Mayan community gathers in Cathedral
By KATIE LEFEBVRE
Globe staff reporter
Posted July 25, 2002

The Second Mayan Encounter was held July 21 at the former Holy Family Epiphany Center for Mayan people in the Sioux City community.

The workshop was presented in Spanish.

There were two workshops, lunch and a Mass included in the events of the day. The first workshop focused on the cultural identity of the group. The second workshop was about alcoholism's effects on the Mayan community. There were approximately 100 people in attendance.

Father David Lopez, of Guatemala, led the workshop and said the Mass that was held at the end of the workshop. He is traveling around the nation to give Mayan workshops.

"The workshop went better than we expected," said Louise Marcos who set up the workshop. "The people were happy with what they learned."

Those who attended the workshop learned about the values of the Mayan community. Marcos included that "our way of doing things is different than others." They looked at their history and heightened their self-esteem.

The people who attended the workshop are part of a national organization of Mayan people. This connection helps bring family members together from Guatemala to the United States.

For those in Sioux City, which consists of about 10 families and 40 to 50 people, their family members are able to come from Guatemala to live with them here. For example if a man's father or brother is still in Guatemala, when there is enough money, that person is able to come live with their family members.

The organization is to help people all over the country. The Mayan community in Sioux City has a prayer group that meets every two weeks to pray for their families.

As Mayans, they are considered Native Central Americans instead of South Americans.

In Guatemala, Marcos said the Mayans receive much discrimination. He added that there have been problems with genocide there.

"We receive discrimination from people that are not only white, but also other people," said Marcos. "We are learning to look past the discrimination and appreciate our values."

The Mayan community has become stronger because of the workshop and has learned to stick together to overcome discrimination, noted Marcos.