Development from within agroecology and the quest for utziil K'asleem in the Maya-Achí territory of Guatemala

For centuries the indigenous people of Guatemala have sought ways to preserve identity and defend their communities under repression and systemic inequality and racism. Since the ofcial end of the thirty-six-year armed confict in the late 1990s, a number of local organizations and political platforms have taken root, with the objective to bring about development that represents local needs and worldviews. In this paper we illustrate the critical work of indigenous organizations in the Maya-Achí territory of Baja Verapaz, in their atempt to carry out development from within. Specifcally, we explore the relationships between this form of endogenous development and agroecology, as well as local perspectives of well-being, known as utziil k’asleem. Centered on ancestral principles that include sustainable agricultural production and consumption, reciprocity, commitment to Mother Earth, and contentment with one’s work and family, utziil k’asleem provides inspiration to leaders, as well as a path to development focused on cultural recovery and improving quality of life. By analyzing this work, we aim to highlight its importance and transformative potential, while also situating it in the present neoliberal moment.