TIMELINE-People of Belize
BS 2.11 Research and create an annotated timeline to describe the emergence or first major arrival of the Creole, Garifuna, Mennonite, Mestizo, EastIndian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Central Americans and the modern Q'eqchi, Mopan and Yucatec ethnic groups.
Acient Mayas were living throughout Belize. Their descendants are the Yucatec Maya, Kekchi Maya, and Mopan Maya
200-800 A.D.
The Modern Day Mayas
The Mayas of today are the descendants of the ancient Mayas who lived in Belize hundreds of years ago, before the arrival of the Spaniards and British. The 3 groups of Mayas that are in Belize are Yucatec Maya, Kekchi Maya, and Mopan Maya. The Yucatec Mayas live in Yo Creek, Cha Chen and Xaibe. The Mopan Mayas can be found in the south, San Anonio, San Jose, and Na Lum Caj. The Kekchi live in southern villages such as Jalacte, Aguacate and Santa Teresa.
Mayan Children of Belize
Do you know any Mayan person?
1700
The Creoles are the descendants or a mixture of the enslaved Africans (who were brought from West Africa) and the British (from Europe, Great Britain) settlers
A Creole Child
Little girl dressed in Creole clothes
Can you spot a Creole classmate?
Creole in Belize
The Creoles has in existence since the 1700s in Belize City, but also live in Creole villages that are located along the Sibun River, the Phillip Goldson and George Price Highways. Some of these villages are Flowers Bank, More Tomorrow and Crooked Tree.
*1802
The Garinagu is another ethnic group that has a mixture of Africans.
“In 1675, a ship with a cargo of enslaved Africans was wrecked near the tiny island of Becquia near St. Vincent (West Indies).
At the time, Caribs who were on the island welcomed the slaves. Union between them gave birth to the Black Caribs or Garinagu.
The Garinagu in the Caribbean
The Garinagu spread to St Vincent wish is one of the Island, In 1795, after they rebelled against the British and their leader Joseph Chatoyer was killed, many of them were sent to the Balliceaux, Becquia, islands and then later to Roatan and Bonacca islands off the coast of Honduras.
The Garinagu in Belize
By 1802, 150 Garinagu had already settled in Belize. The largest group of Garinagu arrived in Belize City 19th November 1832. Garinagu settled in Punta Gorda, Dangriga, Hopkins, Stann Creek. The majority of the Garinagu live in the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts.
Garifuna Children
Children on Garifuna Settlement Day
Have you seen the re-enactment of the Garinagu arrival to Belize?
1847
The Mestizos are a mixture of Maya and Spanish that came to Belize in 1847.
The Mestizos came during the Caste War that was happening in Yucatan Mexico.
They mostly live in the North in Corozal and Orange Walk and West in Cayo.
Why did Mestizos come to Belize?
The Mestizos in Belize
They mostly live in the North in Corozal and Orange Walk and West in Cayo.
Mestizo
Children
What do you think about her clothing?
1850s
The Middle Easterns are the Lebanese, Palestine and Syrians who are mostly merchants. They are found in all districts, especially in Belize District.
The Middle Easterns came to Belize for a better life.
Why did Middle Easterns come to Belize?
The Middle Easterns in Belize
The Lebanese and the Palestinians did bartering (exchanged goods and services instead of using money).
Middle Eastern
Family
Mother and daughter enjoying the view,
Why do you think they are dressed that way?
Young Lebanese girl in Belize
1857
The East Indians were brought from India to Belize in the 1800s to work on sugar plantations.
Oral tradition says that East Indians were first brought in 1857 after a war in India. The first group settled in Calcutta Village in Corozal.
Then in 1860s another group came from Jamaica for arranged work called ‘indentureship.’
Major East Indian settlements in Belize are Corozal, Belize City and Toledo.
Another Group of East Indians
East Indian Children
East Indian girls and boy
In 1865 about 470 Chinese came from China to Belize to work on sugar plantations.
1865
Then another group came from Mexico and Central America.
In 1989, Belize and Taiwan made agreements and citizens from Taiwan started to come to live in Belize.
Chinese and Taiwanese
Images of Chinese and Taiwanese
Do you have a Chinese friend?
The Mennonites faced many persecutions in Europe because of their religion.
1958
Why did the Mennonites come?
They left their original homeland in Prussia and moved to Russia, then Canada to the United States then Mexico to Belize.
The Mennonites arrived in Belize in 1958.
The Mennonites signed an agreement with the Belize government so that they do not join the army and other activities that are not a part of their culture.
Mennonites in their community
The Mennonites come to Belize to sell their vegetables and furniture.
They can also be found in their main communities- Shipyard and Blue Creek.
Where can they be found?
Many people who speak Spanish are immigrants from other countries in Central America.
They came to Belize for a better life. Since the 1960s, Central American immigrants have been coming to Belize.
1960
In Belize, we have immigrants from mainly Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Where are they mainly from?
Picture of Central American Children
Brothers from Central America