The Traditional Mayan Home

Dr. Aurelio Sánchez presents his documentary Ichil xa'anil naj: A cultural landscape frequently depicted in postcards and paintings, the traditional Maya house has been stereotyped as the commercial face of Maya identity. Yet, the reality is that the stigma of it being a "poor person's home" is pressuring new generations to abandon or destroy these dwellings—and, in doing so, to lose the ancient knowledge behind a housing style that achieved perfection of its kind. This documentary captures the voices of residents living in huano — palm houses — within a Maya community on the Yucatán Peninsula, revealing a different side of this identity and the challenges facing this biocultural heritage.

This documentary is in Spanish with English subtitles.

About Dr. Aurelio Sánchez

Aurelio Sánchez Suárez is a Maya scholar originally from Nunkiní and a Research Professor at the Social Sciences Unit of UADY.

He is an architect holding a Master’s degree in Restoration from INAH’s ENCRYM and a Doctorate in Architecture from UNAM, having also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UNAM’s Coordination of Humanities.

His research focuses on the safeguarding of cultural and biocultural heritage, cultural landscapes, vernacular heritage, territory, and Maya knowledge and culture; he has coordinated inter- and transdisciplinary research projects and published work in both domestic and international books and journals.

He is a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) and an expert member of several ICOMOS international scientific committees: the International Committee on Vernacular Architecture, the International Committee on Wood, and the International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage.