Maya students discover heritage at museum
Since it opened in February, over seven thousand visitors–six thousand of them Belizeans–have visited the Museum of Belize in Belize City. But quantity does not necessarily equal quality and it was always the intent of the museum’s creators that it would fail in its mission if it did not attract young people from every corner of the nation. Today that dream was alive on Gaol Lane as some very special students emerged from their busses.
Gilvano Swasey, Exhibit Curator
“Okay Good Morning everybody.”
Students
“Morning Sir.”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Today these students sacrificed hours of sleep and endured the long journey from the remote villages of Conejo and Crique Sarco in the Toledo District just to visit the Museum of Belize.
With eyes wide and open ears, the boys and girls stepped into the world their ancestors once dominated.
Gilvano Swasey to Students
“We have the largest jade carving or sculpture in the whole Maya world.”
Augustino Sho, Teacher, St. John the Baptist RC
“We have sent the message to the children saying that we have such things but we haven’t shown them the reality. Just words, but we haven’t gotten into concrete things.”
The teachers hope that the information shared today will spark curiosity in the children and their parents, to learn more about their history.
Augustino Sho
“You learn new things from now on because this is the first exposure we have had for our school. These children don’t know what trips are all about. When we take them out, parents give us trouble in the first instance but eventually they break off and come in because they say they want to come and see what the museum is all about.”
“From here they will be able to take the message and what they learnt and saw in this place and be able to share with the other children, their younger brothers and sisters, so it will be encouraging for their younger brothers to come out.”
Mariano Canelo, Sunday Wood RC School
“It is the first time most of them are coming further from P.G. Town. Most of them just go to town and come back home.”
They will learn a lot. When we go back to school they won’t just hear about the Belize Zoo or the Museum, they’ve been there you know?”
Carmen Cal, Sacred Heart RC
“I like that I come to see my ancestors, things that they left.”
Janelle Chanona
“Which one impressed you the most?”
Carmen Cal
“The jade, the jewelry, it’s pretty.”
Janelle Chanona
“So tell me like if I was your mommy and would you tell me if I said, what you did today?”
Oliverio Coc, St. John the Baptists RC
“I went in a big building and I see some rocks, paint, beautiful, some are white, blue brown, grays.”
Janelle Chanona
“And you liked everything that you saw?”
Oliverio Coc
“Yes.”
Sebastian Cucul, St. John the Baptist
“They showed us about the architectures, jades, pots, masks and the large mouth tapir.”
Janelle Chanona
“When you back to school on Monday, what are you going to tell the students that couldn’t come?”
Sebastian Cucul
“I’ll tell them that it’s a good place to learn more about the ancient Mayas and I wish they could come and visit the building again.”
Yasser Musa, Curator, Belize Museum
“I think they are a symbolic gesture on the part of the Museum, because obviously, these things go unnoticed. It’s easy to fill up a museum with people from Belize City and kids from Belize City, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are so many other students that need to benefit from such a museum. So I think we’re excited and happy that we’re able to manage to do this today.”
Sebastian Cucul
“I wish I could come back again.”
Reporting for News 5, I’m Janelle Chanona.
Today’s trip for the students from Toledo was made possible through the efforts of Minister of Tourism and Culture Mark Espat, St. John’s College, the Toledo Maya Cultural Council and the Museum of Belize. In addition to the museum, the children also stopped in at the International Airport and Belize Zoo.
