On Dec. 1 Simpcw First Nation residents of Chu Chua welcomed Guatemalan visitors Glenda Mo de Suram, administrator and Sebastian Suram Cal, tradesman. Both are indigenous members of the mission group Hope of the Pokomchi.
Bill and Linda Brierly, residents of Upper Clearwater and founders of the mission group, helped organized the visit.
The recent visit was a follow-up on one made almost exactly five years ago when the Brierlys had made a trip to North America with Glenda Mo de Suram.
The purpose of both visits was to share their cultures, which have similarities as well as differences, and to strengthen the relationship between the Simpcw of this area and Pokomchi of Guatemala.
The Brierlys’ interest and wish to work with and for the Pokomchi began about 10 years ago when they worked with two Christian organizations. In 2004 they formed their own group, Hope of the Pokomchi.
The Pokomchi are one of 23 distinctive indigenous groups of Mayan decent in Guatemala. They are also one of the smallest and least developed in the country, and are surrounded by the more dominant Latinos and assertive K’ickchi. Linda stated, “The purpose of our organization is to assist the Pokomchi in their move toward their God given purpose in life.”
The day began with a meeting by the visitors with chief and council, in the community hall. They realized that both groups had similar issues that included indigenous rights and broken agreements by governments. Linda noted that during many years of war and persecution the Pokomchi people suffered terrible losses. There were 400 villages that had been completely wiped out and thousands of people were killed and thousands others fled into neighboring Mexico. Those that fled into the bush were ruthlessly hunted down. In 1993 a peace accord was signed, but many of the agreements have since been disregarded.
Linda said that Charli Fortier, cultural and language coordinator, went to much time and effort to present a comprehensive overview of Chu Chua’s Simpcw people’s life, their culture, their accomplishments and future hopes and plans, by means of a powerpoint presentation.
“It was informative and of huge value to us, the depth of coverage and the time and effort spend on the powerpoint presentation was actually humbling,” she said.
Glenda and Linda stated that during a discussion following the presentation some thoughts were expressed to have an exchange between Simpcw and Pokomchi, which might be possible at a future date. The groups also discussed the possibility of a more formal relationship.
Following a delicious lunch Simpcw councilor Fred Fortier took the visitors on a tour of the hatchery and two reconstructed winter homes in the Dunn Lake area.
Glenda and Sebastian said that the visit to the hatchery was most interesting. The way the salmon were caught and tagged and the whole process of operating the facility fascinated them.
The tour took a little longer than planned so that the final presentations could not take place.
Glenda and Sebastian had intended to show photos that depict a day in the life of an average mountain-dwelling Pokomchi family; but since time was running out and the visitors had other commitments, the Simpcw drumming and singing group carried on with its presentation.
At parting time both visitors and hosts exchanged gifts. The Guatemalans thanked their hosts for their hospitality, their generous gift of time and informative presentations.
In parting Linda expressed the importance of relationships that had been formed saying, “People won’t care until they know that you care”
– Elli Kohnert