00:00On September 15th, Guatemala celebrated its independence from Spain with school parades,
00:05official events and ceremonies that each year highlight national symbols and national identity.
00:10The celebration also raised questions about how the country's history is portrayed and
00:15the role played by its cultural diversity. In the same vein, sectors of society consider
00:20that the activities portray elements associated with a colonial and militarized vision of the
00:25nation while the cultures, languages and traditions of indigenous peoples have a
00:29presence that is sometimes reduced to folkloric expressions. The debate is particularly
00:34visible in the educational sphere, where parades are part of a widely spread tradition.
00:38In a multi-ethnic, multilingual and multicultural country, the commemoration brings a broader
00:44issue back to the forefront, which is how the concept of national identity is constructed.
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