Dedicated to Helping Native Peoples of the Americas
Resources
- Map of Managuara, El Salvador
- The Maya People: The People of Corn and Chocolate
There are more than six million Mayas in the world today, many of whom are living outside Mesoamerica, their ancestral homeland. One of the Maya dynasties today is the Maya-Lenca of the Enchanted Valley of Managuara Najochan. This people are the indigenous nation that has inhabited the Eastern lands of El Salvador, Honduras, and Pacific of Nicaragua. Their presence in this region goes back into Paleolithic time. Not only have the Lenca stamped their land with pre-Christian rock and cave art, but most intriguing are the 6000 years old petrified footprints left in two very important corners of the ancient Lenca territory, the Paleo-Indian footprints in Jiquilisco (El Salvador) and the Acahualenca(Acahualinca) footprints near Managua (Nicaragua). They are among the oldest human footprints in the Americas (Brinton, 1887; Harberland et al, 1957).
Lenca Indigenous Nation
The UN Declaration of the
Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the World, 2007
Article 5
"Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State."
Article 9
"Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation, in accordance with the traditions and customs of the community or nation concerned. No discrimination of any kind may arise from the exercise of such a right."
