Lacandon Maya in the Twenty-First Century

From the ancient traditions of the Lacandn Maya comes an Indigenous model for a sustainablefutureHaving lived for centuries isolated within Mexicoslargest remaining tropical rainforest, the Indigenous Lacandn Maya now live atthe nexus of two worldsancient and modern. While previous research has focusedon documenting Lacandn oral traditions and religious practices in order topreserve them, this book tells the story of how Lacandn families have adaptedto the contemporary world while applying their ancestral knowledge to create anecologically sustainable future. Drawing on his 49 years of studying and learningfrom the Lacandn Maya, James Nations discusses how in the midst of externalpressures such as technological changes, missionary influences, and logging ventures,Lacandn communities are building an economic system of agroforestry andecotourism that produces income for their families while protectingbiodiversity and cultural resources. Nations describes methods they use toplant and harvest without harming the forest, illustrating that despite drasticchanges in lifestyle, respect for the environment continues to connect Lacandnfamilies across generations. By helping with these tasks and inheriting thefables and myths that reinforce this worldview, Lacandn children continue tolearn about the plants, animals, and spiritual deities that coexist in theirland. Indigenous peoples such as the Lacandn Mayacontrol one-third of the intact forest landscapes left on Earth, and Indigenousknowledge and practices are increasingly recognized as key elements in thesurvival of the planets biological diversity. The story of the Lacandn Maya servesas a model for Indigenous-controlled environmentalconservation, and it will inform anyone interested in supporting sustainableIndigenous futures. A volume in the series Maya Studies, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase