Huehuetenango (department) in the context of "Chuj people"

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⭐ Core Definition: Huehuetenango (department)

Huehuetenango (Spanish pronunciation: [w̝e.we.t̪eˈnãŋ.ɡo]) is one of the 22 departments of Guatemala. It is located in the western highlands and shares the borders with the Mexican state of Chiapas in the north and west; with El Quiché in the east, and Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos in the south. The capital is the city of Huehuetenango.

Huehuetenango's ethnic composition is one of the most diverse in Guatemala. While the Mam are predominant in the department, other Maya groups are the Q'anjob'al, Chuj, Jakaltek, Tektik, Awakatek, Chalchitek, Akatek and K'iche'. Each of these nine Maya ethnic groups speaks its own language.

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👉 Huehuetenango (department) in the context of Chuj people

The Chuj or Chuh are a Maya people, whose homeland is in Guatemala and Mexico. Population estimates vary between 30,000 and over 60,000. Their Indigenous language is also called Chuj and belongs to the Q'anjobalan branch of Mayan languages. Most Chuj live in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango, in the municipalities of San Mateo Ixtatán and San Sebastián Coatán, with small numbers also residing in the neighboring border areas of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Los Angeles is believed to have a relatively large population of undocumented Chuj immigrants.

The Chuj, and their ancestors, are believed to have lived in the same area for 4,000 years. They first came into contact with Spanish conquistadores in the 1530s; however, they were not finally subdued by the Spanish colonial authorities until the 1680s. In the post-Colonial era, the Chuj lost much of their communal land, reducing them to extreme poverty. This resulted in a history of violent resistance to authority culminating in guerrilla activity against Guatemala's military junta in the 1980s.

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Huehuetenango (department) in the context of Akatek people

The Akatek (Akateko) are a Maya people of Guatemala. Their Indigenous Akatek language belongs to the Q'anjobalan branch of Mayan languages. Most Akatek live in San Miguel Acatán and San Rafael La Independencia, in the department of Huehuetenango.

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Huehuetenango (department) in the context of Mam people

The Mam are an Indigenous Maya people in the western highlands of Guatemala and in south-western Mexico who speak the Mam language.

Most Mam (617,171) live in Guatemala, in the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango. The Mam people in Mexico (23,632) live principally in the Soconusco region of Chiapas.

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Huehuetenango (department) in the context of Salinas River (Guatemala)

The Salinas is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources (located at 15°16′13″N 91°24′49″W / 15.270358°N 91.413717°W / 15.270358; -91.413717 (Sources of the Río Negro)) in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam (located at 15°16′54″N 90°29′27″W / 15.281536°N 90.490952°W / 15.281536; -90.490952 (Chixoy Hidroelectric Dam)), where the Río Salama and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro. After the Chixoy dam, the river is called Río Chixoy and flows northwards through Alta Verapaz until it reaches the border with Mexico. It continues along the border for 113 kilometres (70 mi) as the Salinas river until it finally converges with the Río de la Pasión (at 16°28′52″N 90°32′39″W / 16.481193°N 90.544167°W / 16.481193; -90.544167 (Convergence Salinas and Pasión rivers)) to form the Usumacinta river which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Guatemala's National Institute for Electricity (INDE) is planning the construction of a new hydroelectric dam on the Chixoy river. The proposed location of the Xalalá hydroelectric dam is situated at 15°41′34″N 90°47′11″W / 15.692833°N 90.786361°W / 15.692833; -90.786361 (Planned location Xalalá Hidroelectric Dam). in the municipality of Ixcán, El Quiché.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Akatek people ← Chuj people ← Mam people ← Salinas River (Guatemala)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Departments of Guatemala → Guatemala → Guatemalan Highlands → Mexico → Chiapas → El Quiché → Totonicapán (department) → Quetzaltenango (department) → San Marcos (department) → Huehuetenango → Mam people → Maya people → Q'anjob'al people → Chuj people → Jakaltek people → Tektitek people → Awakatek people → Akatek people → K'iche' people →