Salvadoran indigenous peoples have been made invisible throughout history and their rights and aspirations have always been ignored by the ruling class. The governments in power have preferred to deny their existence rather than look after their welfare. However, little by little the Salvadoran indigenous peoples have become more and more visible, and their voice has begun to be heard. The Legislative Assembly amended the Constitution of the Republic in 2014, recognizing the existence of indigenous peoples in the country. The International Day of Indigenous Peoples becomes, every year, a platform that indigenous organizations take advantage of to demand from the government in power the vindication of their rights, which include, mainly, the recognition of their autonomy, the right to land and the protection and promotion of their indigenous languages and ancestral traditions.

Author: 

Jorge E. Lemus, Ph.D.
Linguistics professor
School of Languages and Education
Universidad Don Bosco
https://www.udb.edu.sv/udb/

Photo credit: EPSULA project, Jorge Lemus, 2023