[Opening]

Hal tiknek an ermanu yuj yos

Now, then, brother, thanks to God

ix ja jun lawlador tik

a recorder has come here

t’a ko kal tik heyet’ok.

among us with you all.

[Evidentiality Statement]

Wal b’at ha tikneik, ol wal b’ati,

I say, here, I will say,

walelta chajtil (ix) ix k’ulej

I’ll speak about what we did

t’a jun (b’íb’) b’ab’el ix ko k’ulej,

the first time we did it;

ix och jun k’inh,

we made a fiesta,

jun sk’inh jun inhmajenh tik t’a tik.

a fiesta for this saint’s image here.

[Background]

T’a wente kwatro de marso.

It was on the twenty-fourth of March.

Ak’to wal janak inhmajenh tik,

Still new was the image,

mantalaj junh k’inh tsuji ix,

there still had been no fiesta,

(tik tik) b’ab’elto jun chi’.

it was the first time.

Yos, (tik tik) k’okb’il

So, at the same time

wal kak’an selewrar jun pyesta

we were celebrating a fiesta

t’a jab’ kiglesya tik t’a Awakate tik.

in our little church here in Aguacate.

Antonse wal yochkan yak’an komensar

Then it was starting,

jun pyesta t’a iglesa El Awakate tik.

the fiesta in the church in El Aguacate.

[The Communists were coming]

Entonse haxo (ixka) ix jawi awiso,

Then already came the news,

chajtil to wan sja heb’ winh komuniste.

how the Communists were coming.

Hab’ t’a Ketsal,

They said at Quetzal,

t’a prontera.

on the [Mexican] border.

Hata’ ix otta heb’ winh,

There they entered;

ay jun te pat

there is a house

b’aj ix way heb’ winh ta’,

where they slept there,

ix k’an sposao heb’ winh t’a jun te pat chi’.

they asked for lodging at that house.

Tikni jun ix yak’kan jun juisyo heb’ winh

Later they did an injury

t’a jun te pat chi’,

to that house,

to yik komo yet’nak armamento heb’ winh.

because they had armaments with them.

Yos, por pawor yik winh aj pat,

So, as a favor from the house owner,

ix ak’nax sposado heb’ winh.

they were given hospitality.

Manh yojtakok winh powre chi jun

The poor man didn’t know

tato kontra heb’ winh,

that they were enemies,

kontra gowyerno heb’ winh tik.

enemies of the government.

Ni tob’an tsok kontra gowyerno

They were against the government,

heb’ winh ix otta,

those men who came in,

tob’an komunista heb’ winh.

they were really Communists.

Tikni jun ix lajwikan’el winh aj pat chi’,

Later the house owner was left dead,

yet’ spamilya.

with his family.

Yos, ha Watemala.

And this is Guatemala.

[Where they were headed]

Hachi’ wan sk’anb’an heb’ winh

What they were asking was

b’ajtil ay sb’e’al yet’ Sam Mateo.

where was the road to San Mateo.

Ha wal chi’ wal yak’ eksijir heb’ winh,

That is what they were demanding,

hachi’ wal sk’anb’ej heb’ winh,

that is what they were asking for,

b’aj ha wal chi’,

where it was,

b’aj wan sb’at heb’ winh,

where they were going,

yet’ t’a Wariya.

and to Barillas.

Pero manhok wal t’a puewlo chi’

But it wasn’t to that town

wan sb’at wal heb’ winh,

they were going to,

komo tonhej wan yak’ankan kumrar chi’

since they were just heading up,

heb’ winh ha t’ay Kanan.

those men, to Canán.

Hata’ wan st’inhb’itanb’at sb’e heb’ winh.

To there were they directing their road.

[People were frightened]

Yujchi’, topax k’okb’il

So, at the same time, people

wal yoch (jun jun) jun pyesta t’atik

were about to make a fiesta here

yik inhmajenh Sanh Grawyel tik

for the image of San Gabriel,

t’Awakate tik.

in Aguacate.

Yo, ix te xiw sk’ol anima

So, people were very frightened

t’a jun chonhab’ tik,

in this town,

yet’ t’a B’ojoch,

and in Yalambojoch,

yet’ Samran.

and in San Francisco.

Ha wal oxe’ aldea tik te triste.

Those three aldeas were very sad.

Ix aj t’a jun tiempo

It was about the time

t’a wente kuatro de marso chi’,

of the twenty-fourth of March,

tekan to yoxil hab’il na’ik.

maybe the third year ago now.

Ix el t’a marso pax tik.

It emerged in March again here.

(Tekanto yoxíl)

(Maybe the third [year ago].)

[The fiesta is threatened]

Entonse,

So,

te triste ix aj oxe aldea tik.

very sad were the three aldeas.

Haxob’ tikni jun,

They say that then,

haxo ix ko na’an Awakate honh,

when we thought we here in Aguacate

to ha tik ol ja heb’ winh,

that they would come,

ix laj el heb’ winh jantak topax k’okb’il

how many people left at the time

yochkan jun k’inh jun.

the fiesta began.

Haxo (ix . . .) haxonhej katolika tik jun,

When only we Catholics were here,

komo ay jun sk’inh wan yochi,

since there was a fiesta beginning,

haxo ix yak’ preparar sb’a,

when it was being prepared, they

skan t’a iglesa tik, (yet’) yet’ sk’inh chi’.

stayed in the church here, with that fiesta.

(Maxil to ix hulonh skach heb’ winh

(They didn’t see that they came to

yet’ te aj jun,

silence us because of the fireworks,

maj stak’ heb’ winh yel te aj.)

didn’t want the rockets to go up.)

Maj, maj,

No, no,

topax ha heb’ winh pagano ayuch t’a,

it was the pagans that came here,

topax ha heb’ winh pagano,

it was the pagans,

ayuch t’a jusgado tik jun,

that were in the city hall (juzgado),

ha heb’ winh ayuch empleadoal.

those who were officials (empleados).

“K’alok yat to ix yak’ nular

“Hopefully they have cancelled

jun pyesta t’a iglesa tik,”

the fiesta in the church here,”

yalan heb’ winh opisyales t’a jusgado tik.

said the officials from city hall.

Cha’el oxel ix hulek’ heb’ winh

Two or three times they came by

(tik tik) yak’ reganyar katolika

to scold the Catholics

t’a iglesa tik, tik ni jun.

in the church here, then.

Pero maj yak’laj respetar katolika.

But the Catholics didn’t respect them.

Por ke yojtak katolika jun,

Because the Catholics know, then,

to ladinu heb’ winh chi’.

they are Ladinos.

Tekan yo, ay b’aj ts’ek’ heb’ winh

Perhaps there are places they would pass

t’a (t’a) pueblu grande ay iglesa.

in big cities where there are churches.

Klaro yaj t’a yol niwak chonhab’,

Clearly there are in the big town.

[The Catholics decide to stay]

Yuj chi, jun hachi’ ix yekxi

So, then, began to

sna’ katolika tik,

think, the Catholics,

“Ma’ay, manh olonh el laj.

“No, we won’t leave.

Komo

Since

(Hatik sko molb’ej ko b’a

(We will just gather together

t’a ko tepan xkochi . . .)

in our church here . . .)

hatik ol ko molb’ej,

Here we will gather,

hatik ol ko molul ko b’a t’a tepa tik,

here we will gather ourselves in the church,

komo ichachi’ yalankan

since thus says

(tik tik) ko Liwru.

our Book.

Ichachi’ yalan Liwru t’ayonh,

Thus the Book says to us,

t’ayonh jun, ol kak’cham ko b’a

to us, we will die to ourselves

t’a b’ajay iglesa.

where the church is.

Tato, wach’chotonam

If, well hunkered down

tsonh slajel heb’ winh,

they kill us,

tato chuk wan ko k’ulani,

if it is bad that we do,

tato may jun, tope ma’ay.

or not, perhaps not.

Tope ha jab’ok skomwida

Perhaps something to eat

heb’ winh ol kak’a’.”

we will give them.”

Kochi, komo triste ton

We said, as very sad

honh ajxi jun,

we were, then,

ix laj el jantak pagano puewlo tik jun,

that so many pagans left the town here,

t’a aldea tik.

in this aldea.

Ix laj eli.

They all left.

Wach’ jantak (wach’ . . .)

Although so many . . .

(Haxo t’a tík ix ko molkut ko b’a.)

(Already we gathered ourselves.)

Wach’ jantak winh te’ entendido

Although so many of them, very intelligent

ix yak’ sb’a,

they made themselves,

wach’ jantak winh te rasonawle.

although so many are rational.

Pero hasta ix b’atkan winh yet’ smaleta,

But they even went with their luggage,

ix ay winh te najat ix b’ati.

there were some who went far away.

Ha’onh xo tik jun,

And we, well,

kontenta kaji,

we were content,

yet’ ko pamilya, yet’ kistsil,

with our family, with our wives,

yet’ kixal.

with our women.

(T’a iglesa tik

(Here in the church

honh jakan ha’onh tik.)

we came to stay.)

Hatik ay jun alegriya.

Here there was happiness [a large crowd].

[The fiesta begins]

Yos,

So,

b’at kuete (t’a) t’a iglesa tik

skyrockets went up from the church here

t’Awakate tik.

in Aguacate.

Ana’ ay jun juisyo wan yuji.

And there was a legal decision being made.

Ayek’ wan sb’éyek’ hu’um

There were papers going around

yuj heb’ winh (t’a) t’a oxe’ aldea tik.

because of the people of these three aldeas.

Ix b’at ab’ix,

Notice went out,

ix yak’ telegramu heb’ winh

a telegram was sent by them

(t’a) t’a B’u’ul, t’a Grasya Dios.

to Bu’ul, to Gracias a Dios.

Ix k’och t’a Nentonh, ix wan sjawi

It arrived at Nentón, they were coming

heb’ winh yajal t’a chi’ ana’ wan

those men who were there, and

(trikno)

(trikno [meaningless mistake])

tik ni tob’an t’a (sam) Sam Fransisko.

really at San Francisco,

hata’ ix k’och (winh) winh komuniste.

that’s where the Communists arrived.

T’a mismu ora yoch k’inh

At the same time the fiesta started

t’a Awakate tik.

at Aguacate, here.

[The authorities ban fireworks]

Yuj chi’,

So,

te triste heb’ winh,

very sad were they,

“Ma’ay, manh xo he yak’el te aj.”

“Nobody is to send up rockets anymore.”

(Haxot . . .)

(Already . . .)

Haxota sna’an ha tik nek jun,

Already they thought, now,

komo dos kosa ol ajok:

maybe two things would happen:

“De repenta ha’ ol sna’an heb’ winh,

“So what if they would think,

heb’ winh sollao fuersa gowyerno

the soldiers of the government forces

t’a Watemala,

of Guatemala,

to ha heb’ winh wan yak’an tronar

it was them who were causing explosions

t’a aldea tik.

in the aldea here.

Entonse ha junh womwa wien ol yak’em

Then they would drop a bomb

heb’ winh t’a yib’anh aldea tik.

on top of the aldea here.

Ol lajwel chonhab’.”

The town would be finished.”

Ichachi’ ix yal heb’ winh opisiales,

Thus spoke the town officials,

heb’ winh pagano t’ayonh.

the pagans, to us.

Ix ja heb’ winh t’a iglesya.

They came to the church.

“Ma’ay. Tom ijan manh yojtakok heb’ winh

“No. Could it be those men don’t know

chajtil sk’anh te aj jun?”

how skyrockets sound?”

xchachixi heb’ winh katekiste

said for a second time the catechists

t’a Awakate tik,

of Aguacate here,

t’a b’ajay iglesa tik,

where the church is.

I lo mismu:

And the same thing:

“Ma’ay snatop,” [snata] haxo ix yutejxi

“They don’t know,” when they came again,

yalan heb’ winh opis. Cha’el oxel,

the officials said. Two or three times;

ix hulek’ heb’ winh opisyal honh

the officials came to us

yak’ tentar t’a iglesa tik.

to molest, at the church.

Lo mismu ix cha’ alanxi heb’ winh jun,

The same thing they said again,

“Ma’ay snata heb’ winh komuniste chi’,

“Those Communists don’t know

to ha heb’ winh fuersa gowyerno

if the government forces

wan yak’an. Wan sjawi.

are doing it. They’re coming.

Aktejek el te aj chi’.

Stop sending up rockets.

Manh xo he sik’ek te’.

Don’t pick up any more rockets.

Manh xo he yak’ tronar te’,”

Don’t explode any more rockets,”

xchi’xi heb’ winh cha’el oxel. (ix yak’ . . .)

they said again, two, three times.

Ix yak’ halto heb’ winh (t’a de) t’a iglesa tik.

They halted things in the church here.

Por eso, yuj chi’.

Therefore, for this reason.

Pero jun maj yab’laj

But they didn’t note

jantak anima ay t’a tik,

how many people were here,

toton ay heb’

how they were

t’a jun (alegre) alegria jun.

in a large crowd (a “happiness”).

[The Army arrives]

Yuj chi’,

So,

ix te xiw sk’ol oxe’ aldea tik.

the three aldeas were very frightened.

Pihor jun haxo ix ja winh koronel,

Worse yet, when a coronel came

t’a Watemala.

from Guatemala.

Ix yalan winh t’a heb’ winh awansado,

He told those advance men

ix xit’ek’ yak’ wijilar

who went out to watch

t’a Wajxak K’an Nha tik,

in Guaxacaná,

topax hata’ ix b’o’ kampamente:

where they made their encampment:

“Ma hatik naik,

“Here and now,

swal t’ayex, hijo,

I’m telling you all, sons,

tato ayam junh aldea chi’

if there is an aldea

b’aj ol wanaj heb’ winh komuniste tik,

where those Communists stop,

entonse ay nesesida ol lajwel jun aldea.

then it will be necessary to finish the aldea.

Por ke ke modo manh

Because how could we not

ol lajwel junh aldea jun,

finish that aldea, then,

toton hata’ ol och howal.

if there will be a fight there.

Muchu kuidado hex.

You all take care.

Tato liwre to he yaj tse yila’,

If you see you are still free,

tse yil wal sk’ochkan heb’ winh kontra chi’

if you see those enemies enter

(t’a) t’a jusgado,

the city hall,

entonse tse b’esel he b’a

then get out of there

yet’ jantak he pamilya tam liwre he yaji,”

with all your family, if you’re free,”

xchab’ winh koronel

said the coronel

t’a heb’ winh komisionado militar

to the military commissioner

t’a Wajxak K’an Nha tik.

of Guaxacaná.

[The village could be destroyed]

Yuj chi’,

So,

icha masnhej ix te xiw ko k’ol,

thus, how many of us were afraid,

jantakonh animahonh tik t’a aldea tik.

so many of us in the aldea here.

Ay nesesida ol lajwel

It would be necessary to finish

jun jun aldea tik nek

every aldea here

b’aj ol wanaj heb’ wính,

where they stop,

komo hata’ ol yilaj sb’a heb’ winh jun

since if they are seen

ta ol och gerra yuj heb’ winh,

a war will begin because of them,

entonse ol lajwok.

then it will end.

Ay nesesida ol lajwel jun gera

It is necessary to finish the war

jun jun chonhab’,

in each town,

jun aldea.

each aldea.

(Portuna jun tato t’a kampu

(Good luck, then, if in the fields

t’a wera ol ko cha ko b’a

outside we find ourselves

yet’ heb’ winh jun,

with them,

hata’ liwre to ol kan . . .)

if we are still free . . .)

Tato t’a kampu (ol . . . ol ko)

If in the fields

ol schalaj sb’a heb’ winh jun,

we find them, then,

ol ko chalaj ko b’ah,

if we find ourselves there,

entonse tope kolan ol kan junh aldea.

then maybe the aldea survives.

Ta yala’ ta Awakate ol wanaj heb’ winh,

Perhaps they will stop in Aguacate,

ta t’a B’ojoch,

there in (Yalam) Bojoch,

ta t’a Sam Fransisko,

or there in San Francisco,

ol yala’ b’aj ol wanaj heb’ winh,

will be where they stop,

hata’ ol och gera chi’.

there the war will start.

E mato B’ulej jun,

And if it’s Bulej, well,

mato b’ajtil hatik ne’ik,

or wherever it is now.

“Muchu kuidado hex,”

“You all be careful,”

xchi winh koronel,

said the coronel,

ix ja winh t’a winh (komisar)

when he came to the

komisionado militar.

military commissioner.

[The Communists come]

Yuj chi’,

So,

(te’) ix te xiw sk’ol anima t’a tik

people here were very frightened

t’a jun tiempo, ay xo

at that time, it would be about

yoxil hab’il chi tik nek,

the third year ago now,

yuj heb’ winh komuniste.

because of those Communists.

Komo ix yak’kan chamel heb’ winh

Since they left dead people

t’a prontera,

at the border,

t’a jun lugar skuchanh Ketsal.

at a place called Quetzal.

Hata’ ix jawi heb’ winh sjawi,

There they came, those who came,

komo lak’nik skal jun chi’

as it’s close there to

yet’ kolonhya Tsiskaw.

Colonia Tziscao.

Yuj chi’,

So,

te ix xiw sk’ol anima tik jun,

the people were really afraid

ix milwaj heb’ winh tik ni jun.

they would be killed, then.

Ix yamchaj’och trawajo, b’i’an.

Work was started, then.

(haxo ix) Haxo ix tik ni jun,

Already

ix b’at heb’ winh t’a riwa

men went up above

t’a skuchan B’ulej,

to a place called Bulej,

t’a aldea B’ulej,

to the aldea Bulej,

munisipio t’a San Mateo Istatanh.

municipio of San Mateo Ixtatán.

[The Communists are captured]

Tik ni jun,

Then,

te tik maj yamchajlaj heb’ winh

those men weren’t captured

t’a aldea tik.

in this aldea.

Te wach’ (ix yab’) ix yab’ anima,

People were very happy,

te wach’ ix yab’ chonhab’,

the village was very happy,

aj pat niwak, kotak,

heads of household, big or small,

to maj yamchaj heb’ winh

that they weren’t captured

t’a aldea.

in the aldea.

Hato ta monte ix yamchaj heb’ winh,

Out in the bush they were captured,

tonse ha t’a jun skuchan Kanan,

then in a place called Canán,

hata’ ix laj ya hata’

there it ended, it was there

ix yamchaj heb’ winh.

they were captured.

Manhoklaj t’a puewlo

Not in the village

ix yamchaj heb’ winh.

were they captured.

Icha ix kolchaj kan

Thus were saved

jantak aldea t’a prontera tik.

so many aldeas on the border.

Icha ikolchaj xi kan Samateo Istatanh.

Thus saved also was San Mateo Ixtatán.

Ham Samateo Istatanh

If it had been San Mateo Ixtatán

ol lajwel syal chi’,

it would be finished

(ix b’a) ix b’at heb’ winh xk’ochi,

by those men who came,

tik ni jun.

then.

Yuj yos (maj) maj lajwel ko chonhab’,

Thank God our village wasn’t finished,

may aldea ix lajweli chi.

no aldea was.

T’a b’e ix yamchaj an chitonab’,

On the road where they were captured,

ix laj sjulkan’el jun tsanh

they fired at some people

sk’e heb’ chi’ xk’och’i.

who went up there.

[Closing]

Ichachi’ ix ko k’ulej t’a jun tiempo chi’.

Thus we did in that time there.

Ichachi’ yu’uj

Thus because of them

ix kak’ jun suprimyentu (tax t’a)

we felt a suffering

tax ix yamchaj’och sk’inh winh anhjel

when we made a fiesta for the angel

Sanh Grawyel tik t’a jun lugar,

San Gabriel here in this place,

aldea hel Awakate tik.

the aldea Aguacate, here.

(Telan ayxo yab’ilal jun chi’.)

(Certainly it’s been years ago.)

(ay xo yab’ilal.)

(It’s been years.)

Ay xo.

It has been.

(Mokx honh ton xiw janík’.)

(We really were a bit afraid.)