Lyrics that give us identity to the rest of the world, stanzas that speak of honor, respect and courage, were translated into Maya language to be sang by proud indigenous children in the 2019 edition of the Interpretation Contest of the Mexican National Anthem.
Mérida’s “Daniel Ayala Pérez” theater, in the Historic Center of the state capital, framed the contest where 11 girls and boys choirs from Valladolid, Tizimín, Tekax, Izamal, Muna, Yaxcabá and Mérida elementary schools, participated, singing the version of the Mexican National Anthem in Maya language, which was recently authorized by the State Government.
Addressing the attendees, the head of the State Secretary of Education (Segey), Loreto Villanueva Trujillo, stressed the importance of enhancing pride in our roots, which is why Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal has implemented actions aimed at extending the use of the Maya language as part of regular educational programs in primary schools.
“This contest has a great significance, because it is an experience that adds to others driven by the level of indigenous education and that seek to motivate to read, write and sing in the same language they learned to speak, think and dream. All the teachers who prepared these children deserve to be recognized. Soon, we will have more teachers of Maya language, so that next year, we will be many more participants in this contest, “Villanueva said.
While providing details about this meeting of music and patriotism, the director of Indigenous Education, Noemy Yolanda Chel Ucán, pointed out that the groups went through several phases to reach the finals. An added that the Maya version complies with the General Law on the Linguistic Rights of Indigenous Peoples and with respect for national symbols.
“In the first stage, 3,600 students of 144 schools of indigenous education participated, as part of the Ko’one’ex Kanik Maya program. In the second stage, 19 schools from 12 municipalities participated, with a total of approximately 475 students. This is how today we end up with six choirs of indigenous education students, and five of general and state primaries, “Chel Ucán said.
The director of Indigenous Education also stressed that this contest has been held for 24 uninterrupted years, while for the general primaries in which Maya classes are taught through the aforementioned scheme, this is the eighteenth edition.
After a difficult task for the jury, made up of specialists in Maya language, teachers, music teachers and choral groups coordinators, the choirs of indigenous “Manuel Alcalá Martín”, from the community of Xocén, in the Valladolid municipality, was third place, followed by the ” José de la Luz Mena Alcocer ” school of Yaxcabá, in second place, and the “Juana de Asbaje”, from the community of Tahdziú, won first place.
In the category of general schools, the third place corresponded to “Tiburcio Mena”, of Izamal; the second, to “Julia Ruiz Fuentes”, from Mérida, and the first place, went to the school “Fabián Sansores”, of Tekax.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom wth information from Gobierno del Estado de Yucatán
