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A Multi-Ethnic, Multilingual Society:
Belize is a country of various culture, language and ethnic
groups. Approximately 200,000 people in Belize consist of
Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite,
Lebanese, Chinese, and East Indian. Due to racial harmony
and religious tolerance, all of these different elements
have mixed and blended successfully, and Belize has gained
a widespread reputation for its friendly peoples.
One of the most prominent ethnic group is the Creoles,
which formed 30% of the population in 2001. Creoles are
descendants of the intermingling of the early British settlers
with African slaves. More than 40% of the population are
Mestizos. They are descendants of mixed blood Mexicans and
Yucatec Mayans who fled from Yucatan in the mid 1800's.
Another 6.6% of Belize's population are the Garifuna. The
Garifuna have their own language and culture. The Yucatec,
Mopan and Kekchi are three Amerindians groups which also
make up Belize's population. The Chinese, with a population
of 6,000 has made distinct communities, as well as the East
Indians and the Mennonites.
English remains the most common language spoken followed
closely by Creole, but Spanish is becoming more widely spoken.
The Garifuna , Mayas and Mennonites speak their own language.
Creoles:
The Creoles are descendants of British settlers and African
slaves and can be more recognized by their values and way
of life rather than by a biological manner.
Two thirds of the Creole population reside in Belize City.
Creole men, even after slavery, dominated positions in logging
crews, and even now dominate civil service.
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Garifuna:
The Garinagu came to Belize from the Bay Islands of Honduras
on 19th November 1802. They are the result of the intermingling
of African slaves, Carib and Arawak Indians. The Garinagu
dominate the southern towns of Punta Gorda and Dangriga
as well as the villages of Seine Bight, Hopkins, Georgetown
and Barranco. Some Garinagu are also residing in Belize
City and Belmopan.
Fishing and agriculture is a traditional way of living
for the Garifuna. Rituals and traditions are still being
retained as the Garinagu strive to maintain a place in Belizean
society.
November 19th is a national holiday in Belize to commemorate
the arrival of the Garifuna to Belize.
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Belizean Maya:
There are three groups of Mayas present in Belize namely
the Yucatec, Mopan and Kekchi Mayas.
The Yucatec originated from Yucatan, and came to Belize
in the mid nineteenth century running from the Guerra de
Castes (Caste War). They now reside in the Corozal and Orange
Walk Districts. Today the Yucatec Mayas have exchanged their
spoken language for English and Spanish.
The Mopan Mayas, who were fleeing taxation and forced labor,
came to Belize in 1886 from Peten. Settlements can be found
in San Antonio Village in Toledo District and other villages
in the Cayo District.
Kekchi Mayans came to Belize in 1870's, running from enslavement
by the German coffee growers in Verapaz, Guatemala. They
settled in the lowland areas along rivers and streams, forming
small isolated villages throughout Toledo. Because of their
isolation, the Kekchi have become the most self reliant
ethnic group in Belize. They are also peaceful people known
for their cooperative practices in farming and cultural
development.
All Mayans have become very much concerned with retaining
their cultural identity.
Ancient Maya:
Belize was the home of the earliest Mayan settlements as
proven by glyph translations and diggings. In the Orange
Walk District Archaeologists have found traces of Mayan
communities to as far back as 2000 B.C.
Mayas considered themselves, and still do, as products
of the ceiba tree. This tree is said to be in the center
of the universe, holds up the heaven and is a symbol of
life.
The fact that the Mayans have contributed the concept of
the zero among other things, tells that they had an advanced
civilization. Yet it is somewhat a mystery why such a civilization
disintegrated.
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Mestizos:
The Mestizos are people of mixed Spanish and Mayan descent
representing roughly 48% of the Belizean population. Originally
arriving in Belize in 1840 to escape La Guerra de Castas
in Yucatan they were joined by others fleeing an oppressive
regime in the Peten. The Mestizos are found everywhere in
Belize but most make their homes in the northern regions
of Corozal and Orange walk and in the western district of
Cayo. The Mestizos are an integral part of the Belizean
community and have been instrumental in the growth and progress
of the county.
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East Indians:
East Indians make up about 2% of the population and first
began to arrive in Belize after Emancipation in 1838. Initially
coming in as indentured, many of them stayed on to work
the sugar plantations and were joined by other East Indian
immigrants. East Indians are spread out over many villages
and towns primarily in the Corozal and Toledo districts
and are fairly well integrated into the Belizean population.
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Chinese:
The Chinese population in Belize first began to arrive
here to escape the Japanese invasion of China just before
World War II. Moving around the Central American republics,
many of them settled in Belize. More recently, many Taiwanese
made their homes and established businesses in Belize as
part of the economic citizenship program that was being
offered by the Belizean government.
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Mennonites:
The Mennonites began arriving in Belize in 1958 from Manitoba,
Canada, Chihuahua and Mexico. They reside in the Orange
Walk and Cayo District in six main communities : Blue Creek,
Shipyard, Little Belize, Progresso, Spanish Lookout and
Barton Creek. Mennonites are easily identified by their
apparels, the women who wear bonnets and long dresses and
the men with denim overalls and hats.
The Mennonites have made it a point to have their own school,
church and financial institution in their community. They
are well grounded in agriculture, as most Belizeans benefit
from the sale of their poultry products throughout the country.
Furniture crafted by the Mennonites have also been placed
on the Belizean market. Throughout the country they are
recognized as a group of hard working people.
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