9 Ajaw 8 Mak: Drawing by Jorge Pérez de Lara

In this holiday season, we give thanks for many things, not the least of which are the many good people we have had the privilege and honor to work with as they do the earnest and heartfelt work of reconstructing their understanding of the knowledge and writing of their ancestors. Today, we reach the day 9 Ajaw, which has become a very important day in the organization of all of the previous four Congresos. In keeping with this tradition, the Congreso Organization Team has decided that the Fifth International Congreso on Ojer Maya Tz’ib’ will conclude on this same day, 9 Ajaw, which will take place precisely 260 days from now, from August 18-21, 2020, in Comitán, Chiapas, Mexico. The tentative theme of this next Congreso will be “Writing and Texts on Maya Vases.” We are very excited to help the organizers in their efforts to make this event possible, and we look forward to next year’s fundraising season and the ongoing support of our many friends and generous donors.

Personally, I would also like to give thanks for the good people who help to make this blog possible, despite the many other obligations and endeavors with which we are all engaged. Specifically, I would like to thank Meghan Rubenstein as our Webmaster, Jorge Pérez de Lara as our artist and epigrapher, and the fantastic organization of our Secretary, Lynda Manning Schwartz. I would also like to thank Elaine Schele and Sue Glenn of the MAM Executive Committee for their patience, support, and understanding. I am grateful for all of their dedication and hard work on behalf of our Maya colleagues.

This month, we hear from Milner Pacab Rolando Alcocer who writes to us from the Yucatán, where he carried out a series of introductory hieroglyphic workshops for the children and teachers of Colonia San Camilo de Kanasín during the observance of the International Mother Language Day in February and March of this past year. I think you will all agree that the colorful photographs and drawings are quite wonderful, and a reminder of the important work our Maya colleagues are doing.

Thank you all for your ongoing support, and have a wonderful holiday season, and a hopeful and peaceful New Year.

Yum Bo’otik,
Michael Grofe, President
MAM

Mérida, Yucatán, May 20, 2019
Report from Kanasín
Milner Pacab Rolando Alcocer

I present here the report on the Mayan hieroglyphic writing workshop carried out at the “Felipa Poot” Elementary School, located in the San Camilo neighborhood of Kanasín, Yucatán. Twenty students in grades three to six, as well as 12 teachers who work in the same school, participated. We presented this workshop while International Mother Language Day (February 21) was being celebrated, which in the state of Yucatán is commemorated by activities related to Maya language and culture between February 21 and April 21.

The main purpose of the workshop was to promote knowledge of the basic concepts of the glyphic writing system for students and teachers. Two work sessions took place at the school, one on February 27 and the second on March 13, 2019. Continue reading →