Maximo Perez, the last Yucatec Maya alcalde of the Maya of Yalbac
We want to remember this great Maya leader who never left his people. In December 21,1866 the Maya Masewal(Yucatec Maya) defeated the British in San Pedro siris. This battle became know as the Battle of San Pedro Yalbac. In 1867 the British burned down several Yucatec Maya villages in the Yalbac Area. Several Maya move more to Northern Belize and others to the west. While many move to and rebuild San Jose Yalbac where the Maya Masewal resisted until the 1930's. The last Maya village in the Yalbac area, the village of San Jose Yalbac was burned down by BEC around 1936 ending the Maya resistance of the Caste War in Belize. Through intimidation tactics they drew away the last Maya group descendants of those Maya who stood up against the British during the Maya Social War (Caste War) from 1847-1930's. Even that the British officials tried to bribe Maximo Perez he never left his people. He leaded his people and founded the community known today as San Jose Nuevo Palmar. Maximo Perez is a Yucatec Maya hero and a example of how a true leader should behave in Belize. he Maya village independently got together to build the houses one by one for the families; build a bridge and a wooden school.
San Pedro Yalbac and San Jose Yalbac, are peoples belonging to the MAYAN NATION CH (Itzaes), who fought against the expansion of the British Empire, defending their land and forests, the genocide committed by the English against the nation Maya ch in San Pedro Yalbac and San Jose Yalbac, to expand the limits that were established to the English and African settlers in the 1859 Treaty, is part of the story, making today only memories of those peoples that were exterminated by the English and African settlers and admiration and respect for their heroes Marcos Canul, Luciano Tzuc, asunción ek and many more to defend his life by defending his people from the invasion of their land of English and African settlers. Men who preferred to die with dignity to become slaves to English and African settlers.
Photograph courtesy Belize Yucatec Maya
For information about a book on Maximo, click here!
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