Grupo de personas de comunidades y Pueblos Indígenas de Guatemala reunidas después de una certificación y curso.

About Sotz’il

We are an indigenous technical organization based on the Mayan cosmovision that seeks to create integral development alternatives for Indigenous Peoples, based on their vision, principles, values, culture, identity and thought.

We promote Good Living or Ütz k’aslemal, a concept associated with collective well-being in harmony and balance with nature through the recognition, respect and fulfillment of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mujer indígena de Guatemala con ropa tradicional sosteniendo un bastón tradicional en la mano en una ceremonia.

MISSION

To promote and strengthen the Good Living or Ütz k'aslemal as a model of indigenous life.

Grupo de personas indígenas mayas subiendo por un camino de tierra en el bosque, Guatemala.

VISION

To be an indigenous organization recognized for its contributions to integral development, as well as the observance and fulfillment of indigenous rights.

Mujeres indígenas de Guatemala con ropa tradicional trabajando en la tierra con azadones.

AIM

To promote the development of indigenous communities through the creation of mechanisms for the use, management and conservation of natural resources based on the respect and recognition of collective rights, culture, identity and worldview of Indigenous Peoples.

Lines of work

We promote Good Living or Ütz k'aslemal through the use, management and conservation of natural resources based on collective rights, culture, identity and cosmovision.

Rights of Indigenous Peoples
We promote recognition, respect and full compliance with the rights of Indigenous Peoples based on national and international legislation and legal instruments. Our lines of action are:

COUNSELING AND SUPPORT

We provide strategic and technical advice and support based on the vision of Indigenous Peoples in processes of:
- Participation in negotiations for the ratification and implementation of international instruments that contemplate the rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Elaboration, presentation and reform of laws and policies that promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Application of safeguards in the implementation of plans, programs and projects in Indigenous Territories
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION

We coordinate and facilitate intercultural processes with Indigenous Peoples based on the respect for their rights in processes of:
- Recognition and fulfillment of collective rights in the use, management and conservation of natural resources, territories, communal lands, sacred sites and traditional knowledge
- Consultation to obtain free, prior and informed consent
- Recognition of the forms of organization and social, legal, environmental, political and economic systems of Indigenous Peoples
Community Development
We create integral development alternatives for Indigenous Peoples based on their identity, values and cosmovision. Our lines of action are:

COUNSELING AND SUPPORT

We provide strategic and technical advice and support based on the vision of the Indigenous Peoples in order to:
- Strengthen collective management systems for the use, management and conservation of natural and cultural resources in communal lands, as well as the implementation of the Indigenous Category
- Promote indigenous economies through companies that strengthen the identity, culture, knowledge and technology of Indigenous Peoples
COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

We coordinate and implement intercultural processes with Indigenous Peoples based on respect, consensus and compliance with rights in relation to:
- Comprehensive community development programs, projects and plans; cultural use of territory on issues related to community tourism, natural resources, environment, climate change, risk management and community resilience
- Interinstitutional and intersectoral actions that promote the proper use, management and conservation of natural resources and community development
Full and Effective Participation
We promote community participation to create sustainable solutions for Good Living or Ütz k’aslemal. Our lines of action are:

COUNSELING AND SUPPORT

We provide strategic, technical and methodological advice and accompaniment based on the vision of the Indigenous Peoples for:
- The elaboration and presentation of social, political, economic, cultural and environmental proposals
- The promotion of local and national intercultural and multisectoral dialogues that lead to the implementation of indigenous community management models
- Negotiation and governmental advocacy
- Participation in national and international indigenous agendas on rights, natural resources, environment, biodiversity, climate change and protected areas
- The creation of technical, political and financial conditions for the national and international participation of Indigenous Peoples
- Entering into processes of consultation and participation of Indigenous Peoples
- The formulation of comprehensive community development plans.
Research and Planning
We develop intercultural research and planning processes based on the vision of Indigenous Peoples. Our lines of action are:

ADVISORY AND SUPPORT

We provide advice and support for intercultural and multidisciplinary applied research, based on the vision of Indigenous Peoples, to:
- Build intercultural systems for social, economic, cultural, environmental, natural resources and biodiversity monitoring and evaluation
- Develop methodologies, instruments and indicators on Indigenous Peoples
- Develop social, environmental, economic, cultural, political and natural resource studies and reports.
- Generate strategic alliances for volunteer programs, internships, and academic and knowledge exchanges
- Develop research on science and technology, knowledge, practices and indigenous knowledge