A Special Encounter with Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum: A Bilingual Broadcast

Meeting Dr. Rigoberta Menchu Tum during her bilingual conference in San Francisco, CA

Posted on October 23, 2024 by isajubes in Literature, Journalism, Philosophy, Philanthropy..., Radio Show "Atenea Americana", SHOW ENG // 0 Comments

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A few months ago, I had the immense honor of meeting and interviewing Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and K’iche’ Mayan activist, during an event hosted by Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Américas (CANA) in San Francisco. This encounter was originally aired live on my radio show, bringing her words and wisdom to the airwaves. Now, I’m excited to share the podcast version of this experience, in both Spanish and English, thanks to a live translation.

It was a bilingual event, and now with the podcast here it is, another layer of accessibility for those who might have missed the live radio broadcast.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum’s life story is one of profound resilience and unwavering dedication to social justice. Born in 1959 in the Guatemalan highlands, Rigoberta’s advocacy work was shaped by her personal experiences during the Guatemalan Civil War, which resulted in the genocide of nearly 150,000 Mayans. Tragically, her family was among the victims, with her brother, mother, and father being tortured and murdered by government forces. she later transformed her pain into action, becoming an international advocate for Indigenous rights, human rights, and peace.

Her commitment to these causes earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, and since then, Menchú Tum has continued her tireless work through the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation. Her focus on human rights, education, food security, and environmental justice has touched countless lives, particularly those in marginalized communities. As she explained that day, humility and kindness have been guiding forces throughout her journey, reminding us of the importance of these values in activism.

The event where I met Rigoberta Menchú Tum was hosted by CANA, an organization rooted in San Francisco’s Mission District. CANA is perhaps best known for producing the annual Carnaval San Francisco, a celebration of Latin American and Caribbean cultures. Their mission goes beyond festivals, though—they aim to educate the Bay Area about the rich cultures and Indigenous healing practices from the Americas. CANA’s latest project, Somos Esenciales, has received multi-million-dollar funding from the National Institutes of Health to focus on community revitalization and health through the arts and entrepreneurship.

Menchú Tum was the grand marshal for the Carnaval San Francisco, and during her appearance at the Indigenous People’s Cultural Arts and Healing Center in the Mission District, she spoke of her deep connection to the city and its Indigenous community. She reflected on her early mentors in San Francisco, who helped guide her activism, and how much she had learned from Native American leaders from tribes like the Navajo, Hopi, and Dakota. “My main teachers were from here, from San Francisco. These were brothers and sisters that were my guides,” she said, emphasizing the shared struggles of Indigenous peoples to protect their lands and defend Mother Earth.

The reception that followed her participation in Carnaval drew over 300 attendees to the Healing Center, where Menchú Tum shared more about her connection to the Bay Area. Her message of resilience, hope, and collective action resonated deeply with the audience, especially when she spoke of the importance of humility and kindness in the fight for justice. Her ability to speak from both personal and collective experience has made her a global symbol for human rights and Indigenous rights.

What makes this episode even more special is its connection to another podcast I posted about the Carnaval itself, which aired just a day before the inauguration of the CANA Healing Center. Menchú Tum’s reflections on her early days of activism, her connection to San Francisco, and her ongoing work with Indigenous communities offer powerful insights into the continued struggles for justice, both here and across the Americas.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1992), Maya K’iche’ woman from Guatemala, and lifelong advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples. She is the founder and Life President of the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation and has received numerous international awards for her work in social justice, human rights, and environmental protection. Her personal experiences during the Guatemalan Civil War, where she lost several family members to government violence, have driven her activism. She has been recognized globally for her tireless efforts, earning over thirty honorary doctorates and prestigious awards, including the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador designation and the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.

About Dr. Rigoberta Menchu Tum

CANA’s dedication to promoting the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples made it the perfect platform for this profound dialogue with Rigoberta Menchú Tum. Through this podcast episode, listeners can once again reflect on the importance of collective action, shared humanity, and the ongoing fight for justice that she has championed throughout her life. If you missed the original radio broadcast, now is your chance to experience the full depth of this extraordinary event.

Listen to the show to get more details about this event, its story and the institutions behind it.

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