Heritage Highlight

MayaBags®️ handmade bags carry a profound story about Belizean Maya culture, its inherent creativity and the female Maya artisans who make the textiles that frame the bags. MayaBags is a successful social enterprise that works with Maya women from the Toledo District. This is their story!

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) through its Endangered Language Program, has declared the Garifuna language an endangered language in 2001. Our primary focus at the GAMAE Arts and Culture are children, youth, and young adults. Ultimately, we work to revive and safeguard the Garifuna language by teaching it to young children through the arts.

GAMAE acts as the instrument that brings together and connects the Garifuna from Belize to create programs and projects on a national, international and global level. Our main goal is to help with the Garifuna crisis of poverty, diseases, unemployment, and language loss, just to name a few.

Omar Sierra is a Belizean artist, based in Placencia. He started painting at the age of 10 and continued with his passion in the past 21 years. His work primarily includes murals, wristlet and canvas paintings. Due to the abrupt halting of the tourism industry caused by COVID-19, Sierra began painting on face masks. The idea came from his wife, and after painting the first mask, custom orders started flowing in.

Guides and other individuals working in tourism are the frontline hosts to heritage spaces and nature reserves with unparalleled knowledge of local histories and practices. An interview with Christian Darrell Ramirez, a young tour guide from a small village in Belize. Why does responsible tourism have an essential role in the conscious safeguarding of culture and nature?

New Heritage Highlight with Paintings by Rony Jobel, a business revolving around art, centring themes on flora and fauna of Belize. Exploring the parallel relationships between colour, texture, and patterns, Rony brings to life his creations that are very different from the art we are used to in Belize.

Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduaü (Barranco House of Culture) is a Garifuna Resource Center. It is located in the small village of Barranco, in the Toledo District of Belize. The establishment of the facility was initially to aid the preservation of Garifuna Culture and to ensure that the village residents of Barranco (children, youth and adults) understand their history, culture and identity. Ultimately, our goal is to educate others.

It takes as much as 16 years before the Hicatee turtle is old enough to reproduce. The Hicatee is listed in the top 10 most endangered turtles in the world by the IUCN, and it is classified as critically endangered. Allowing them to live long enough to continue the lineage is critical for the survival of the species. We want them to continue to be a part of our culture now and in the future.

Closed Eyes Art is an art business created and owned by Jacqueline Ewens. She is a Young Aspiring Female Artist from Belize, who promotes art in a very unique and captivating way. Expressing emotion, each painting reveals a hidden story and a message with cultural ties. Located in Ranchito Village, in the beautiful district of Corozal.

‌Kanan Miatsil‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌Non-profit‌ ‌Organisation‌ ‌in Northern Belize led‌ ‌by‌ ‌Felicita‌ ‌Cantun,‌ ‌‌a‌ ‌retired‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌who‌ ‌spent‌ ‌forty‌ ‌years‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌classroom.‌‌ ‌She‌ ‌is‌ ‌known‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌area‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌“Culture‌ ‌Warrior”‌ ‌for‌ ‌receiving‌ ‌numerous‌ ‌awards‌ ‌for‌ ‌her‌ ‌efforts‌ throughout‌ ‌the‌ ‌years.

With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, we are often disconnected from the stories behind the products we buy. Read about a Belizean fashion brand that is inspired by cultural fusion and traditional techniques. In a discussion with Emilio Perera, you can read about inspiration and techniques that come from Belizean culture.

Candy’s Maya Giftshop & Culture Experience is located in Aguacate Village, Toledo District, Belize. It is run by Candelaria Kukul, a Ketchi Maya woman who speaks the language and proudly shares what it means to be Maya with other people through her business.

How a Small Museum in Belize Paves the Way Towards Inclusive Cultural Preservation. A family museum in San Lazaro Village in Northern Belize has grown into a fantastic hub for tourism and cultural research in the past few years. The museum is located in the Orange Walk District, famous for its sugar production.