The Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas (FANA) constantly receives requests from Indigenous Nations/Tribes to become members, enter into treaties, or obtain Observer Status at FANA’s meetings.

Last week, I received notification that the Lenca Nation of Honduras and El Salvador and the Garifuna of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the United States were granted Observer Status to FANA.

Observer Status permits other Indigenous Nations to attend the FANA Chiefs Meetings and learn how FANA operates.  They do not have voting rights, but can contribute to the meetings and ask questions.

Many times, when an Indigenous Nation or Tribe wishes to become a member of FANA, they will ask for Observer Status.  They maintain that status for six months.  At the end of that period, FANA and the observer Nation/Tribe decide whether or not membership in FANA is granted.

Below is a short commentary on the Garifuna and Lenca Peoples.

The Garifuna

The Garifuna have populations in Honduras and the United States. Within those countries, they have established communities where they maintain their customs and remain in close contact with their mother countries.

Belize also has a substantial population and is home to the Garifuna Ambassador At Large, Mrs. Cynthia Ellis.  She represents all the Garifuna scattered along the East Coast of Central America and in cities/towns in the United States.

The Garifuna were originally from what is now St. Thomas, which is located in the Caribbean. In the 1700s, when the British government took control of the island, the Garifuna were forced to leave their ancestors' island and settle in what is now Honduras.

Over the years, the Garifuna continued to migrate into neighboring countries in what is now known as Central America.  Some emigrated to the United States from there.

Many reside in cities and neighboring areas in the United States and Canada.  However, they are farmers in Belize and in Dangriga.  They are also noted for their rich music heritage, and many tourists come to their restaurants and clubs to experience the music.

The Garifuna and FANA signed a Cooperative Agreement in August 2023.  Since then, I have gotten to know the Garifuna Ambassador At Large, Mrs. Ellis, and I will be visiting Belize in the not-too-distant future.

The Lenca

The Lenca originated in South America and moved to Central America. According to historical accounts, they were among the first indigenous people to settle in what is now Honduras and El Salvador. They were known to have interacted with the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Before the Spanish explorers, their number was estimated to be between 300,000 and 600,000, and their territory was known to have spanned approximately  16,000 miles.

As it was with the North American Indigenous peoples, the Lenca fell prey to the diseases brought to the Americas by the Europeans.  Their numbers were decimated, and by the mid-1500s, they had decreased to approximately 25,000.

Many of the Lenca are farmers and grow what is known as the three sisters: Maize, Squash, and Beans. They also plant a host of other crops, from wheat to citrus fruits. When not involved with farming, they hunt and fish. They also raise livestock.