The gateway to the sea

By: Alfonso Arrivillaga Cortés

The area that today encompasses Izabal, was a territory favorable for the trade routes, in that its natural passages were created by the riverbeds and lakes. The most important site in the Classic period was Quiriguá, on the trade routes marked by the Motagua, Polochic and Sarstún Rivers. During the colonization a large part of the indigens population was decimated by disease and relocations to other areas. This gave rise to the menacing, by pirates, of the English who were attracted by the wealth of wood in the region and labored to open markets. For this reason the colonial authorities built the Castle of San Felipe de Lara. This fortification, which is situated at the strategic point of the convergence of the Dulce River with Lake Izabal, was attacked and destroyed several times through incursions from points such as Panzós, in the territory of the Verapaz.

The Black Caribbean population, the garínagu or better known as the garífuna, arrived in 1797, and had a caribe arawak linguistic affiliation. In the 19th century the first Belgian immigrants arrived to Santo Tomás de Castilla. At the end of this same century there were migrations of q'eqchi' population that had lost their lands in Alta Verapaz. A similar phenomenon happened to the ch'orti' population that was forced to locate to Izabal after being robbed of their lands in the east. In the last years the principality was relocated to Puerto Barrios and quickly consolidated. It began to receive new quota populations, the majority being ladinos from Zacapa, Chiquimula, Baja Verapaz and Honduras. At the height of the influence of the transnational banana companies in the area Negro anglófonos coming from Jamaica and Barbados were added to the population, and in small measure, established themselves in Puerto Barrios and in important communities such as Bananera, Cayuga and Entre Ríos. The same is true of the Ports of Livingston and El Estor. Also upon this stage were populations proceeding from Mainland China and other small groups of foreigners which enriched the cultural interchange.

The spectacular magic of the Caribbean

By: Luis Villar Anleu

This is a unique Department of the Republic of Guatemala with its border on the Atlantic Ocean. In Izabal we find the largest lake and bay marina in the country. Its fields overlook the largest river, the most opulent marshes, the most intricate network of flowing water and a large quantity of ponds and lakes.

The richness of the soils, the closeness of the sea, the biological connection to various origins, the quantity of sunshine, the meteorological elements and many other conditions of equal importance make Izabal a natural ecological laboratory. It is here that the enormous wealth of the biological world yield admirable results. Any of its ecosystems prove to be splendid. Among them are the coastal dunes, the enigmatic fields of palms, the inundating forests, and the savannas of the aquatic provender and the rain forests of mid-altitude.

Natural Attractions include Bocas del Polochic, Manabique Point, San Gil Hill, the Ecological Reserve, Chocón Machacas, Río Dulce, Siete Altares and Cocolí Point. There are also noted attractions such as Palma Point, Amatique Bay, Graciosa Bay, Santo Tomás Bay, Los Ingleses Canal, Izabal Lake, Sarstún River, Vía Escénica and Las Escobas River.

Artisanry

By: Francisco Rodríguez Rouanet and Aracely Esquivel

In this Department they fabricate and paint masks as well as chinchines for dances and rituals. They also design ornamental articles in bone and jade and seashells are crafted into necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.

Kitchen utensils and fishing tackle are made here as well.

The jana is a mortar similar in shape to an hourglass and is created with the upper part hollowed out by either scraping or burning the wood. They utilize the wood of mahogany, goubana, cedar and palo de zapote to fabricate these items.

The fagayu is a wooden spatula that is used to stir great quantities of food. It consists of a wooden base, varying in size according to the use, encrusted with many stones.
Basket weaving is a fading activity in which they use a material called bayal.

The seni is a fish trap made in a woven technique.

The siribia is a throwing net constructed of industrial fibers, used for fish and shrimp, although in the present day they use fishing line and hooks to catch fish.

They also create maritime artisanry like canoes, known as cayucos, from trunks of trees.

Traditions

By: Carlos René García Escobar

Cofradías and Hermandades

In Izabal they know more of the hermandades than the cofradías now that the garífuna (black Caribbean) culture dominates this coastal region. They recognize the concept of the hermandad, due to their own social and cultural process, for the organization of their festivals.

Dances

They present garífuna dance in Livingston. The most popular, famous and important ones are El Yancunú, El Sambai, La Punta, La Shumba, El Jungujugu, El Gunjae, El Aba-i, Eel Mahani, El Aru Majani and El Chip Chip.

The history of El Yancunú recalls a warriors dance, with the dress and mask of a woman, who dances alone for men. This is not to say that the dancer is not sometimes a woman. El Jungujugu is the rite of garífuna excellence and is another important dance. It is a variation of Haitian voodoo, called chugú in this region, and is a modality of a collective and spontaneous dance around drums and tambourines. The q'eqchi' people practice the dance of the Venado in the households of Livingston and El Estor.