Radio Ixchel is an Indigenous Kaqchikel community radio station founded in Sumpango, Sacatepéquez, in 2003. It remains on the air despite numerous raids and instances of criminalization it has faced over the years. The radio station was established due to the lack of media representation for the Kaqchikel people, their languages, culture and needs. Currently, Radio Ixchel is a key reference in the Guatemalan Indigenous radio movement, prioritizing the inclusion of voices from women, youth, children and other Indigenous sectors historically marginalized from the media. This approach has made Radio Ixchel a space that promotes community and collective participation.

CADF attendees are invited to visit Radio Ixchel not only because of its impactful history, but also because it is one of the four radio stations that testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case “Pueblos Indígenas Maya Kaqchikel de Sumpango vs. Guatemala,” where the Court ruled in favor of the four Indigenous community radios.

Duration: 3.5 hours
Departure time: 8:30am
Departure location: Site Visit Meeting Point at Casa Santo Domingo
Time on bus: 25 minutes
Language: Spanish
Food/drinks: Not provided
Maximum capacity: 40 people
Is there still space in this site visit? Yes

Register: To participate in this site visit, attendees must sign up directly via Cultural Survival. Please register to participate via this form and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Registration is only available to CADF 2024 attendees.