UNBC Geography Field School 2004:

Itinerary

Geographies of Culture, Rights & Power:

Indigenous & Gendered Human Rights in Guatemala

May 3-26, 2004

ITINERARY

May 3, 4, 5, 6 — CULTURE, RIGHTS, AND POWER SEMINAR — UNBC CAMPUS, 9:00 — 1:00, RM 6-217 & 7-158

Students will receive reading package and reading list one month before the start date. We begin our seminar with the expectation that students have read the course material in advance.

May 7 — PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING — UNBC CAMPUS, 9:00 — 1:00, LIBRARY

Dr. Nolin and ALL participants will meet to discuss final logistics & group agreements

May 12 — ALL PARTICIPANTS DEPART FROM VANCOUVER ON AMERICAN AIRLINES 814:

7:00 am, depart Vancouver ; 1:00 pm, arrive in Dallas/Fort Worth
3:00 — 3:30: Jacqui Stephens will run seminar on field journals & participant observation
5:00 pm, depart Dallas/Fort Worth; 7:30 pm arrive in Guatemala City
Rights Action (RA) van transport (Madriel) to Hotel Spring: 8 Avenida 12-65, Zona 1, Guatemala City
Dinner at Piccadilly (6 Av., Zona 1), evening preparation for first day of meetings

May 13 - ORIENTATION IN GUATEMALA CITY, HOTEL SPRING

7:00am: Breakfast: Hotel Spring
8:00am: Meeting: Grahame Russell (Rights Action — RA): Welcome and Introductions / Seminar Logistics.
9:00 am: Meeting: Grahame & Annie Bird (RA). What is RA? RA’s vision? Who are RA partner groups and the issues they confront? Campaigns? North Americans focusing on responsibility of northern actors? Legal and Political forms of Global Justice Activism. Conception of local to global legal and political activism. Guatemala update.
10:30am: CALDH (Centre for Legal Action in Human Rights) (NGO — legal activism), Juan Pablo discusses genocide cases.
Lunch: Central Plaza, walk through Zona 1 and 2, past Iglesia San Sebastian (Bishop Gerardi's monument)
2:00pm: FAFG — Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology team (Exhumations), José Suasnvar & Claudia Rivera
4:30pm: HIJOS (Hijos e Hijas por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio), Zona 2, Raoul and Paco
7:00 pm: Dinner at Mexican restaurant, Zona 1

May 14 — 19 — TRAVEL TO RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN GUATEMALA WITH GRAHAME RUSSELL (RA)

Participatory visits, discussions and interviews concerning the situations of the people and communities living in situations of violations of their indigenous rights & human rights as well as women leaders in issues of community development

May 14 — RABINAL, POSADA SAN PABLO

6:00am: depart Hotel Spring for Rabinal [6 hours of driving, breakfast en route]

12:00 pm: arrive in Rabinal

12:30 pm: Pacux, attend commemoration of 14 May 1982 Río Negro massacre

2:00 pm: walk to exhumation site on former military base, meet with FAFG team, and talk with widow

3:00 pm: walk to monuments in cemetery

4:00 pm: walk to offices of ADIVIMA (Asociación para el Desarrollo de las Víctimas de la Violencia en las Verapaces, Maya-Achì) (local genocide survivors community human rights group) and FNE ( Fundación Nueva Esperanza: Río Negro, Rabinal)

meet with Carlos Chen, Jesús Tecu Osorio, and Pedrina Burrero Lopez - Ríos Montt video & discussion

5:30 pm: drive with Jesús to new FNE school

7:00 pm: dinner: meet with CIDA Interns David and Kate Turner

Lodging: Posada San Pablo, 3a Avenida, 1-50, Zona 1, Miguel Osorio Díaz y Enriqueta Alonzo de Osorio

Evening journal writing

May 15 — RABINAL, POSADA SAN PABLO

7:30am: Breakfast in town

9:30am: Meeting with Fernando Suazo, former Catholic priest

11:00am: visit Rabinal community museum, Museo Comunitario Rabinal Achì (cultural history of Maya-Achì people and mini "holocaust" museum), 2a Calle mentre 4a y 5a Avenida, Zona 3

12:00 pm: Hike to "Cajyup" Mayan ruins [60-75 minutes hike up — take food with us]

5:00 pm: Dinner at pension

Lodging: Posada San Pablo

Evening journal writing

May 16 — EL ESTOR, HOTEL LA PLAYA

7:00 am: Breakfast in Rabinal market

7:30am: Depart Rabinal for El Estor, Isabel

Travel: El Estor, Q'eqchi people and INCO mining issues [6-7 hours drive]

Lunch: in Río Dulce (Backpacker's Hotel)

Afternoon: swim at the Finca Paraiso waterfall (between Río Dulce and El Estor)

4:00 pm: meet with Daniel Vogt (AEPDI - The Association for the Integral Development of El Estor), a local, Maya-Q'eqchi NGO

Dinner: local comedor and follow-up meeting with Daniel Vogt

Lodging: Hotel La Playa, 2a Calle 4-23, Zona 1, El Estor

Evening journal writing

May 17 — EL ESTOR, HOTEL LA PLAYA

7:30am: Breakfast

9:30 am: Meeting and tour of INCO-EXMIBAL site west of El Estor, INCO representative and El Estor mayor, Rigoberto Chul)

1:30 pm: Lunch and swim in El Estor

3:00pm: Drive to Chichipate for 4:00pm meeting with AEPDI, Daniel Vogt, and with local Maya-Q'eqchi communities

7:00 pm: Dinner with Daniel Vogt

Evening journal writing

May 18 — EL ESTOR TO MORALES TO RIO HONDO JUNCTION

8:30am: Breakfast

10:00am: Travel by boat to Mariscos (1 _ hours) and van to Morales (1 hour & lunch) onto Lanquin II banana plantation (formerly Del Monte - BANDEGUA) to meet with members of Members of the Asociación de Desarrollo Integral de Creek Zarco [Zarco Creek Integral Development Community Association], coordinated by CUC (Comité de Unidad Campesino).

Travel: to Guatemala City but broke down at Río Hondo junction (close to Gualán)

Dinner and Lodging: El Tropico

May 19 — RIO HONDO JUNCTION TO ANTIGUA, HOTEL LA TATUANA

7:00am: Leave El Tropico, breakfast en route, for Antigua

3:00pm: Arrive in Antigua, lunch at Rainbow Reading Room

4:00pm: final meeting with Grahame

6:00 pm: CLAG conference registration, Hotel Casa Santo Domingo

3a Calle Oriente No. 28 "A", Antigua

6:30 pm: CLAG conference welcome cocktail in the Jardin de la Huerta, Hotel Casa Santo Domingo

Lodging: La Tatuana, 7 Avenida Sur 3, Antigua

Free evening for dinner and meeting with delegates at the conference

May 20 — CLAG CONFERENCE AT CASA SANTO DOMINGO, ANTIGUA, HOTEL LA TATUANA

Student attendance at conference (8:30 — 6:00); critical reflection write-up of sessions attended is expected upon return from Guatemala
Opportunities to explore colonial Guatemala: markets, research libraries, theatre, and so forth
Meals: Conference registration covers coffee & juices at breaks and evening beverages
Meals: Students are responsible for arranging meals
6:30 — 7:30 pm: CLAG reception hosted by/at CIRMA Research Centre (Cash Bar), 5a Calle Oriente, No. 5
The Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica (CIRMA) is one of Central America's premier research institutes. Due to CIRMA's leadership in dealing with topics in the social sciences and local indigenous peoples, its research library is an important repository for Central American materials.
Lodging: La Tatuana, 7 Avenida Sur 3, Antigua
Free evening for dinner and meeting with delegates at the conference

May 21 — CLAG CONFERENCE AT CASA SANTO DOMINGO, ANTIGUA, HOTEL LA TATUANA

Student attendance at conference (8:30 — 4:00); critical reflection write-up of sessions attended is expected upon return from Guatemala
Meals: Conference registration covers coffee & juices at breaks and evening beverages; students are responsible for arranging breakfast and lunch
3:00 pm: Meet with Dr. W. George Lovell for a reading from A Beauty that Hurts: Life and Death in Guatemala, rooftop patio, Casa Santo Domingo
7:00 — 10:00 pm: CLAG banquet at the Casa Santo Domingo (included in conference fee)
Keynote presentation: Dr. W. George Lovell, Professor of Geography, Queen’s University
Awards Ceremony
Lodging: La Tatuana, 7 Avenida Sur 3, Antigua

May 22-26 — TRAVEL TO RURAL COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN GUATEMALA WITH CAREN WEISBART

Participatory community visits, discussions and interviews concerning the situations of people and communities working through issues of coffee production, fair trade coffee certification, and organic certification, and women’s role in community development.

May 22 — ANTIGUA TO GUATEMALA CITY, CASA SAN JOSÉ

8:00am: Breakfast, Rainbow Reading Room, meet with Caren Weisbart
9:30am: Travel to the Capital and Casa San José
11:00am: Introduction of Group and Caren Weisbart & explanation of Caren’s work in Guatemala
12:00 pm: Meeting: Mario Godinez with CEIBA (Asociación para la Promoción y el Desarrollo de la Comunidad) — one of 22 organizations working with the Mesa Global —to discuss issues of Plan Puebla Panama and mining companies in Guatemala
1:30pm: Lunch: Panda Express — Chinese Buffet
3:15 pm: Meeting: Tara Ward with Peace Brigades International (International Human Rights Accompaniment) at Casa San José
5:30pm: Walk to Central Plaza, tour National Palace, coffee at Sol Rey
7:00pm: Dinner: Casa San José
Lodging: Casa San José, Zona 1, Guatemala City
Evening journal writing

May 23 —GUATEMALA CITY TO SAN LUCAS TOLIMÁN

8:00am: Breakfast: Casa San José
9:30am: Travel to San Lucas Tolimán (3 hours)
1:30pm: Lunch: San Lucas Tolimán — Victoria´s
3:30pm: Meeting with Marcelo and Rodolfo, representatives from CCDA (Campesino Committee of the Highlands), a Maya Kaq’chiqel campesino organization) - Introduction to the CCDA and their work In Guatemala. Situational Analysis
6:30pm: Dinner: San Lucas Tolimán — Women's coop (organic, permaculture centre)
Lodgings: La Fonda de la Llave (3 people) and Casa Cruz (8 people)
Evening reflection & Journal writing

May 24 — SAN LUCAS TOLIMÁN & CHITULUL

7:30am: Breakfast: San Lucas Tolimán — Victoria´s
8:15am: Pick-up ride to Chitulul (a small coffee growing community)
9:00 am: Hike down to Finca El Paraíso (and up again!) to see a coffee beneficio (processing plant), Fair Trade talk, and coffee crisis analysis with CCDA's Marcelo and Rodolfo
2:00pm: Lunch: Chitulul — Prepared by the community
5:00pm: Meeting: Basilia and Emily (CIDA Intern) of the CCDA's Gender Program
6:30pm: Dinner: San Lucas Tolimán — Women's coop (organic, permaculture centre)
Lodging: La Fonda de la Llave (4 people) and Casa Cruz (8 people)
Evening reflection & Journal writing

May 25 — SAN LUCAS TOLIMÁN TO PATULUL (FINCA ISABEL)

7:30am: Breakfast: San Lucas Tolimán — Victoria´s<
8:00am: Travel by van to Patulul (one hour south of San Lucas Tolimán)
10:00 am: Pick-up ride to Finca Isabel to meet with the Junta Directive (Executive Committee) of the newly purchased finca (work with CCDA), tour crops and development projects. World Bank and FONTIERRAS representatives present.
12:30pm: Lunch: Prepared by the community
2:30 pm: Pick-up ride back to Patulul, van ride to Santiago Atitlán
5:00 pm: Santiago Atitlán: walk 1 km out of town to Peace Park monuments & return to visit cathedral
7:00pm: Dinner: San Lucas Tolimán — Women's coop (organic, permaculture centre)
Lodging: La Fonda de la Llave (4 people) and Casa Cruz (8 people)
Evening pre-Embassy planning meeting & Journal writing

PMay 26 —GUATEMALA CITY & ANTIGUA, HOTEL LA TATUANA

5:00am: Drive into Guatemala City, breakfast in capital, planning meeting
11:00 am — 1:00 PM: Meet with Canadian Ambassador, James Lambert — Guatemala City
1:00pm: Drive to Antigua
2:00 pm: Lunch and shopping
7:00pm: Final Dinner at Café La Flor
Lodging: La Tatuana, 7 Avenida Sur 3, Antigua