Marcus Canul, The Maya Leader Who Defied Empire

When it comes to Belize’s national heroes, Marcus Canul, is often regarded as one of our most influential Mayan leaders. He is remembered as a freedom fighter who led the resistance against the enslavement of the Maya people and fought for their rights and land rights. In tonight’s edition of Belize on Reel, we take deep dive into Canul’s legacy and the impact It had on later generations. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

He was a fearless leader who stood his ground against colonial powers, Marcus Canul, the legendary chief of the Icaiche Maya. In the mid-1800s, when land disputes sparked conflict between Mayan communities and British Honduras, Canul rose to power and led his people to victory time and again. So, who was this remarkable figure, and why does his story still matter today? Hugo Carillo, curator of the first Maya Museum in the north, gives us the inside story.

 

Hugo Carillo, Curator, U Chan Muul Yaax K’aax Mayan-Mestizo Museum

“He was diplomatic. He negotiated. He asked for respect in every agreement that he made, because the Mayas had allowed also the British, that is one. He was a good diplomat per se because Marcus Canul believed that he had to unite the other Mayan communities like San Pedro Siris and Yalbac, because if we go back to history, a lot of these small villages, they were burnt down by the British.”

 

Canul was a fierce warrior, but he also played a key role in procuring treaties with the British and their Mexican neighbors. The mission to recognize the sovereignty of their land.

 

Felicita Cantun, President, Northern Maya Association of Belize

“He was a Maya leader who organized and led uprisings in Northern Belize against the British colonial authorities. And if we know British, they had weapons far more advanced than what our Maya leaders had. However, he stood up for the Maya autonomy at a time when their lands, their resources, and and their way of life was being threatened by the logging interest.”

 

Here’s the thing, so much about Marcus Canul is still a mystery. We don’t know when he was born, and we don’t even have an accurate image of what he looked like. No paintings, no photos. But that hasn’t stopped historians from piecing together the story of this legendary Maya leader. Carillo shares that a lot of misconceptions regarding his legacy stems from his story being passed down by British colonials. One wildly debated topic is Canul’s death. Some say he died during a battle in Orange Walk, while others argue that he crossed the border and died following the war.

 

Hugo Carillo

“Many of the history that has been written about Marcus can is that they’re the from the people, foreign writers, the colonialist, and they had wounded Marcus Canul and he never died on the spot. No. There are a lot of theories. There are a lot of theories that Marcus Canul died on his way back to Icaiche. Some people are claiming that Marcus Canul died on the Belizean side of the border. Some of them say that it’s a cross, and some of them say that after three days or five days. What I can tell you is that, for us, his legacy lives.”

 

Canul’s contribution goes beyond the fight for land. He’s an inspiration to keep the resistance alive today and continue to advocate for the respect of the Mayan people.

 

Felicita Cantun

“His contribution with his leadership in defending the May against colonial expressions. He inspired the future generation with his courage. Because most of us feel, do not feel that courage that he had, even though he knew his opponents were maybe more equipped than himself and his followers, but his courage. So that is inspiring for the future generations and leaving a legacy of indigenous resistance that still strengthens the Maya identity in Belize today.”

 

Today, the Mayan community continues to fight. They’re still fighting for their rights, but they’re also growing stronger, sharing their history, language, and spirituality, and reminding us all why preserving Maya culture matters now more than ever. Britney Gordon for News Five.