To be the first person to live in a given place. Examples of Indigenous peoples include people of Maya descent who are native to present-day Yucatán, Belize, and Guatemala areas; people of Aztec descent who are native to present-day Mexico City; and people of Ohlone, Miwok, and Ramaytush Ohlone descent who are native to present-day San Francisco and surrounding areas of the East Bay of California. 

There are many ways to define people who share similar experiences in the United States.  The general term "Latine"  or "Latinx" is more widely used to indicate origin from Latin America and the use of Spanish as one of the home languages  ( we can use the "e" or "x" ending to be inclusive of all genders) . The term "Chicane" or "Chicanx" typically refers to people with roots in Mexico and who have been in the United States for generations and may also speak Spanish or other languages besides English.  Latinx and Chicanx people have participated in struggles to recognize Spanish as their heritage language and for equal rights. For example, the labor rights struggle led by César E. Chávez, about whom you will learn a bit more on Day Three, supported the work rights of many agricultural and farm workers who were Latinx/Chicanx in origin (from Mexico and Central America) but who were experiencing labor exploitation. El censo de los Estados Unidos también usa el término "Hispanic"  para referirse a estas comunidades.

To have ancestors who are not native to the land you are from. Immigrants can also be settlers. Being a settler means knowing your place as a non-native residing in Indigenous lands while respecting Indigenous life, land, and knowledge. For example, famous explorers like Christopher Columbus were settlers who tried to erase Indigenous history. Actions like these have resulted in the forced displacement of many Indigenous communities in the Americas. Equally, we recognize that some immigrants and settlers, whom are Indigenous peoples from other places of the world, are settlers in a new country. Some people have had to sell their lands, others needed to look for better jobs, and others have been trying  to reunite their families. This is different from immigrants who benefit from claiming occupied Indigenous land as their own and without their permission. Despite this problematic and unresolved history, today we celebrate all Indigenous people, including Indigenous immigrants and their struggles for resistance and survival. For example, instead of Columbus Day many places now celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day. To recognize this history and the present lives of Indigenous people, we can say a Land Acknowledgement that remind us of our roles and responsabilities supporting Indigenous people on whose lands we live.

• Pages 4-5: Do you recognize any of these places? What languages do you speak? What languages would you like to learn?

• Page 6-7: Deportation, or living with the fear of deportation, is an unfortunate reality for many undocumented immigrants. We encourage you to recgonize these experiences to create a safe space for all students.

• Pages 8-9: Has anyone in the class ever visited México City? Do you recgonize the statue Chicano Jr. is looking at from his airplane window? 

• Pages 10-11: How exciting that Chicano Jr. gets to meet his grandparents! Also, how incredible it is that Chicano Jr. is able to speak multiple languages to communicate with different family members!

• Page 12: Has anyone in the class played one of these games? Which is your favorite? 

• Pages 14-21: Which one of these is your favorite food? Has anyone else eaten food that was too spicy for them? Why would this experience "officially make him a Mexican"?

• Pages 22-23: Does anyone feel that they have had similar experiences to Chicano Jr? Has anyone had experiences that they feel like Chicano Jr. could relate to? 

Nota sobre vocales y consonantes en maya yucateco: Maaya t'aan tiene 5 vocales simples como el español, a, e, i, o, u.  Además de las vocales simples hay 5 vocales largas: aa, ee, ii, oo, uu  y 5 vocales altas largas (áa, ée, íi, óo, úu).  El maya yucateco también tiene vocales rearticuladas (un cierre de la glotis) como la a'a, e'e, i'i, o'o, u'u).  Las consonantes incluyen consonantes glotalizadas, es decir, con sondio que articula la glotis. b, ch, j, k, k' , l, m, n, p, p', s, t, t', ts, ts', w, x, y.   

Conecta las palabras en español con su equivalente en maya.  Below is a matching activity to match the Spanish word to its Maya equivalent. The answer key can be found below!