BOARD OF ADVISORS
Kawoq Baldomero Cuma, Licenciado
Kaqchikel language activist, teacher, author, and Maya Spiritual Guide (Ajq’ij). Author of three books (“Pensamiento Filosófico y Espiritualidad Maya”, “Runataxik, Qak’aslem: Reviviendo Nuestra Cultura”, and “Tawetamaj Kaqchikel: Aprenda Kaqchikel, Camino Para Entender la Cosmovisión”). A native Kaqchikel speaker from the town of Santa Maria de Jesús, Kawoq has over two decades of experience as a professional language teacher and has collaborated with language and culture courses hosted by USAC (Guatemala), Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, The University of New Orleans, and The University of Redlands.
Maria Tomás Gaspar
My name is Maria Gaspar. I Live in Greenville, South Carolina and I am a freelance interpreter in the following language pairs: Chuj<>English Spanish<>English. I am an immigrant from Guatemala, born in San Sebastian Coatan in the highlands of Huehuetenango. I was blessed and privileged to be born in a village where one of the indigenous languages are spoken, and I am thankful for it. Chuj, one of the many Indigenous Mayan languages from Guatemala is one of the language pairs that I interpret in. Being able to learn it during my childhood was the greatest gift because it does not only represent who I am and where I come from, but it also gives me a chance to help others. I am proud to share it with others. Facing some hardships of learning and adapting to another culture and language, was not easy however it has helped me learn and understand the struggles that many immigrants are facing coming to the USA not being able to speak or understand another language and culture. Being an interpreter is my passion because it gives me the opportunity to serve and help others and make their lives somewhat easier with communication especially in the Chuj community by breaking the barriers of languages, which are both fulfilling and rewarding. With the easy access to internet and other sources of information nowadays, children now growing up are being taught in Spanish at school even in their hometowns without access to learning materials that will also teach them to read or write in their indigenous languages, therefore our languages are slowly disappearing. My hope and goal with this group are that hopefully in the years to come children and adults will be able to find a place for learning and teaching these languages that will always represent who we are and pass it down to generations and keep them alive because it represents who we are. Being part of this project to me is very special and exciting and also necessary in the hopes of achieving just that.
I am a Court certified Interpreter ATA & CATI member Recipient of ATA & AFTI Membership Diversity Award for Indigenous Language Interpreters at #ATA64 Miami
Dr. Stephanie Wood, Ph.D
Dr. Stephanie Wood directs the collaborative Wired Humanities Projects, founded at the University of Oregon but now independent. She helped design and still contributes daily to the searchable database behind the Online Nahuatl Dictionary, which has over 150,000 users annually. This dictionary enjoys contributions from John Sullivan and a large team of native speakers of the Zacatecas Institute for Teaching and Research in Ethnology (IDIEZ). She is also building the Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs, with searchable detailed descriptions and analysis of over 5,000 Nahuatl glyphs (as of May 2024). Another searchable digital collection designed by Dr. Wood is called the Mapas Project, which comprises Indigenous-authored pictorial manuscripts with added transcriptions and translations. She has written one monograph, edited five anthologies, and published dozens of articles in print. She has been awarded all or parts of 14 grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and over 11 years of funding from the National Park Service for books and Indigenous-authored online curriculum, Honoring Tribal Legacies. She recently held the Kislak Chair at the Library of Congress (2022–23) in recognition of her work with Nahuatl.
Misael Itzep
Languages spoken: K’iche, Achi, Spanish and English.
Occupation: Interpreter
Place of residence: I live in the beautiful state of California
I am very enthusiastic about being part of this project, I believe that it is important to preserve the Mayan languages, not only in the forms spoken locally, but also at the level of the needs of migrant groups that are beginning to develop in another country and in another language.
Gaspar Tomas
“Txajineq’teq’ hemasanil, jun skawil hek’ul, k’al hewatx’ jayub’al” Greetings and a warm welcome to all. My name is Gaspar Tomas. Maya Interpreter (Q’anjob’al and Akateko), Graphic Designer of Maya Iconography, and founder of Neo-Q’anjob’al(Maya youth group). First Generation Maya American, born and raised in Laurens, South Carolina with roots from Jolom Konob’ (Santa Eulalia) and Paiconop Grande (San Miguel Acatán) Huehuetenango, Guatemala. As a descendant and speaker of both linguistic groups, I’ve made it a personal goal to revive and replant as much of our ancestral knowledge within the borders of the U.S. so that the younger generation may be exposed to their ancestral identity. With this being said, I’m beyond excited to be part of this marvelous project and ready to overcome any challenges. So that this project may thrive and flourish with both ancient and modern knowledge, to provide a voice to the grandsons and granddaughters of all Maya nations in this ever-changing world.