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Maya Leaders Alliance

@mayaleadersalliance

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Representing the rights of the Maya people in Toledo District of Southern Belize

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Climate Change: A Threat to Indigenous Food Systems

Over three decades ago, Maya people relied on the cycles of the moon and the signs of insects, which signaled the transition between the dry and rainy seasons. These natural indicators guided our traditional planting cycles and helped ensure food security for our families and communities.

Today, climate change has disrupted our ability to sustain our livelihoods, threatening food security for our families and communities. Indigenous Peoples are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and the world cannot continue conversations about climate finance without Indigenous voices—especially those of the people who have stewarded and protected some of the remaining forests, the lungs of the Earth as we know them.

Climate justice means leaving no one behind, including Indigenous Peoples, if we are to secure a livable planet for our children and future generations.

#ClimateJustice #indigenousfoodsystems #ClimateAction #ToBeMayaAndToBeWell by @mayaleadersalliance

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6 days ago

Climate Change: A Threat to Indigenous Food Systems

At the recent Climate Week held in Punta Gorda, our Maya women had the opportunity to share with visitors a taste of our traditional food, including jippi jappa, a forest-based vegetable served with ground pumpkin seeds, ground pepper, and corn tortillas—all harvested from a Maya farm.

While high-level conversations are taking place around climate adaptation, climate finance, and resilience, on the ground, Indigenous food systems are already being disrupted by climate change, threatening the food security, livelihoods, and cultural continuity of our Maya communities.

Climate finance conversations cannot continue without Indigenous voices and knowledge. These perspectives are essential to shaping meaningful responses to adaptation, loss and damage, as we face the realities of climate change together.

#ClimateCrisis #FoodSecurity #IndigenousPeople #ToBeMayaandToBeWell by @mayaleadersalliance

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7 days ago

On September 24th, 2026, the Julian Cho Society and Toledo Alcaldes Association, in partnership with the Toledo Agriculture Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, conducted a training session on Poultry Management in Otoxha Village. The training aimed to strengthen sustainable livelihood opportunities for Maya women through alternative and improved approaches to rearing local chickens.

Through this training, women learned best practices to help maintain healthy backyard flocks and were better prepared to respond to diseases affecting their livestock. Understanding basic measures in poultry hygiene, proper housing, and feeding management strengthens their ability to sustain their flocks and improve the overall care of their chickens.

We thank the Toledo Agriculture Department for its partnership in building the capacity of Maya women and contributing to the development of sustainable and resilient communities.

#IndigenousWomen #indigenouslivelihoods #ToBeMayaAndToBeWell by @mayaleadersalliance

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10 days ago

On September 21, 2026, the Julian Cho Society and Toledo Alcaldes Association hosted representatives from the Green Climate Fund, represented by Mr. Krisha Krishnamurthy, accompanied by Ms. Chantal Landburg, representing the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), as they visited several Maya communities in Southern Belize.

The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to interact directly with community members and gain a clearer understanding of how climate change has impacted Indigenous livelihoods. These conversations allowed the delegation to better understand the investment needs of communities as they adapt to the realities of climate change while building resilience.

On behalf of the Maya communities, we express our gratitude to the Green Climate Fund for their visit as we continue to advance and build partnerships that will create pathways for Indigenous peoples to access climate finance.

#IndigenousPeople #ClimateCrisis #ClimateFinance #ClimateResilience by @mayaleadersalliance

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11 days ago

𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐑. 𝐀𝐋𝐅𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐋 – 𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐓

The Maya Leaders Alliance, Toledo Alcaldes Association, and Julian Cho Society join the rest of the nation in CONGRATULATING our dear and beloved Mr. Alfonso Cal on receiving the Meritorious Service Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing Indigenous rights and community development.

Mr. Alfonso Cal has devoted himself to the Maya people for nearly a decade, championing and advancing our land rights. Born out of his deep desire for justice, Mr. Alfonso Cal carried the Maya Land Rights Movement to a historic milestone, culminating in the landmark ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2015, which affirmed the rights of the Maya people.

There are no awards, words, or tokens that could ever fully express our immense gratitude to our Alfonso for helping to pave the way forward as we continue to dream of a dignified future for everyone.

Bantiox. Botic. Thank you!

#indigenoushero #mayalandrights #mayalandrightsstruggle by @mayaleadersalliance

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17 days ago

CLIMATE WEEK 2026: HEALTHY FOREST, HEALTHY PEOPLE & HEALTHY COMMUNITY

At the recent Climate Week held in Punta Gorda, the Maya women of Corazon, Otoxha, and San Lucas had the opportunity to showcase biocultural products made from copal, as part of the “Empowering Indigenous Maya Women through Biocultural Innovation Using Local Forest Produce” project, led by women from these Maya communities.

In 2024, a devastating forest fire destroyed thousands of copal groves, disrupting the use of copal and the livelihoods of women who depended on it. Building climate-resilient communities means regenerating and replanting copal trees while also exploring value-added products from copal and other forest produce that can continue to support and strengthen their livelihoods.

To Be Maya and To Be Well means continuing to build climate-resilient communities as we adapt to the climate crisis—rooted in our forests, our culture, and the knowledge and leadership of our Maya women.

#ToBeMayaandToBeWell #ClimateResilientCommunities #IndigenousWomen by @mayaleadersalliance

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19 days ago

The Belize National Climate Change Council Convenes Its First Meeting

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Julian Cho Society Executive Director, Mr. Pablo Mis, participated in the first meeting of the Belize National Climate Change Council (BNCCC), established under the Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiatives Act, 2026.

The BNCCC brings together stakeholders from all sectors, including Indigenous communities, to strengthen coordination and guide Belize’s national response to climate change.

The Council is charged with providing strategic direction on climate change, advising the Government on climate policies, approving carbon projects, and monitoring the implementation of climate measures, as it works to coordinate national climate action.

Together, through coordinated action, we can build a more climate-resilient and sustainable Belize.

#ClimateAction #IndigenousPeople #ClimateConversations by @mayaleadersalliance

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24 days ago

PUBLIC NOTICE

The general public is hereby informed that our offices will be CLOSED on Thursday, September 10th, 2026.

We re-open on Friday, September 11th, 2026.

Happy Battle of St.George's Caye Day! by @mayaleadersalliance

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a month ago

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN!

On September 5, 2026, we join Indigenous peoples around the world in celebrating the strength, wisdom, resilience, and leadership of Indigenous women.

In this spirit, we proudly celebrate our Maya women—the mothers, caregivers, knowledge holders, farmers, educators, leaders, and stewards of our communities. They are the keepers of stories, traditions, languages, values, and ancestral knowledge that continue to shape who we are as Maya people.

Today, we honour our Maya women—not only for all that they have given to our communities, but also for all that they continue to do as they build and nurture the generations yet to come.

Today and every day, we celebrate our women, our strength, our wisdom, and our future.

Se Komonil. We rise together!

#InternationalDayOfIndigenousWomen #IndigenousWomen #MayaWomen #MayaCulture #IndigenousKnowledge #DignifiedFuture by @mayaleadersalliance

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a month ago

Indigenous Food Systems Are Rooted in Land, Culture, and Community

For the Maya people, food is more than nourishment—it is deeply connected to the land, culture, identity, and community. Traditional Maya food systems are built on generations of knowledge about planting, harvesting, hunting, fishing, gathering, and caring for the earth. The land provides food, but it also sustains cultural traditions, strengthens community bonds, and carries the knowledge of our ancestors. For Maya women, preparing food is about ensuring that the ingredients provide more than taste—they provide nourishment for the body and sustained well-being.

Secured Land Tenure means protecting our food systems, cultural heritage, and future well-being of Maya communities. by @mayaleadersalliance

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2 months ago

𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝!

At the July 5 Community Perspectives on Communal Land Rights forum, Mr. Pablo Mis, representing the Toledo Alcaldes Association, emphasized that implementation must begin by recognizing Maya customary land rights as equal constitutional property rights.

Maya lands must not be treated as though their legal status has not changed, or as lesser than lease or private lands.Once that foundation is respected, overlaps with private interests can be addressed fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the Constitution of Belize.

#StayTunedForMore #MayaCustomaryLandTenure by @mayaleadersalliance

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2 months ago

Our land rights struggle is about more than just land. It is a struggle to survive and to secure a place for our children and their children.

If not us, then who?

#ToBeMayaAndToBeWell #LandRights #indigenouspeople by @mayaleadersalliance

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2 months ago