At the turn of the century, 5 Kekchi Indian families fled Guatemala and
established a village at the current site of Blue Creek under the name Rio Blanco. They
escaped their reservations under the cover of night to find peace in Belize. At that time
they only spoke Kekchi and some Spanish and owned only what they could carry on their
backs.
When they settled a little down river from the present village location, they met other
Indians who were living in caves higher up the river. In exchange for salt the Kekchi
received Cacao beans, the only traditionally accepted currency, from the cave Indians, and
established a trading relationship.
The lifestyle of the people then was entirely dependent on subsistence agriculture,
gathering and traditional tool making. People used clay pots to cook their food over
fires. Their dishes were made of clay and calabash. They lived in houses little different
from the ones found in the village today, with thatch roofs and slat board walls held
together with twine made from bark. They slept in hammocks and didn't have any tables or
chairs. They grew their own cotton, and knitted their own cloth. In spite of the
rudimentary conditions, Rio Blanco prospered in a beautiful and peaceful environment.
In 1942 Hurricane Hattie destroyed the entire village and much of the rainforest. All
Belize was touched, but nothing remained in Rio Blanco. The survivors of Rio Blanco moved
to the surrounding villages of San Miguel de Columbia, Laguana, and particularly to the
closest village of Aguacate. In the 1950's emigrant Mopan Mayans filtered in from San
Antonio, the biggest town in the valley, where they had fled to escape the war in San Luis
(Peten, Guatemala). When they discovered the beautiful river, they named their village
Blue Creek. The Kekchi families who originally lived in Rio Blanco joined the Mopan Mayas
in Blue Creek. The two cultures were similar and people intermarried and learned both
languages.
In terms of outside influences, religion has had the most profound effect on the
village. In the late '60's the first Catholic Church was established. Most of the Mopan
from Guatemala were already Catholic, and many of the Kekchi followed suit. Soon after,
Baptists, Mennonites and House of Prayers Churches arrived as well. Most church groups
were integrated peacefully to the village with little change in daily life. However, the
Mennonite's arrival in the '70's caused some strife. In order to get people to join their
church some now complain of some coercion or of favors promised and given with
strings attached. When they first arrived, 70% of the population joined their church.
After villagers joined their church, Mennonites started to impose restrictive rules on the
people which divided the villagers from the non-converts. Today most families have left
the Mennonite community, but missionaries remain in the village.
In the 70's the first school was made by a joint effort between the Catholic Church and
the government. In the 70's as well, an American biologist known by his first name Fred,
discovered Blue Creek and fell in love with the place. He built the Blue Creek Forest
Lodge as a part of an educational research tour company named IZE (International
Zoological Expeditions). His goal was to help the villagers, preserve some of the
rainforest and offer a special place for students to learn about natural rainforest
ecology.
In the 80's villagers petitioned to the government to become independent from the town
of Aguacate. They created their own town government and mayoral system which they call the
alcalde and village counsel.
Today 40 families live in Blue Creek. Most are farmers in some capacity. A married
couple has an average of eight or nine children. The village occupies 500 acres of
government land. There is a little bit of tension with their wealthier neighbors, the 5
families of Mennonites which own 200 acres next to the village. As well, occasional
disputes arise from the changing economics of the town as new outside financial pressures
affect the village. However little has changed. That will change soon as electricity
enters the village and increasing numbers of young people venture out in search of work
and education.
Ignacio Coc, a Kekchi Indian native from Blue Creek, started managing the IZE lodge in
1996 and has started to work on various projects with IZE to improve the living conditions
of the villagers and ensure a healthy future based on limited economic development and
retention of traditional ways. Their focus today is mainly on education and transforming
Blue Creek into an eco-tourism success.