Xinka Delegation: Canada Must Respect Indigenous Self-Determination in Guatemala
The Maritimes–Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) will be hosting two Indigenous Xinka leaders from Guatemala during their national speaking tour (delegation details below and tour link here). Marta Muñoz and Marisol Guerra will share their struggle to defend their communities and self-determination in the face of Canadian mining interests. Their visit is an opportunity to deepen conversations about Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and international solidarity.
You are warmly invited to a community potluck dinner and public talk on September 15.
September 15 – Potluck Dinner, Banner Making, and Public Talk
When: Monday, September 15
6:00pm–7:00pm: Potluck dinner & banner-making in support of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC), as part of the Draw the Line global day of action on economic and climate justice. Learn more here.
7:00pm–8:30pm: Public talk with Xinka leaders Marta Muñoz and Marisol Guerra.
Where: Conserver House, 180 Saint John St., Fredericton
September 2025 – Xinka Delegation Description
Canada Must Respect Indigenous Self-Determination in Guatemala
#PuebloXinkaDijoNo
After nearly seven years in a court-ordered consultation process, the Xinka Indigenous People of Guatemala have denied consent for the restart of Canadian Pan American Silver’s Escobal mine in southern Guatemala. The Xinka are now calling for its permanent closure. The company and Canadian authorities must respect their decision in accord with their rights to self-determination.
From September 11-23, 2025, two Xinka women leaders, Marisol Guerra and Marta Muñoz, will visit the Maritimes, Toronto, and Ottawa to raise awareness about their struggle for self-determination and the health of their communities. They will speak to their concerns about the silver mine, threats and attacks against the Xinka People, the challenges they have faced during the consultation process, and their hopes for the future.
The risks of mining without the consent of the Xinka People are already clear based on the early years of the Escobal project.
The Escobal mine, originally owned by Tahoe Resources, was forced into production in early 2014 using violent repression by private security, police, and military, as well as a campaign to defame and criminalize community leaders. Several members of the resistance, including 16-year-old Topacio Reynoso, were murdered during this time. A shooting attack by the company’s security on peaceful protesters outside the mine in 2013 led to a civil lawsuit against the company in British Columbia courts. Pan American Silver settled the case with the Guatemalan plaintiffs in 2019.
Who will be joining the delegation?
Aura Marisol Guerra is an Indigenous Xinka woman and human rights defender from the community of Santa Rosa de Lima. She is the President of the Xinka Women’s Commission and was named by her community to participate in the seven-year consultation process over the future of Pan American Silver’s Escobal mine.
Marta Muñoz Montenegro is an Indigenous Xinka woman and human rights defender from the community of San Antonio Las Flores, Mataquescuintla, who was named by her community to participate in the seven-year consultation process over the future of Pan American Silver’s Escobal mine.
Delegation endorsed by:
Americas Policy Group coalition (APG)
Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC)
BC Casa-Cafe Justicia
Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability (CNCA)
Carleton University, Institute of Political Economy
Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC)
Codevelopment Canada
Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine (CDHAL)
Common Frontiers
Cooper Institute
Dalhousie University, Department of International Development Studies
Earthworks
Global Economy Program
Institute for Policy Studies
Inter Pares
Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS)
Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN)
Mining Justice Action Committee
Mining Justice Alliance
MiningWatch Canada
Saint Mary’s University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Saint Mary’s University, Department of Political Science and Global Development Studies
St. Thomas University, Sustainability and Environmental Studies Program
Trent University, Global Development Studies Department
Trent University, Human Rights and Global Justice Department
University of Ottawa, Observatory on Violence, Criminalization and Democracy
Victoria Central America Support Committee (VCASC)
Victoria Peace Coalition
