Guatemala’s ‘Indigenous Spring’

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Guatemala’s been going through huge political upheavals. Protestors brought the country to a standstill with roadblocks and national strikes which lasted more than one hundred days, until they got the government they had voted for. Many of the protestors came from different indigenous communities, descended from the Mayans, who have their own language and culture and make up more than half of the 18 million population. Now there’s talk of an ‘Indigenous Spring’ after years of racism and discrimination. But is life really improving for these communities and is it possible to turn the Central American country around after years of corruption? Jane Chambers travels around the highlands and lowlands of Guatemala talking to the people who are trying to make changes and hearing from others whether they think it’s really working. Presenter and Producer: Jane Chambers Local Producer: José David López Studio Manager: Neil Churchill Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy (Image: Photo of a mural of indigenous people protesting during the 2023 National Strike in Guatemala. Credit: Jane Chambers/BBC)