K'iche' Maya Oral History Project

A collaborative endeavor of Dr. James Mondloch and the Latin American and Iberian Institute at the University of New Mexico, the K'iche' Maya Oral History Project contains 149 oral histories, which were collected in western Guatemala during the 1960s and 1970s. Now fully digitized, this collection of written and spoken K'iche' Maya is available to audiences worldwide. The project is made possible with funding from the LAII's US Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center grant.

In the decades since these stories were recorded and transcribed the speakers of the K’iche’ language have come under increasing pressure to integrate into the national Guatemalan culture and to use Spanish as their primary language. The online availability of this collection provides to those K’iche’s who are struggling to preserve their language and culture a unique source of material to assist them in their efforts.

The narratives in this collection also provide unique insights into the culture of the K’iche’ Maya including their history, social organization, values, beliefs, agricultural practices, and cosmo vision. Those interested in studying the K’iche’ language will find the audio recordings of the narratives accompanied by their transcriptions a rich source of materials in the language.

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Un esfuerzo de colaboración del Dr. James Mondloch y el Instituto Latinoamericano e Ibérico (LAII), el Proyecto de Historia Oral K'iche' Maya consiste en la digitalización y difusión electrónica de más de cien historias orales que fueron recogidas en el oeste de Guatemala durante las décadas 1960 y 1970. Ya digitalizada y difundida, esta colección de historias orales está disponible para el público internacional, con lo que promueve y mejora la enseñanza y el aprendizaje mundial de la lengua K'iche' - Maya. El proyecto es posible gracias al financiamiento de una subvención del Título VI Centros Nacionales de Recursos del Departamento de Educación de EE. UU.

En las décadas transcurridas desde que se grabaron y transcribieron estas historias, los hablantes del idioma K’iche’ han estado bajo una presión cada vez mayor para integrarse en la cultura guatemalteca nacional y utilizar el español como su idioma principal. La disponibilidad en línea de esta colección proporciona a aquellos K’iche's, que luchan para preservar su idioma y cultura, una fuente única de material para ayudarlos en sus esfuerzos.

Las narraciones de esta colección también brindan perspectivas únicas sobre la cultura de los K’iche’ Maya, incluyendo su historia, organización social, valores, creencias, prácticas agrícolas, y comovisión. Aquellos interesados en estudiar la lengua K’iche’ encontrarán que las grabaciones de audio de las narraciones, acompañadas de sus transcripciones, son una fuente rica de materiales en el idioma.

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Oral History #099: The Arrival of Electricity

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

When the government was installing electricity in the rural areas they needed human heads and women's breasts to complete the project. The government set free some thieves and killers from prison. The killers were able to collect a lot of heads and breasts from the people they killed on the roads. Note: This story is similar to another story (#79) in this collection.
Oral History #100: Two Friends, the Hawk and the Frog

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

God invited all the animals on earth to a big feast in heaven. The only one that he did not invite was the toad. But the toad heard about the fiesta and tricked his friend, the hawk, into taking him to the feast. When he got there God became angry and threw him back down to earth. When he fell on the ground, he caused an earthquake.
Oral History #101: A Lazy Man Who Just Lay Down in the Mountain

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a man who became rich selling the pataxte that did not belong to him.
Oral History #102: Two Friends, One of Whom Was Very Ill

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

There were two men who were compadres. One was rich and the other poor. The poor man was not able to work, and sought work with his rich compadre. The rich man reluctantly hired his compadre to go with him in the forest to hunt but then left him in the forest to die.
Oral History #103: How it is Known that the Mountains Have Owners

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This story tells how the people learned that mountains have owners that live in them, and that they are the owners of all the animals in the forests. The mountains can also help the people when they are in need.
Oral History #104: The Nahualeños' Traditional Beliefs about the Lords of the Mountains

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a very long recording in which Matías Ch'ok talks about the traditional beliefs of the people from Nahualá concerning the Lords of the Mountains
Oral History #105: The Deeds of a Son of a Poor Couple

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator talks about the son of a poor couple left home to go in search of work. The boy had extraordinary strength. He found two companions who were also strong, and together they had many adventures
Oral History #106: The Adventures of a Pottery Merchant from Totonicapán

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a man who discovered that his wife is a transformer. When the husband heard of his wife's plan to feed him to some animals, the man fooled his wife and pushed her out of the house into the arms of the waiting transformers/animals. They grabbed her and ate her, leaving not a single trace of her behind. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#18, #97, #147) in this collection.
Oral History #107: The Dream of Juan Ekoq'ij

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

Juan Ekoq'ij talks about what happeneed when he abandoned his traditional belief system and embraced the Orthodox Catholic religion. He had several dreams that represented the conflicts he was experiencing during this change in his life. Firstnd some devils. He began praying, and finally escaped the devils. He interpreted the ladder to be the path of a virtuous life, and his fall represented his past sins. Note: This story is similar to another story (#19) in this collection.
Oral History #108: Yegua Achí

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

Yegua Achí, a human with supernatural powers wanted to court multiple women who did not want to marry him. Each one devised a series of tests for him to pass knowing it was impossible to do so. He did not wed any of the women.
Oral History #109: The Adventures of Pedro de Malo

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a long story about Pedro de Malo, a great trickster. The story tells of how he robbed the people of their money and possessions with his ingenious tricks. This story is similar to another one (#21) in this collection.
Oral History #110: A Chile Merchant

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a man who stopped selling chile and became a great thief with the help of his magic horse.
Oral History #111: Two Young Men

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of two brothers who turn themselves into two different types of weather: wind and lightning. The younger brother lives in the ocean, and he is the sheet lightning that is seen over the ocean during a storm.
Oral History #112: Juan Xu'm Talks With His Wife

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a long dialogue between Juan Xu'm- a man from Pasaq, Xejuyub', Nahuala- and his wife. They talk about their daily routines, and events they have experienced in their lives.
Oral History #113: Three Young Men, One of Whom Killed His Mother

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells a story about a woman who had three sons. The youngest killed his mother and harvested her organs. When the older brothers discovered what their brother had done, they beat him. Later he was sentenced to death for killing his mother.
Oral History #114: San Cristobál

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

A long time ago there was a young man named Cristóbal. Because of his work helping the people cross the river, Cristóbal became San Cristóbal, the patron saint of bus drivers. This story is similar to another one (#71) in this collection.
Oral History #115: Santiago

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of Santiago who converts from a star into a man to help a poor man defeat a thief. Note: This story is similar to another story (#133) in this collection.
Oral History #116: A Brave Woman (Speaking of the Sacred Mountains)

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a man who had a very demanding wife. One day while he was sick, she sent him to the forest to chop firewood. While working, he injured himself and a ladino man took him into his home and cured him. When he returned home to his wife she told him he had been gone for seven years.
Oral History #117: A Young Man Who Built a Big Bridge

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a king who tells a boy that he could marry his daughter if he could build a bridge over a large canyon. The boy, with the help of God, managed to build the bridge, and as a reward the king gave him his daughter's hand in marriage. Note: This story is similar to another story (#145) in this collection.
Oral History #118: The Two Friends

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

There were two men who were compadres. One was rich and the other poor. The poor man was not able to work, and sought work with his rich compadre. The rich man reluctantly hired his compadre to go with him in the forest to hunt but then left him in the forest to die. Note: This story is similar to another story (#102) in this collection.
Oral History #119: A Crazy Young Bachelor

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells a story about how a young man's tried to trick a girl into marrying him by pretending to be a prolific hunter. Eventually he was caught in his lie and was mocked by the girl. He went to jail because he was not able to pay the man for the use of his gun and deer hide.
Oral History #120: Juan Vivo and Juan Bobo

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

There were two brothers, Juan Vivo y Juan Bobo. Juan Vivo was timid and good hearted. Juan Bobo was an evil trickster. He killed his mother in the sauna, and then blamed her death on the priest who came to give her the last rites. Juan Vivo was eaten by a cougar. Juan Bobo lived on, and continued tricking people.
Oral History #121: Juan the Woodcutter Wins the Daughter of a King

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This story is about a poor young Indian man named Juan who ran away with the daughter of the king of of a forest. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#95 and #137) in this collection.
Oral History #122: A Man Named Ajpale't

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

Ajpale't wanted to marry a woman who was already married to an evil man. She agreed to marry him if he could kill her husband. Ajpale't managed to kill the evil man and married his wife.
Oral History #123: A Young Man who Became a Saint

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This story is about a young man that had an uncle who made statues of saints. The youth went to his uncle one day and asked him to paint him up to look like a saint in order to have an affair with two girls. When he was through with the affair he returned home.
Oral History #124: Juan Cruz

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of Juan Cruz, a clever thief. He was able to put people into a deep sleep and then rob their belongings. This story is similar to another story (#7) in this collection.
Oral History #125: A Tricky Young Man

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a tricky young man who had an affair with a girl, even after she was married to a different man.
Oral History #126: The Merchant and His Acquaintance who Turned into a Goat

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a merchant who transformed himself into a goat in order to kill an acquaintance he hated. When he failed to kill his acquaintance, he died.
Oral History #127: Jealous Juan

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of Juan, a very jealous man who would never leave his wife out of his sight and would beat her frequently.
Oral History #128: How Pascual Tu'm Received His Wealth from the Mountain

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells a story about Pascual who finds a magic book in the mountains that would produce large amounts of money. He became very rich.
Oral History #129: The Days of the K'ichee' Calendar

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

A woman from a Chuwa Mango, a coastal village of Nahuala, explains the significance of each of the 20 day names in the K'ichee' ritual calendar.
Oral History #130: The Punishment for Mockery

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

An elderly man from the canyon Patz'uli'n, Xejuyub', Nahualá, tells the history of one of his neighbors.
Oral History #131: A Man's Son Died Because They Tricked a Diviner

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a man who wanted to test a diviner's powers. When the man's plans failed he discovered that his son had died as a result.
Oral History #132: Marriage Ceremony in the Village of Pasaq, Xejuyub', Nahualá, November 29, 1971

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a portion of a long traditional K'iche' marriage ceremony. In it we hear the marriage broker's (k'amaal b'e) prayers and advice given by the couple's family members and friends.
Oral History #133: Santiago

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a thief who robbed the vendors as they traveled about selling their products. Note: This story is similar to another story (#115) in this collection.
Oral History #134: The Suffering of the Protestants that Lived in Cobán a Long Time Ago

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of how a long time go in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, a community of Protestants were suffering from a famine because they abandoned the Catholic faith.
Oral History #135: A Merchant Defended Himself Against Man-eating Coyotes

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a traveling salesman had to pass through some mountains where he scared the man-eating coyotes.
Oral History #136: Two Orphans

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a long story that tells of the adventures of a brother and sister who were orphaned at a young age. They went in search of someone to care for them. Since they were good, pious children God and his angels watched over them in their travels, and ensured that they were able to overcome all the obstacles that they encountered.
Oral History #137: A Young Man Who Won the Daughter of a King

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This story is about a poor young Indian man named Juan who fell in love with the daughter of the king of the forest. When the king discovered that his daughter had married an Indian, he became angry. Finally the young couple ran away, and the king and his wife were never able to find them again. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#95 and #121) in this collection.
Oral History #138: Lazy Juan

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The story tells of a boy who changed into the mythic figure of Yegua Achi and became the creator of mountains and valleys. After helping the infant Jesus cross a river, he changed into Saint Christopher, the patron saint of bus drivers in Guatemala. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#26, #54, #62, y #64) in this collection.
Oral History #139: The Young Man Named Arrancanes

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of Arrancanes, who grew to be a super a strong youth. After many adventures Arrancanes killed a deceitful giant and married the giant's hostage girl.
Oral History #140: The Origin of the Marimba

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story of a town named Amor in which all of the people were very religious.
Oral History #141: How the Saints Came From Rome and Constructed the Church in Esquipulas / Saint in the Church of Chajul

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

Two men tell different versions of the same story of how multiple types of corn came to be.
Oral History #142: A Man Wanted to Divorce His Wife and Marry Another Woman

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a young man who decided that he wanted to leave his wife and look for another woman to marry.
Oral History #143: The Origin of the Three Kinds of Corn

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

Two men tell different versions of the same story in which they tell how different types of corn came to be. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#40) and #61) in this collection.
Oral History #144: The Young Man Wanted to Marry Two Young Women

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a young man who tricked two sisters into wanting to marry him.
Oral History #145: The Autobiography of Manuel Cho'x Guarchaj de Pasaq

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a very long recording in which Manuel tells the story of his life. Note: This story is similar to another story (#117) in this collection.
Oral History #146: A Conversation about Two Sicknesses

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

A man questions another man and a woman about sicknesses of the throat and evil eye. They talk about the causes, the symptoms and the remedies for these diseases.
Oral History #147: The Transformers

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is the story about a man who tricked his wife into being taken and eaten by animals. Note: This story is similar to other stories (#18, #97, and #106) in this collection.
Oral History #148: A Man's Brother Died

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

This is a humorous story about a man who went to the wake of his brother. Try as he might to get the man serving the liquor to give him some, he was unsuccessful. Finally he had to go to the cantina to get drunk. After burying his brother he left for home. On his way home as he was crossing through a stream, an animal in the water made a noise, and it gave him a headache.
Oral History #149: A Very Poor Man

James Mondloch, Miguel Guarchaj Ch'o'x, and Diego Guarchaj

The narrator tells the story about a young man who was very poor because he was lazy and did not want to work. When he took to stealing he claimed to be a diviner and began telling the people he stole from where he hid the stolen objects. They believed he was a diviner and paid him handsomely.

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