For more than two decades, the community based organization Maya Visión has been dedicated to translation and interpretation of different Mayan languages for their speakers in local, state, and federal courts. Its members also provide this service in hospitals, for the Police, and for Immigration.

“The organization emerged from the necessity of immigrants who were being processed. In 1998, there were 155,000 asylum cases, most of whom were Mayas who did not understand the language, and whose rights were at risk,” explained Policarpo Chaj, executive director of Maya Visión. “We began to organize a group of interpreters, to hold trainings, and we registered with the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Currently, the organization has 17 interpreters, some of whom live in other states. They are contacted when their services are needed, and on occasion they travel to different cities around the country; they have even travelled to Puerto Rico to represent a Guatemalan on the island.

“Our work is paid by the court, not by the person. Many do not know that they have the constitutional right to an interpreter in their native language,” commented Jacobo Martí, interpreter, founding member, and current cultural coordinator for Maya Visión. “I have been an interpreter for 10 years, and I still remember the beginning. I got nervous in front of the judge because I was not that familiar with the process. Now I feel great satisfaction from being able to help people who need it; for example, when we served as interpreters for children who had gotten lost in the desert. We have had several cases.”

Martí added, “As interpreters, we have to be impartial, but it is hard to leave behind the human side of it when we hear these children, with no protection, who do not know anything about the system and often are pressured by the people who brought them here.”

Chaj mentioned the diversity of languages that exist in Latin America; among them are 30 Mayan languages.

“We are not Latinos in any way. We are Mayan, and our language is not derived from Latin, but from Mayan roots,” explained Chaj. “For us, the Spanish language was an imposition of the Spaniards who arrived to colonize us, and many still refuse to speak Spanish. Some do it only because they feel obligated to do so for survival.”

The organization works as a network of nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.

“When a Mayan is detained on the border, we have contacts with organizations in Arizona and Texas who call us to interpret by phone, and this is voluntary work,” said Chaj.

Among the languages spoken by the Mayan interpreters are K'iché, Kanjobal, Man, Cluj, Kakchikel, Kekchi, Achi, and Akareko.

Isabel Gaspar is a Mayan Indian originally from Huehuetenango, Guatemala. She spoke of the importance of the interpreting work done by the organization.

“I speak Spanish with difficulty. I cannot speak English, and I admire people who do. When the police stopped me, I preferred to call them so that they could interpret for me,” said Gaspar, whose native language is Kanjobal.

Maya Visión also promotes cultural activities to preserve the Mayan culture and identity, and to teach its values to children from the community born in this country.