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Ko'one'ex t�ant �oltik Marcus Canul (vamos a celebrar a Marcus Canul)

The Northern Maya Association of Belize extends you a cordial invitation to a memorial event to Honour Maya Hero Marcos Canul. The event is first of its kind and will be held on Saturday September 2, 2017 on Queen Victoria Avenue in Orange Walk Town.

Join the Yucatec Maya(Maya Mestizo) community of northern Belize as we acknowledge the struggles of our ancestors, celebrate our forgotten heroes, and strive to keep our identity alive. Following the short ceremony, treat yourself to typical Maya Mestizo food on sale, learn more about the Yucatec Maya from exhibits on site, take a tour of the grounds where the 1872 Battle of Orange Walk took place, and enjoy live performances by cultural groups. Kux'ano'on !!!!!!

Remembering Marcus Canul

Marcus Canul is a major name in the History of Belize - but only now is he coming to true prominence as a rebel against the colonial powers. This weekend his legend will be honored in Orange Walk by a newly formed NGO named The Northern Maya Association of Belize. The chairperson and an organizer of the event stopped by today and shared some insight with us on the upcoming occasion.

Arturo Cantun, Chair Person of the Northern Maya Organization
"It started in April of this year and it represents several cultural Maya groups of Corozal and Orange Walk. It's subjective. It's for the promotion and preservation of the Maya Yucatec culture and this will be done through different activities."

"It's going to be the first event we are having and the reason why we are doing this is to highlight to teach more about our Maya heroes. Marcus Canul is one of the heroes we have and he is considered a fighter a freedom fighter. Somebody who struggled and fought for the Maya rights."

Felicita Cantun, Organizer
"After the ceremony that will be at 9 beginning with a special Mayan ceremony, Mayan spiritual ceremony. Everybody goes over to the Central Park. There we will be having food, Maya Yucatec food such as Cochinita pibil, such as Relleno, Tacos, Tamales apart from the food we are going to have dances, cultural dances, Sapitallados, Aransas also will be having the Mayan ball game. The pok a tok plus the Northern Orange Walk tour guide association to give a tour."

Arturo Cantun, Chairperson of the Northern Maya Organization
"We are also having Mr. Yasser Musa the historian at SJC bring the case to out exhibit as part of the exhibition and the event we are having on Saturday as well as several; other different cultural groups are showcasing their exhibit of specific villages and communities."

The event is on Saturday, September 2nd and it will be held at the Orange Walk Battle Monument.

Channel 7

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THE NORTH HONORS MAYA LEADER AND HERO MARCUS CANUL
Friday September 1st marked one hundred forty five years since the battle of Orange Walk Town which was led by Icaiche Maya Leader and Hero, Marcus Canul. Events that succeed the battle have had a profound influence on the history of Northern Belize which is being taught today in our history books.

Though Canul is often portrayed as a bandit in the eyes of the Europeans, he is acknowledged as a freedom fighter to the Maya Mestizo culture and over the weekend, in order to express appreciation for Canul's contribution to our history, the Northern Maya Association of Belize held its first ever memorial service event.



Maya Pax del Norte de Belice - Marcus Canul (live for Marcus Canul event)
Northern Maya of Belize playing a song for Marcus Canul in Marcus Canul event at Orange Walk.



Maya Pax del Norte de Belice - Marcus Canul
This is a song dedicated for the Maya leader Marcus Canul, it was written by people from Yucatec Maya descent from Northern Belize(Orange Walk and Corozal) to honor our hero . In September 21,1872 the Yucatec maya group known as the Icaiche Maya lead by Marcus Canul attack Orange Walk . Marcus Canul fought until the end ,until his last moments of live fighting the British imperialism.

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Celebrating the Maya Mestizo Culture
The Northern Maya Association of Belize held their first activity on Saturday, September 2nd in honor of Icaiche Maya leader and hero, Marcus Canul. In his honor, Orange Walke�os dedicated the day to Marcus with an exhibit on the Maya of Belize, their traditional foods, and much with cultural and music presentations.

While Marcus Canul may not be the most recognizable figure in Belizean history, he did play a huge role during the Caste War in the Orange Walk District. A Maya general of sorts, Marcus led attacks against British intruders back in 1872. During this time, the British would ransack and burn Maya villages just to be able to penetrate deeper into the interior forest to have access to better logging areas.

Many text book stories of Marcus Canul are misleading, as the British portray him and his resistance group as nothing more than a 'band of thieves'. Still, his true story lives on in the memories of the people that came after him. For the Maya of the North, Marcus was a warrior who fought against invaders for his land, his people and his culture.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun