Sarteneja#1

 Salvado por un jalon… Por Nora Scheunone Nora tenía 5 años cuando presenció el peor huracán de su vida. Era la segunda hija más joven de la señorita Dominga y el señor Peter Young. Wilhem, Wilhemina y Douglas eran los hermanos mayores de Nora, mientras que Madeline era la más joven. El siguiente pasaje es un recuento de los hechos ocurridos aquella noche del huracán Janet. Me quedé devastada con lágrimas corriendo por mis ojos al ver a mi madre navegar hacia el pueblo de Corozal en busca de atención médica para mi hermana menor, Madeline. Madeline tuvo fiebre fuerte durante los últimos días y necesitaba atención médica urgente. Wilhemina y Douglas acompañaron a mi madre en ese arriesgado viaje en bote a Corozal mientras Wilhem y yo teníamos que quedarnos con papá en Sarteneja. Después de partir esa tarde tormentosa, nos dirigimos a casa y nos preparamos para lo desconocido. Recuerdo claramente asegurar la casa y luego mudarme al refugio más tarde esa noche. Llegamos al refugio mientra

Saved by a tug….. By Nora Scheunone Nora was 5 years old when she witnessed the worst hurricane of her life. She was the second youngest daughter of Miss Dominga and Mr. Peter Young. Wilhem, Wilhemina, and Douglas were Nora's older siblings while Madeline was the youngest one. The following passage is a recount of the events that occurred that night of Hurricane Janet. I stood devastated with tears running down my eyes seeing my mother sailing to Corozal Town seeking medical attention for my younger sister Madeline. Madeline had a severe fever for the past few days and needed urgent medical attention. Wilhemina and Douglas accompanied my mother on that risky boat trip to Corozal while Wilhem and I had to stay with Dad in Sarteneja. After leaving on that stormy afternoon, we headed home and prepared for the unknown. I clearly remember securing the house and then moving to the shelter later that evening. We made it to the shelter while the storm was approaching. The winds starte

According to a number of elders and fluent Maya speakers the phrase "Tzaten-A-Ha" means "Give me water".  The phrase “Tza-ten-a-ha” was used by the Maya people who came to these shores when the village was first established in 1846. The area had new settlers but it was still visited by the ancient Maya of the peninsula. These visitors were native to Belize and probably to the ancient city that is now Sarteneja. ‘Tza-ten‐a‐ha’ was the phrase used by the Maya when they asked for water. The phrase ‘Tza-ten‐a‐ha’ means ‘give me water’ and not ‘water between the rocks’ as we are told by the internet. The Maya people stopped, rested and refilled their containers with fresh drinking water from the numerous wells created by their ancestors. The Maya visited these shores so often that the phrase became a common phrase for the new settlers. As the years went by, the people of this newly built community began calling their home: ‘Tza-ten‐a‐ha’ which was then contorted and tran

Janet…Swallowed by the Waters of the Bay Part 2    Jorge was 21 years old when the most powerful hurricane in the history of Northern Belize; Janet, slammed Sarteneja and left his entire community homeless. This is his story:   I remember the day when Janet came like a demolisher back in 1955. It was a very stormy morning due to an unusual cold front that was affecting our region. Despite this uncommon weather condition, my day started like any other day. I was at Punta Col, south of Sarteneja when I was informed that a very strong storm was about to hit Belize. This shocking news caused panic among the other fishermen in the area and they left everything to go back to their families. I was young and adventurous, this news didn’t cause a single drop of fear and so I continued as if nothing was happening.     I fished that entire afternoon until I caught enough fish to take back home. As I was paddling back around four in the evening, I became concerned when the winds started to pick up

  Janet…Saved by a Table… Narrated by Teodoro Verde My name is Teodoro Verde, but everybody knows me as “Toto” or simply “Pastor Toto”. I was 7 years old when I witnessed the worst hurricane of my life; Hurricane Janet. I was living along with my parents and two other siblings in a tiny thatch roof house about 5 blocks away from the sea. That morning we received some news that caught us off guard. A very strong storm was heading straight towards us. Despite that dreadful news, my father was confident that our thatch roof was strong enough to withstand a storm like Janet. He believed that there was no need to join the rest of the villagers at the community shelter. Even though my father was convinced of the house’s sturdiness, he still went on and secured the house with a few planks of wood and nails. Later that evening, the clouds made their appearance, and rain commenced falling gradually increasing to a heavy thunder shower, accompanied by gusty winds which lasted for sever

  Northeastern Maya Sites Sarteneja Peninsula and Shipstern Lagoon                 Northeaster Belize Maya sites include Sarteneja, Shipstern, Cenote(isla), Bandera, Aragon, Condemned Point, Condemned Point 11, Ramonal, Ramonal Lookout, Cave, Lagoon Islet, and Rocky Point. Evidence of Pre Classic inhabitation was found at Sarteneja and at Shipstern. During the classic period, at least ten settlements and large activity areas are known is northeaster Belize. At this time Sarteneja and Shipstern probably functioned as central places for the religions directly north and south, respectively of Shipstern lagoon. Both sites possibly had populations that exceeded 1,000 inhabitants. Continuation of settlements is maintained during the Early Post Classic and may have been particularly robust during the Late Post Classic.          A network of satellite communities including Aragon, Cave, Cenote, and Bandera surrounded Sarteneja durin