Márquense Service Provider Network

Who are the Márquense people of San Marcos La Laguna?

The Márquenses are a resilient Kaqchikel Maya people whose origins are believed to be from the coastal region of Paquip, Guatemala. In 1584, they first settled in the Payan Chichoy Valley (modern-day Jaibalito), founding San Marcos Paquip.

After enduring multiple devastating mudslides, they resettled in the current location of San Marcos La Laguna in 1726. Despite ongoing challenges, including land disputes with neighboring San Pablo, the Márquenses continue to honor their heritage through cultural preservation, such as naming their local ball court Estadio Pakip after their ancestral home.

Reference: Muirhead, Bill. "The First San Marcos La Laguna." Lords of Atitlan, 2020. https://www.lordsofatitlan.com/blog/first-san-marcos-laguna/

The timeline below highlights key events in their history.

→ 1547 - The Maya people from Paquip, known as the Márquenses, leave their coastal homeland called Paquip ("land of the pacaya palm") in the region of present-day Patulul, Suchitepequez. - Possible reasons for their departure include legends of menacing mountain lions or vampire bats sent by a vengeful deity due to their refusal to convert to Catholicism, or more likely, oppressive conditions under Spanish encomenderos, including forced labor and excessive tribute demands following the recent Spanish conquest by Jorge de Alvarado. → Significant Events in 1547 - The Spanish establish municipal governments in Sololá and Santiago Atitlán. - The Maya population around Lake Atitlán declines drastically from approximately 48,000 to 5,600 due to infectious diseases introduced by Europeans, forced labor systems like repartimiento, and exploitation under the encomienda system. - Spanish friars relocate the Maya into urban centers like Santiago Atitlán to facilitate control, conversion to Catholicism, and exploitation. → 1547–1580 - The Márquenses settle in Cerro de Oro near Santiago Atitlán but are eventually evicted by the local Tzutujil people (Atiteco) in 1580. → 1580 - After eviction, the Márquenses cross Lake Atitlán to the Payan Chichoy Valley (modern-day Jaibalito), still within Tzutujil territory. They intermingle with Kaqchikel speakers from the mountains around San José Chacayá. → 1584 - The Marquenses establish the settlement of San Marcos Paquip in the Payan Chichoy Valley, naming it after their ancestral home. → Late 17th Century - The settlement's name changes to San Marcos La Laguna. → 1688 - A devastating mudslide destroys San Marcos Paquip for the first time. → 1702 - A second mudslide wreaks havoc on the settlement. → 1721 - A third catastrophic mudslide completely obliterates San Marcos Paquip, leading inhabitants to abandon the site. → 1724 - The Audiencia of the Corregimiento of Sololá-Atitlán grants the Márquenses land previously owned by San Pablo La Laguna. The Márquenses relocate to a small valley a few kilometers west of Jaibalito. → 1726 - The descendants of Paquip found the second San Marcos La Laguna at its present location. → Present Day - San Marcos La Laguna continues to exist but faces challenges such as land scarcity and isolation. Ongoing land disputes persist with neighboring San Pablo La Laguna, which holds deeds to much of San Marcos's land. Despite hardships, the town honors its heritage by naming its sports facility Estadio Pakip, preserving the history and resilience of its people. Reference: Muirhead, Bill. "The First San Marcos La Laguna." Lords of Atitlan, 2020. https://www.lordsofatitlan.com/blog/first-san-marcos-laguna/

This directory centers the contributions of Márquenses, offering a resource to connect with local individuals who are committed to their work.

As visitors or residents benefiting from local services, it is important to educate yourselves about fair wages and the rights of those providing these services.

Respecting the self-determination of the Márquense people means honoring their requested rates for services and ensuring they are treated with dignity and fairness.

If you engage someone for regular work, even informally or if paying in cash, workers are entitled to the following mandatory bonuses:

Aguinaldo (Christmas bonus): Equivalent to one month’s salary, to be paid by December 15th.
Bono 14: Also equivalent to one month’s salary, to be paid by July 15th.

By upholding these legal standards and ensuring fair pay, you contribute to a more just and equitable relationship with the local community, supporting both their livelihoods and their self-determination.

Recreation Directory

Márquense Service Provider Network

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