Maya Like many of the native tribes many of the Mayan people have some European heritage, but there are still traditional Native American villages scattered throughout Central America. The name Maya is an umbrella term for many distinctly different Native American Tribes. The main group of Mayans live on the Yucatan peninsula but there are other living throughout Central America each with their own traditions, language, and heritage. Generally the eastern Mayan population was less effected by the Conquistador culture and intermarriages. In the 1980’s thousands of refugees fled to Mexico and the United States after the Guatemalan death squads killed hundreds of thousands of people. Those who remain live in “model” villages and attempt to maintain their historical way of life. Traditionally the Mayan economy was agricultural. Many tourist visit the ancient Mayan ruins, but even today many of the villager families are maize farmers and they continue to use the traditional slash and burn method for their milpas. Other Mayan people have left their villages and taken positions in politics, education, and government. Mayan Languages:
Yucatan Maya for the Mayan who live on the Yucatan, Spanish is commonly spoken as a first language. About half of the population speaks Mayan, and Mayan language classes can be taken online in an effort to preserve the culture. Other languages spoken are Kriol and English. There are a few of the traditional tribal languages spoken such as Chan, Be, Pool, and Tamay. The physical environment differs from place to place. The three main types of enviornment being the highlands of the volcanic mountains in the intermountain valleys of Guatemala. The Yucatan is a lowland with limestone, and there are sinkholes throughout the area. In the northern half of the peninsula there are large swamps, and because of the close coast the water density is stratified. The most recognizable Mayan tribe is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, but there are Mayan tribes going through Guatemala and through the Western parts of Honduras.
Miskito Are a group of Native Americans in Central America with a dominate African-Indigenous mixture. There are several different tribes of Miskito. Turtle harvesting was the traditional economy but this has been combined with agriculture, fishing, gathering, and hunting. As the area became more commercialized foreign companies invested in turtle farms in the area. After a few economic booms there was a major depletion of green turtles, and the economy crashed. Currently there is a great food scarcity in the area. When there is bad economy the society returns to agricultural work, but when the economy is booming many of the men travel out of their villages diving for lobsters, turtles, and fish. Women make tourist trinkits, but this is not enough to support a family. Miskito is the native language but due to the dominate British influence many people speak Miskito creole English, and Spanish. The Spanish did not care to setttel in the barren region, because off the coast the savannas and woods feed into the mountains while the humid swamp regions remained infested with mosquitos. The area includeds the San Juan River to the Bluefields Lagoon. Along the Mosquito Coast or the established Miskito Nation along the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Cuna The Cuna people are a Native American tribal people. They are closely related to other Chibchan tribes and the Miskito people. Much of the economy is based on fishing and agriculture, and international trade. Coconuts and lobsters are exported goods. Many people work as migrant laborers in the sales of molas and others rely on tourism. There is some influence of the drug trade in this region as well. There are two main languages. First, San Balas or Island Cuna language. The other is the Border or Mountain Cuna. People still speak the dialect today, and although linguistics consider the languages to be related but distinctly different. Many people speak Spanish as well. Much of the society is centered around the Gulf of Uraba. Many of the people live on small islands that run along the coast. There are stretches of ocean between each of the small islands filled with tropical trees and sandy beaches. Southeastern Panama and northwestern Colombia, and surrounded by the Alantic and Pacific Coasts. The two main areas are the Mountains, and Islands.
Although many people live on reservations in Panama and a few in Colombia the majority of the people live on small islands in the comacra.
Garifuna The Garifuna people are decendants of the West African, Caribian, and Arawka people. Unlike the Ameridian tribes who did not intermarry with the Africans the Garinagu did and the British called them the Black Carib to distinguish them from the Amerindian population. In the past the people have relied upon farming, but in the 20th century much of the agricultural land was taken up by fruit companies. Today most of the people travel to find employment, and generally men work by collecting timber, or fishing for foreign-owned companies. Some worry that the area will soon become extremely commercialized because there are few economic opportunities within the region. The people speak the Garifuna Language, which is considered a Arawakan language or indigenous language family of South America and the Caribbean. Most of the people are bilingual and speak Spanish, kriol, and English as well. For the most part the Garifuna people live along the Caribbean Coast in the tropical climate. There is variation in the climate by the elevation, but overall the region is humid and has high rainfall. There are Hurricans that have a desatrours effect on the region. On the island Roatan, were some of the people live, the island was not able to sustain the large population sent there by the Spanish but today the long beach, clear water, and tropical trees have turned the remote island into a tourist site. After being relocated by the Spanish to Roatan the surviving population crawled back to the main land and began to settle along the coast of Central America. Most of the people live along the Caribbean Coast in Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and parts of Honduras. A few remain on the island of Roatan.
Works Cited
Wickipedia. Web. 1 February 2011.
Free Blank Outline Map of Central America and the Caribbean. About.com: Geography. Web. 1 February 2011.
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