Los Abuelos Árboles y los árboles de nuestros abuelos
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Abuelas y abuelos árboles
The radio play is a collaborative project with:
This article is also available in Spanish and German.
Abuelas y abuelos árboles (Grandmothers and Grandfathers Trees) is a radio play in eight episodes that tells the story of Felícitas, a 13-year-old schoolgirl who lives in Mozón, a village where corn no longer grows and there is a great famine. It is said that the ancient inhabitants of other areas survived hardships like these thanks to the trees. The search for a solution has led Felícitas to the peculiar village of Yuum Báalam Kaaj. It is said that this is the birthplace of trees and their home until today. With a backpack on her shoulders and a voice recorder in her hand, Felícitas sets off in search of the knowledge, fruits and seeds that could help her save her village.
Episode 1: K'úumche': Trees Against Hunger
Felícitas begins to discover Yuum Báalam Kaaj. The village in the middle of the forest seems to be full of adventure and unconventional inhabitants. When she meets a mysterious, wise grandmother, Felícitas begins to understand why fate has led her here.
Episode 2: Oop: The Forrest of Memories
Who lives in the forests and fields? Who cares for them? Through the memories of Casimira and Marcelo, Felicitas learns about the protectors of lands - and how to find them in the sounds that surround us.
Episode 3: Báalche’: The Whirling Flower
A strange scent leads the residents of Yuum Báalam Kaaj to an eerie discovery. In order to help, Felícitas must take decisions and do her best to bring the people around her together.
Episode 4: Pich: The House of Wasps
Can generosity fight hunger? Or can wasps? Felícitas follows Doña Eustaquia's wasps and learns an important lesson about life in nature – and those who own it.
Episode 5: Óox: Three Gifts
In search of a place where they can settle down and start a new life, two peasants embark on a dangerous journey. Felícitas gets to know their story and learns how important it is to make allies and to listen to nature’s voices.
Episode 6: Ya’: The Tree that Melts in Your Mouth
Who are the rubber men? Why are they afraid to wander into the mountains? Felícitas must gain the trust of two strange figures to find answers.
Episodio 7: Chéechem yéetel Chakaj: Two Unequal brothers
On the edge of Yuum Báalam Kaaj, Felícitas loses her strength and falls ill. Help and relief come from an unexpected source.
Episode 8: Ya’axche’: A Spiky Grandmother
Felícitas is already preparing for her return to Mozón when Atilano, a former inhabitant of Yuum Báalam Kaaj, appears. Night after night, he materializes always with the same purpose - to tell travelers his story about Ya'axche' and to warn them...
Abuelas y abuelos árbolesYou can listen to the episodes here below in the gallery of the page.
The episodes can be downloaded for free and for personal and non-profit use only. They must not be altered, and all credits must be acknowledged always.
You can also find the episodes on Spotify: Abuelas y abuelos árboles and on our YouTube channel.
Educational material
Here in the gallery you will also find a pdf with additional educational material. It contains a few suggestions for activities that, together with the episodes of the radio play, can provide impulses for conversations, encounters and reflections on trees and our relationship to the world of plants. These are invitations that can be used, expanded and adapted according to need, context and questions.
You can download and print out the material free of charge.
The material has been developed by Julian Dzul Nah and Abrahán Collí Tun.
Abuelas y abuelos árbolesCredits:
Abuelas y abuelos árboles is a colaborative project of Escuela de agricultura ecológica U Yits Ka'an, Spore Initiative, and U Yotoch Yuuyum.
Director: Salomé Ricalde
Adapted scipt: Janil Uc Tun.
Production: Alejandro J. Castilla Pinto, Pacífico Studios
Music and sound design: Alejandro J. Castilla Pinto
Coordination: Julián Dzul Nah and Abrahan Collí Tun
Actors and Actresses:
Mariana Yamá
Laura Zubieta
Jorge Chablé
Amanda Quezadas
Eleazar Estrella
Nicte-Ha Ku
Nirva González Moo
Itzel de la Cruz Gutiérrez
Miguel Péepen
U Yotoch Yúuyum, interdisciplinary collective
Maya language coach: Lorena Pool Balam
Illustration: Patricia Uh
The episodes are based on the orally shared stories by Ignacio León, Marcelo León Blanco and Atanacio Dzib from Dzemucut; Araceli Bacab from Maní; Severiana Pat and Tomás Poot from Tekom; Lucio Dzul from Montecristo; Javier Aguilar from Ticul, Mario Euan from Tabi, grandfathers and grandmothers of their communities, collected and recorded by U Yits Ka'an in collaboration with Radio XEPET, "La voz de los mayas".
