People of the Mercado

Policarpo Eladio Chaj López, led a life of innumerable selfless acts in service to others and an unwavering commitment to the political and spiritual advancement of the Mayan people.  Gifted with wisdom, forward vision, healing abilities, and the drive to make things happen, Policarpo became a beacon of hope for many in the often-disenfranchised indigenous communities.

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Policarpo was born in the rural village of Rancho de Teja, in the municipality of San Francisco el Alto, Totonicapán Department, Guatemala, where the seed of his Mayan spirituality was planted. Policarpo grew up in a bilingual household, both of his parents spoke Spanish and K’iche’, something that would later equip him to bring about impactful change in a foreign court system. From a young age, Policarpo exhibited a strong work ethic and a natural curiosity for life beyond his small town. At the age of 13, upon completing his basic education, Policarpo left home in search of other opportunities, first, he went to other regions in Guatemala and later to México. Each adventure would eventually lead Policarpo back to his hometown. The backdrop of his youth, picturesque mountains, tropical fauna, and majestic rivers, was stained by the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996). Policarpo witnessed the atrocities inflicted upon the indigenous community and like so many other young indigenous men, he lived under the constant threat of being forcefully recruited or assassinated by the military forces. His understanding of the political climate along with his yearning to see other parts of the world prompted Policarpo to migrate to the United States at the age of 18.

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Hundreds of miles away from his beloved country, Policarpo settled in Los Angeles where he slowly began connecting with other Guatemalans and recognizing the great need that existed among his compatriots.  Policarpo considered himself blessed in his ability to navigate life in a new country. He learned, however, that for many indigenous Guatemalans adapting to a new country, new systems and new rules without understanding the predominant languages, English and Spanish, was setting them up to fail in their quest for asylum. Policarpo, along with a group of about 20 like-minded individuals, representing the wide array of Mayan ethnic groups, founded Maya Vision in February of 2003.  Initially, the organization was formed to provide and advocate for, Mayan language interpreters in court hearings but quickly grew to become a multi-ethnic social action organization that mobilizes to meet the most pressing needs of the indigenous community. At the same time, Policarpo immersed himself in learning the court process, launching his 20-year career as a Maya K’iche’ interpreter.

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In addition to being an interpreter, Policarpo dove deep into Maya spirituality, soaking up as much learning as he could about Maya Cosmo-vision, which greatly influenced his intimate relationships with those around him. A visionary beyond his years, Policarpo became a spiritual healer and advisor in the indigenous community promoting the preservation of the Maya traditions and the peaceful  resolution of conflicts among people.   Unfortunately, Policarpo’s life was cut short too soon on February 16, 2021, due to COVID-19 complications leaving an enormous void for family, friends, and the entire indigenous community.