Maya Governance & Partners
How the Maya villages of southern Belize govern themselves, and how the Maya institutions work together.
The Ab’ink: our decision-making process
The Ab’ink (village meeting) is the space for listening, and it is the fundamental authority of every Maya village.
The Alcalde is the presiding chair of the meeting and guides the community to build consensus on matters with an ultimate resolution. Decisions are made by a vote of majority or expressed unanimously orally by the majority. The Alcalde upholds the decision made by enforcing and representing the decisions made.
The alcaldes
The alcalde system is an ancient form of traditional and legal village governance in Belize, practised among Indigenous Maya communities in the southern Toledo District.
Functioning primarily as a blend of local magistrate and community leader, the alcalde manages communal lands, mediates disputes, and maintains cultural customs. The word “Alcalde” is a Spanish word in Maya language. It refers to Polil Ka in Mopan and Jolimil Kale’baal in Q’eqchi’.
How it works today
Each Maya village elects its own alcalde, who serves as the principal community leader, judge, and representative. Alcaldes uphold customary law alongside national law and convene the community for collective decision-making.
At the regional level, the Toledo Alcaldes Association coordinates joint action across villages, while elders provide ceremonial, spiritual, and historical guidance that grounds every major decision in cultural tradition.
Maya villages
The Toledo Alcaldes Association represents alcaldes from Maya villages across the Toledo and Stann Creek districts of southern Belize. Select a village to zoom in on the map.
Toledo Alcaldes Association
The body of traditional village leaders, the alcaldes. The assembly of 80 alcaldes is led by an executive council.
- PT
President
Pedro Teul
Alcalde of Santa Teresa
- JC
Vice President
Jose Chun
Alcalde of San Marcos
- RS
Member
Rufino Sho
Alcalde of Pueblo Viejo
- LT
Member
Luis Teck
Alcalde of San Jose
- EA
Member
Ermelindo Acal
Alcalde of Bladen
- AA
Member
Adandino Ack
Alcalde of Otoxha
- RS
Member
Roman Sho
Alcalde of Blue Creek Village
Maya Leaders Alliance
An alliance of Maya organisations and leaders. The Maya Leaders Alliance works to advance Maya land rights in Belize and internationally, and was among the claimants in the land-rights cases that led to the 2015 Consent Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
How we work together
The Maya land-rights journey is the work of the Maya people and their institutions. Each organisation plays its own part.
Maya Leaders Alliance
An alliance of Maya organisations and leaders advancing Maya land rights in Belize and internationally.
About the MLA
Julian Cho Society
The fiduciary organisation of the movement, providing technical, legal and secretariat support to the TAA and the Maya villages.
About JCSToledo Alcaldes Association
The body of traditional village leaders, the alcaldes, who represent the Maya villages and uphold Maya governance.
About the TAAShared achievements
- 2015: The Maya people, through the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association, secured the Consent Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice affirming their rights to their lands and resources, with support from JCS.
- 2016 to 2021: The Maya people and the Government of Belize took fifteen steps to implement the Consent Order, from The Agreement to a dispute resolution framework and a delimitation methodology.
- 2020: Maya villages consented to auto-delimitation and began identifying their lands, harmonising boundaries with their neighbours and preparing maps.
- Court of Appeal: The Maya village of Jalacte won a major victory at the Court of Appeal.
