuxtal weaving and Rosa does the calabash carving from their home as part of the Living Maya Experience. Along with their Mom and Dad and as part of the Living Maya Experience, Marta and Rosa make: • Calabash Bowls • Hair clips from Jippi Jappa • Breadbaskets using Taitai plant • Bags and table mats made from Cuxtal weaving • Wall hangers • Bracelets • Hammocks What is unique about the Chiac family is the fact that a visitor can both buy the products, see the products being made and even try their hand at basket weaving or hammock making. This is what makes the Chiac family and the Living Maya experience a truly unique one.

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Ms. Marta and Rosa can be contacted at: Marta and Rosa Chiac Big Falls Village Punta Gorda Post Office Punta Gorda Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-632-4585 or 501-632-1034 Email: jchiaccraftexperience@gmail.com Facebook: The Living Maya Experience

Marvin MEZA Mr. Marvin Meza is an artist and teacher/trainer from Orange Walk Town. He grew up in San Pedro and then moved to Orange Walk after Hurricane Mitch. He now owns and manages, along with his wife Leticia, an art workshop and store where he makes and displays his products.

Mr. Meza started painting from the time he was ten years old. He did not get to do his first love of art, however, until later on in life and because a potential bad event became a life changing opportunity for him. He was working in a jewelry shop in San Pedro and making a decent living when Hurricane Mitch struck San Pedro and essentially destroyed the business.

Having lost his job, he then decided to move away from San Pedro and pursue his love of art full time. He has never looked back since.

Mr. Meza produces the following products in his workshop: • Paintings on canvas • Wood carvings made with Zericote and Granadillo woods • Ceramics of Maya artifacts such as replicas of the famous Jade Head Mr. Meza makes his own moulds for his products in his workshop and has taught various student apprentices from villages surrounding Orange Walk in his workshop. He believes his designs are unique because they replicate various Maya artifacts and symbols from Belize. He also prides himself in the plethora of products that he produces and the fact that they are all of high quality. Besides being an artist, Mr. Meza sees himself as a teacher. He would like to be able to find more markets so that he can sell more of his products and hire more apprentices. He passionately believes that what he does provides authenticity to the Belize tourism industry and that it highlights our culture and our history.

Mr. Meza can be contacted at:

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Marvin Meza 20 Asuncion Street Orange Walk Town, Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-600-1562, 501-620-6520 Email: meza.omegaart@yahoo.com | Facebook: omegaart.meza

Maria Del ROSARIO GOMEZ Mrs. Maria Del Rosario Gomez is an artist from the beautiful northern village of Trial Farm in the Orange Walk District. She makes shawls, dresses, blouses, slippers, table cloths and mats using crochet. Crochet is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook.

Crocheting, like knitting, consists of pulling loops of material through other loops, but additionally incorporates wrapping the working material around the hook one or more times. Mrs. Maria, as she is known, learned how to do crochet from her mother who used to make baby dresses using crochet for her grandchildren and taught her and her sister to do crochet.

• Bags • Blouses • Slippers • Dresses

• Shawls • Table Cloths and Mats • Purses

Mrs. Gomez has been doing crochet since she was 15 years of age and sold her first poncho at that age as well to one of her neighbours. She now makes crochet:

Mrs. Gomez believes that her crochet products are of good quality, neatly finished, and customizable and this is what makes them unique. She would love for one day to have her own store and workshop so that others, especially her granddaughter, can learn from her and follow in her footsteps. She especially loves the fact that she has been able to have students from Guinea Grass learn and produce for her as well.

Mrs. Gomez can be contacted at: Maria del Rosario Gomez Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk Town Orange Walk Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-660-3949 Email: lilian.sosa.378@facebook.com

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Maria Elena MEZA Mrs. Maria Elena Meza has been an icon in the field of education in Orange Walk for over thirty years. She returned to her other love – that of being an artist - after retiring from the field of education by starting the Sugar City Artisan Group with the assistance of the Mexican Embassy. This group is made up of about 20 women artists from Orange Walk and villages in the Orange Walk area who learn from Mrs. Meza and others how to do embroidery, hammock making and beading.

Mrs. Meza herself improved on her skills when she was able to get technical assistance from the Mexican Embassy to bring Mexican experts in these three areas to teach her and other women who started the Sugar City Women’s Group to hone their skills.

Mrs. Meza herself loves to use beading to make jewelry. She began selling her jewelry to other teachers in her community.

She started doing this about three years ago. During those three years she has been able to develop her skills at beading so that today she can make: • Earrings • Bracelets • Anklets • Chains She makes the above from seeds, shells, and glass beads. She believes that her designs are unique because they are inspired by her life experiences and are elegant and uncommon. She also believes that she is able to customize her bead products to suit different taste and different occasions and that also makes them unique.

Mrs. Meza would love to see her Sugar City Women’s Group have a workshop for her group members so that they are able to produce more and so that she and the other Group members can train more young women in the art of embroidery, hammock making and beading. She would also like to have the Group have its own display store one day where they can display and sell their products. Currently, they use the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk to display their products.

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Mrs. Meza can be contacted at: Maria Elena Meza Banquitas House of Culture Main Street Orange Walk Town Belize, Central America Tel: 501-623-8314 or 322-0517 Email: elena.meza34@yahoo.com

Susano BLANCO Mr. Susano Blanco is an artist from the beautiful northern village of August Pine Ridge in the Orange Walk District. He got started in 1992 as part of a Programme for Belize project where he spent 3 months learning how to make jewelry out of indigenous products. Mr. Blanco was able to take advantage of this opportunity because he was always known in his village of August Pine Ridge as a person who loves to make things out of coconut, woods, etc… After the three month training in Cayo, Mr. Blanco was asked to manage the gift shop at La Milpa in the Rio Bravo site for Programme for Belize.

The La Milpa EcoLodge and Research Center lies nestled deep in the forests of northwestern Belize 2.5 hours by road from Belize City and 1.15 minutes by road from Orange Walk Town.

Guests visiting the La Milpa EcoLodge experience first-hand the rich history of the Maya civilization through a tour of the breathtaking and majestic La Milpa archaeological site. In 1996, the site received international recognition when a royal Maya tomb was found and a male skeleton adorned with a jeweled necklace was unearthed on its grounds. The La Milpa site is only one of 60 Maya sites found in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area.

Mr. Blanco currently makes jewelry out of coconuts, seeds, and woods such as Zericote and Granadillo. He makes the following sets of jewelry for sale at the gift shop: • Chains • Necklaces • Bracelets • Anklets

• Earrings • Clips • Armbands • Cufflinks

Mr. Blanco believes that what is unique about his products is that they are made of natural Belizean products such as seeds, coconuts, and local exotic woods and the quality of his work is top notch or, as he explains “neat”.

His products are also unique because they can certainly be customized to the customer’s needs. He works today with his son but he would love to be able to train others in the village because he is getting old and would like to pass the knowledge to others other than his sons. Mr. Blanco does provide some training courses for young people at the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk District.

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Mr. Blanco can be contacted at: Susano Blanco August Pine Ridge Village Orange Walk District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-650-0308

Guillermo Melchor Mr. Guillermo Melchor is from the beautiful village of Indian Church in the Orange Walk District and owns and operates a gift shop at the nearby Lamanai archaeological site. He sold his first stone carving of a Toucan bird at the Lamanai site about ten years ago. He had received training in stone carving from an American group that came to Indian Church about 10 years ago.

Mr. Melchor now makes the following products: • Carvings made of clay • Stone carvings of the Toucan bird • Carvings of the Maya Calendar in stone or clay • Stelae from Lamanai made of clay • Crocodile carvings of clay Mr. Melchor believes that his carvings are unique because they reflect the history of Lamanai and provide a cultural replica of artifacts found at Lamanai. He also believes that his work promotes conservation efforts because visitors can buy his replicas instead of the real thing and that his work is high quality.

Mr. Melchor has a workshop at his house at Indian Church Village and would like to use it to train other young people from the Village. However, to do so he must be able to sell more products; therefore, he is seeking other markets besides Lamanai.

Mr. Melchor can be contacted at: Guillermo Melchor Indian Church Village Orange Walk Post Office Orange Walk District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-664-0750 58

Alberta Cho Mrs. Alberta Cho is from the Toledo District but now sells her products at the Lamanai archaeological site at the “Friends of Lamanai” Gift shop there. She is a member of the Friends of Lamanai Group, a group that produces baskets for sale at the Lamanai archaeological site. For Mrs. Cho, this has really been a labour of love as she has to come from San Antonio Village in the Toledo District weekly to sell at Lamanai archaeological site in Indian Church Village, Orange Walk.

She does blouse embroidery, clay beads and necklaces, baskets and ornaments made of clay.

Mrs. Cho states that her baskets are unique because they are of the highest quality in Belize and are made entirely by hand.

Her pieces are all 100% Belizean as she learned her techniques from her mother and it has been in her family for generations.

Her sewing has been regarded for years as top quality and she and the other women of the Friends of Lamanai Women’s Group pride themselves on the quality of their Jippi Jappa baskets. They make baskets of all sizes but the small bird baskets sell the best.

Mrs. Cho can be contacted at: Alberta Cho Friends of Lamanai Indian Church Village Post Office Box 31 Orange Walk Town Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-661-0743

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Ofelia Feliciana Novelo Mrs. Ofelia Feliciana Novelo is an artist from Trial Farm in the Orange Walk District but now lives in Orange Walk Town. She started her career as a nurse from the time she was 12. She started working at that time as a nursing aide and was assisting in deliveries at the age of 15. It was when she got married at the age of 19 that she stopped working at the hospital and had to find something else to occupy her time.

She started with cake decorating and sewing with her aunt.

She subsequently learned how to do beading and embroidery and therefore started to produce jewelry (broaches, rings, earrings, bracelets) using a combination of sequins and beads.

With the assistance of her husband, she opened a shop and began producing her jewelry for sale.

Mrs. Novelo recounts that other women in the Orange Walk area came to the store and asked her if she could teach them how to do the embroidery and beading. She had so many requests that she decided to form a group called MAMAS “Mujeres Ayudando a Mujeres a Superarse” (in English: Women Assisting Women in Succeeding). With the help of the Banquitas House of Culture, she has seen the MAMAS organization increase to 32 members and is comprised of members from villages in Corozal and Orange Walk. They do crochet and beading and produce jewelry for sale at places such as the Banquitas House of Culture. The group has also included some “PAPAS” as they have offered barbering classes as well.

Her future dream, according to Mrs. Novelo, is to open her own school so that she can permanently teach young women how to create her jewelry. She believes that her jewelry is uniquely Belizean because they are attractive, made by hand, and is made by someone who is 100% Belizean in body and mind since she cares about the young people of Belize.

Mrs. Novelo can be contacted at: Ofelia Novelo 23 Narciso Street Orange Walk Town Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-322-2725 or 501-620-6785 62

Elva Wiltshire Mrs. Elva Wiltshire is from Orange Walk Town and works through the Banquitas House of Culture there. She is also part of the Sugar City Artisan Group from Orange Walk and makes beautiful little dolls, a skill that she honed from the time that she was very young. She became inspired to take it from just a hobby to perhaps looking at it as a career by becoming a part of the Sugar City Artisan Group.

She hopes that it could become her primary source of income in her elder years.

Mrs. Wiltshire states that she has always been “artistic� and was inspired from watching her mother cook for a living by making pastries and meat pies. She has always worked with her Mom in their eatery establishment in Orange Walk but she was always interested in doll making.

She makes her little dolls primarily from cloth with a base made of coconut material. Mrs. Wiltshire believes her dolls are unique because they reflect various aspects of the major ethnic groups of Belize (Garifuna, Creole, Mestizo, Maya). She is currently working on a doll that reflects the Mennonite culture of Belize. She has found a lot of interest for her little dolls from visitors at the Banquitas House of Culture because of their cultural relevance and their size.

Mrs. Wiltshire can be contacted at: Elva Wiltshire Banquitas House of Culture Main Street Orange Walk Town Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-605-6439 / www.nichbelize.org/houses-of-culture/banquitas.com Email: elvawiltshire.26@gmail.com

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Patricia Bolon Mrs. Patricia Bolon is from the beautiful southern village of San Jose in the Toledo District and is part of the Fajina Women’s Group in Toledo. Mrs. Bolon has worked with the Jippi Jappa fiber in weaving for several years and joined the Fajina Group to help the women of her community. She has produced weavings of high quality and during the MTBCAAS project she assumed the challenge of developing basketry in unusual and very big sizes without losing the quality of her work. She sells mostly at the Fajina Craft Center in Punta Gorda Town.

The Fajina Craft Center offers locally made Maya crafts, such as slate carvings, embroidered wall hangings, shirts and dresses as well as “Jippy Jappa” baskets.

Jippi Jappa baskets, such as those made by Mrs. Bolon, are very pretty but also very functional and traditional in the Belizean Maya Culture. These baskets are very popular throughout Belize and other Meso-American regions as they serve very functional purposes. Smaller baskets may be used to store jewelry, mementos, buttons, coins and other small items. Larger baskets may be used to store vegetables, other consumable produce and clothing. In many homes hand woven baskets are used as ornaments and decoration. Maya women, young and old, still weave baskets for home use. This is what truly makes them unique.

Mrs. Bolon can be contacted at: Mrs. Patricia Bolon Fajina Craft Center Front Street Punta Gorda Town Toledo District Belize, Central America Telephone: 501-620-5368

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EUROPEAN UNION

Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites FED/2012/306-304 BELIZE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (BRDP) II

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A project funded by the European Union and The Government of Belize