Exercising our inherent and inalienable rights to political and spiritual sovereignty consistent with our laws and contemporary international human rights laws
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The Maya & Indigenous Human Rights Program (MIHRP) is a Maya and Indigenous led program focused on the rights of Maya and Indigenous Peoples in the U.S. and in our ancestral territories.
Our main office is located within the Omaha Nation Territory, while our advocacy extends nationwide. With dedicated Maya and Indigenous advocates in key locations across the United States, including Omaha, NE, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, and the Arizona U.S. - Mexico Border Region, we proudly foster strong reciprocal relationships. |
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MIHRP has 4 main Maya led programs and areas of focus:
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Maya Civic Engagement
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Maya Human Rights in Maya Territory
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In the Maya Territories, Indigenous Peoples have endured centuries of violence, persecution, torture, and genocide at the hands of settler colonial governments. Despite the 1996 Accord for a Firm and Lasting Peace in Guatemala, Maya and Indigenous communities still face unjust criminalization, discrimination, and denial of basic services. They also contend with destructive resource extraction projects, often backed by government and foreign investors, resulting in violence, displacement, and environmental degradation. Many seek asylum in the U.S. due to these dire circumstances.
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As Indigenous Peoples deeply connected to our ancestral lands, we remain spiritually, politically, and socially obligated to protect them. We partner with organizations like NISGUA, International Mayan League, and CGRS to advocate internationally and address these issues. Our commitments include supporting legal defense for criminalized Maya defenders, seeking justice for past crimes, and providing advocacy and representation for those whose rights are violated in the U.S. Currently, we have Maya staff working in Maya Territory and collaborate with ancestral authorities, elders, lawyers, and community members to address current challenges. We seek funding to establish a transnational collective legal defense strategy, asserting our human rights and sovereignty to remain in our beloved ancestral homelands
Maya Civic Engagement
Maya & Indigenous Advocacy & Grassroots Organizing
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Our civic engagement initiatives focus on upholding the sovereignty and self-determination of the Maya community in both Maya Territory and the United States. We are dedicated to aligning the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) with federal and state laws and policies across borders. To achieve these goals, we collaborate closely with academic institutions, Indigenous governing bodies, and contemporary state governments.
We also empower Maya and Indigenous legal advocates through training programs, enabling them to actively participate in policy and advocacy work. Our goal is to ensure that our communities are represented and heard on issues that affect us. We have established strong partnerships with various Nebraska and U.S.-based organizations, including Indigenous collectives, national migrants' rights collaboratives, and environmental justice groups. |
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We collaborate with government agencies, such as the U.S. Census Bureau, to conduct outreach and encourage civic participation. Our unique ability to lead community engagement efforts in Maya languages has made us a valuable resource for government, educational, and non-governmental organizations seeking to engage with our community.
