New Felipe Carrillo Puerto Museum Inauguration: A Historic Celebration

The Felipe Carrillo Puerto Historical Museum was recently inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa. The ceremony took place in the Mayan community of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a region known for its historical fight against racial inequality.

The museum, which was once an indigenous boarding school, now tells the story of 174 years of history. The first room showcases the legacy of courage and the relentless pursuit of autonomy, a key element of the Caste War. The second room explores the creation of ejidos and cooperatives that negotiated with foreign companies due to the high demand for gum during the two world wars.

In the third room, visitors can learn about the teaching of Spanish in the early 20th century, a change that was initially met with apprehension due to fears of eroding Mayan identity. By the 1950s, however, the benefits of bilingualism and education were recognized, thanks to the cultural mediation of teachers.

The fourth room honors the ancestral practices of milpa and beekeeping with the Melipona bee, practices that promote sustainability and reflect the Mayan worldview. This room also presents the advent of tourism activity in 1971, which brought new development opportunities that sometimes clashed with traditional activities.

The fifth room is dedicated to popular Mayan art, which is closely linked to spirituality. It offers a display that beautifies the environment and connects visitors with the roots of Mayan culture, exploring the relationship between human creativity and the sacred.

The authorities arrived at Carrillo Puerto on the Mayan Train from Tulum, before moving to the city center where the museum is located. President López Obrador expressed his gratitude to the Mayan people for their support of the Fourth Transformation, a peaceful movement driven by the people. He also noted that his administration had successfully reduced poverty and inequality to levels not seen in 50 years, with nearly 10 million Mexicans lifted out of poverty from 2018 to 2023, according to the World Bank.

Incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to continue the principles of the Fourth Transformation in her administration, with a particular emphasis on recognizing women's work.

Governor Mara Lezama thanked President López Obrador for restoring hope and for his unwavering commitment to transformation. She emphasized that the renovated museum aims to keep alive the memory of a tenacious and rebellious people in search of their ideals, as well as the heroes of the Mayan social movement. She also highlighted the story of María Uicab, a woman ahead of her time who was recognized as a queen priestess and military chief of the cruzo'ob, and who played a crucial role in the Mayan resistance.

Lezama concluded by stating that these works mark a new way of governing, one in which prosperity is shared.