Bonete, pt. 2

The people of Bonete used to live in these tobacco barns in the middle of the fields where they farmed a rich landowner's fields. They didn't have land or houses. 

Now, they've moved up into the surrounding mountains onto their own land. It's not as good as the fertile stuff below, and there's a tarp fence that divides their land from the rich landowner's. Gloria helped them get organized and get a housing project going. Now, every family has a house. Some of the men still work in the landowner's fields, but others farm their own land. And the women have learned how to weave and sell purses in the market in Copan. 

Bonete is somewhat of a success story, and I was really moved when I visited. The new houses look right down onto these fertile fields that the Chorti used to work and don't own. I can't imagine their frustration. This land is right next to the Ruins, so it should belong to the Chorti, descendants of the Maya. Instead, they're forced to farm crappy land in the surrounding mountains. They've made the best of their situation, though. And these are the same Chorti who frequently occupy the Ruins, petitioning the government to recognize their rights as indigenous people. Pretty cool.