good evening it’s a special honor for me to be here at National Geographic
to be here at National Geographic
to be here at National Geographic because probably if I was born again I
because probably if I was born again I
because probably if I was born again I would give it a try to be part of this
would give it a try to be part of this
would give it a try to be part of this organization my poor kids all my life
organization my poor kids all my life
organization my poor kids all my life whenever we went on vacation once they
whenever we went on vacation once they
whenever we went on vacation once they told my little daughter said that why do
told my little daughter said that why do
told my little daughter said that why do we always end up in the boondocks
we always end up in the boondocks
we always end up in the boondocks because the passion to go to the jungle
because the passion to go to the jungle
because the passion to go to the jungle to go to the countryside to to go see
to go to the countryside to to go see
to go to the countryside to to go see nature and be close to it was close to
nature and be close to it was close to
nature and be close to it was close to my heart had a pleasure and honor to
my heart had a pleasure and honor to
my heart had a pleasure and honor to meet Bill Garrett when he was editor of
meet Bill Garrett when he was editor of
meet Bill Garrett when he was editor of the magazine I went to hear him speak at
the magazine I went to hear him speak at
the magazine I went to hear him speak at a university in Ando death had nothing
a university in Ando death had nothing
a university in Ando death had nothing to do there other than wanted to go hear
to do there other than wanted to go hear
to do there other than wanted to go hear him speak and we became very good
him speak and we became very good
him speak and we became very good friends and I enjoyed wonderful trips
friends and I enjoyed wonderful trips
friends and I enjoyed wonderful trips with him to Maya sites and photography
with him to Maya sites and photography
with him to Maya sites and photography and learned a lot from Bill Garrett he
and learned a lot from Bill Garrett he
and learned a lot from Bill Garrett he was a founder of the this wonderful
was a founder of the this wonderful
was a founder of the this wonderful organization incorporated here in
organization incorporated here in
organization incorporated here in Virginia La Ruta Maya Conservation
Virginia La Ruta Maya Conservation
Virginia La Ruta Maya Conservation Foundation and his vision was to
Foundation and his vision was to
Foundation and his vision was to preserve my heritage in different ways
preserve my heritage in different ways
preserve my heritage in different ways and and I took the presidency of this
and and I took the presidency of this
and and I took the presidency of this organization and took it to a different
organization and took it to a different
organization and took it to a different to a different emphasis in in and tried
to a different emphasis in in and tried
to a different emphasis in in and tried to do with it the best we could to
to do with it the best we could to
to do with it the best we could to preserve this heritage for what
preserve this heritage for what
preserve this heritage for what emmalin’s the piece you see on screen is
emmalin’s the piece you see on screen is
emmalin’s the piece you see on screen is is called the Cancun panel it narrates
is called the Cancun panel it narrates
is called the Cancun panel it narrates the history of the kings of Canaan their
the history of the kings of Canaan their
the history of the kings of Canaan their heritage who the who they fought who
heritage who the who they fought who
heritage who the who they fought who they captured and so forth a very
they captured and so forth a very
they captured and so forth a very important archaeological piece that the
important archaeological piece that the
important archaeological piece that the foundation acquired and it keeps today
foundation acquired and it keeps today
foundation acquired and it keeps today it offers to museums as this piece has
it offers to museums as this piece has
it offers to museums as this piece has traveled to world visiting museums and
traveled to world visiting museums and
traveled to world visiting museums and we are constantly putting it on loan for
we are constantly putting it on loan for
we are constantly putting it on loan for exhibits locally so we promote education
exhibits locally so we promote education
exhibits locally so we promote education and we are also trying to to archive and
and we are also trying to to archive and
and we are also trying to to archive and document everything that the collection
document everything that the collection
document everything that the collection has these pieces on screen are visors
has these pieces on screen are visors
has these pieces on screen are visors that were acquired here in the United
that were acquired here in the United
that were acquired here in the United States were received as donations here
States were received as donations here
States were received as donations here in the United States that were sent back
in the United States that were sent back
in the United States that were sent back home the piece here on the left is very
home the piece here on the left is very
home the piece here on the left is very important because that little Mickey
important because that little Mickey
important because that little Mickey Mouse guy with the ears on the bottom is
Mouse guy with the ears on the bottom is
Mouse guy with the ears on the bottom is done
done
done it’s a glyph for Mirador a site in the
it’s a glyph for Mirador a site in the
it’s a glyph for Mirador a site in the jungle so what I’m at a pre classic site
jungle so what I’m at a pre classic site
jungle so what I’m at a pre classic site and this glass was used to drink
and this glass was used to drink
and this glass was used to drink chocolate by the king when he was
chocolate by the king when he was
chocolate by the king when he was appointed King and around the VAS it
appointed King and around the VAS it
appointed King and around the VAS it says who his grandfather was who his
says who his grandfather was who his
says who his grandfather was who his father was who he is and today he’s
father was who he is and today he’s
father was who he is and today he’s appointed king of Mirador with the dates
appointed king of Mirador with the dates
appointed king of Mirador with the dates of all this so this is called an
of all this so this is called an
of all this so this is called an ascension cup archaeologically extremely
ascension cup archaeologically extremely
ascension cup archaeologically extremely interesting and extremely valuable this
interesting and extremely valuable this
interesting and extremely valuable this piece was donated by a collector here in
piece was donated by a collector here in
piece was donated by a collector here in United States and so piece is very
United States and so piece is very
United States and so piece is very artistic or archaeologically very
artistic or archaeologically very
artistic or archaeologically very important are what we are endeavoring to
important are what we are endeavoring to
important are what we are endeavoring to to bring to what emmalin’s through the
to bring to what emmalin’s through the
to bring to what emmalin’s through the to the collection
to the collection
to the collection we brought a container of pieces out of
we brought a container of pieces out of
we brought a container of pieces out of the United States and one shipment
the United States and one shipment
the United States and one shipment Sophia Pat is the executive director of
Sophia Pat is the executive director of
Sophia Pat is the executive director of the foundation you can see her smile on
the foundation you can see her smile on
the foundation you can see her smile on the face because she was so happy these
the face because she was so happy these
the face because she was so happy these pieces were coming back home bring the
pieces were coming back home bring the
pieces were coming back home bring the pieces back to what Amala
pieces back to what Amala
pieces back to what Amala is not a simple story there’s no
is not a simple story there’s no
is not a simple story there’s no legislation to bring them into the
legislation to bring them into the
legislation to bring them into the country so I bumped into customs with
country so I bumped into customs with
country so I bumped into customs with legislation that treats this these
legislation that treats this these
legislation that treats this these pieces that are Guatemalan pieces as
pieces that are Guatemalan pieces as
pieces that are Guatemalan pieces as merchandise they want us to pay duties
merchandise they want us to pay duties
merchandise they want us to pay duties when we bring them in I raise hell and I
when we bring them in I raise hell and I
when we bring them in I raise hell and I don’t pay the duties and I find a way to
don’t pay the duties and I find a way to
don’t pay the duties and I find a way to bring them in because I was so offended
bring them in because I was so offended
bring them in because I was so offended when they told me that we had a paid
when they told me that we had a paid
when they told me that we had a paid Duty I say these are Guatemalans coming
Duty I say these are Guatemalans coming
Duty I say these are Guatemalans coming back to Guatemala you cannot charge us
back to Guatemala you cannot charge us
back to Guatemala you cannot charge us for it in I even threatened to take him
for it in I even threatened to take him
for it in I even threatened to take him back bring him back to the States
back bring him back to the States
back bring him back to the States and
and
and but the truth is the fellow from custom
but the truth is the fellow from custom
but the truth is the fellow from custom says please don’t be angry with me I
says please don’t be angry with me I
says please don’t be angry with me I just don’t have legislation
just don’t have legislation
just don’t have legislation to back me up and I have to charge the
to back me up and I have to charge the
to back me up and I have to charge the duty so I got the Ministry of Culture to
duty so I got the Ministry of Culture to
duty so I got the Ministry of Culture to to run them through customs for me and
to run them through customs for me and
to run them through customs for me and they avoided the law and they we did not
they avoided the law and they we did not
they avoided the law and they we did not pay we did not pay the duties we have a
pay we did not pay the duties we have a
pay we did not pay the duties we have a law right now in hands of Congress that
law right now in hands of Congress that
law right now in hands of Congress that we have worked and spent quite a bit of
we have worked and spent quite a bit of
we have worked and spent quite a bit of an effort to correct this so we can in
an effort to correct this so we can in
an effort to correct this so we can in the future import these pieces legally
the future import these pieces legally
the future import these pieces legally in 2012 we bought these pieces in
in 2012 we bought these pieces in
in 2012 we bought these pieces in California they were part of a private
California they were part of a private
California they were part of a private collection very important pieces this
collection very important pieces this
collection very important pieces this these are part of a staircase of the of
these are part of a staircase of the of
these are part of a staircase of the of La Coruna a very important site that
La Coruna a very important site that
La Coruna a very important site that archaeologists were crazy looking for
archaeologists were crazy looking for
archaeologists were crazy looking for because they only knew by reference for
because they only knew by reference for
because they only knew by reference for the other side that La Coruna existed
the other side that La Coruna existed
the other side that La Coruna existed and it was finally found these pieces
and it was finally found these pieces
and it was finally found these pieces the companion of these pieces are in
the companion of these pieces are in
the companion of these pieces are in American museums illegally we’re going
American museums illegally we’re going
American museums illegally we’re going to ask nicely to see if we can get them
to ask nicely to see if we can get them
to ask nicely to see if we can get them back and if not later we will think of
back and if not later we will think of
back and if not later we will think of other ways but these these pieces need
other ways but these these pieces need
other ways but these these pieces need to go back they left the country
to go back they left the country
to go back they left the country illegally we can prove that there we
illegally we can prove that there we
illegally we can prove that there we have photographs of archaeologists at
have photographs of archaeologists at
have photographs of archaeologists at the site with these pieces and the last
the site with these pieces and the last
the site with these pieces and the last piece is very interesting because says
piece is very interesting because says
piece is very interesting because says this King enjoyed drinking pulque which
this King enjoyed drinking pulque which
this King enjoyed drinking pulque which is a wine made out of maize corn so the
is a wine made out of maize corn so the
is a wine made out of maize corn so the Maya had a lot of sense of humor not
Maya had a lot of sense of humor not
Maya had a lot of sense of humor not everything they put under stella’s is
everything they put under stella’s is
everything they put under stella’s is very important information like this one
very important information like this one
very important information like this one saying that he was drinking pulque but
saying that he was drinking pulque but
saying that he was drinking pulque but but they’re very important
but they’re very important
but they’re very important archaeologically for us and every piece
archaeologically for us and every piece
archaeologically for us and every piece we have we invest huge effort in
we have we invest huge effort in
we have we invest huge effort in documenting in our files for every piece
documenting in our files for every piece
documenting in our files for every piece are as good as any Museum here in the
are as good as any Museum here in the
are as good as any Museum here in the States
States
States we’re very proud of that we are working
we’re very proud of that we are working
we’re very proud of that we are working to put all these photographs online
to put all these photographs online
to put all these photographs online high-resolution 20 megapixel photography
high-resolution 20 megapixel photography
high-resolution 20 megapixel photography we’re putting them online as we speak
we’re putting them online as we speak
we’re putting them online as we speak every piece we abide by the law is
every piece we abide by the law is
every piece we abide by the law is properly registered with the National
properly registered with the National
properly registered with the National Registry of of Antiquities
Registry of of Antiquities
Registry of of Antiquities and the instant they become part of that
and the instant they become part of that
and the instant they become part of that registry they obviously are available to
registry they obviously are available to
registry they obviously are available to any researcher but if a researcher comes
any researcher but if a researcher comes
any researcher but if a researcher comes to us we make the pieces available the
to us we make the pieces available the
to us we make the pieces available the photography everything available for
photography everything available for
photography everything available for free our collection is right now 3300
free our collection is right now 3300
free our collection is right now 3300 pieces that are registered some as I as
pieces that are registered some as I as
pieces that are registered some as I as I say are extremely valuable and very
I say are extremely valuable and very
I say are extremely valuable and very important every Museum of the country
important every Museum of the country
important every Museum of the country has pieces from our collection and we
has pieces from our collection and we
has pieces from our collection and we focus today on that effort of
focus today on that effort of
focus today on that effort of documenting and repatriating and we have
documenting and repatriating and we have
documenting and repatriating and we have received donations from what AM Island
received donations from what AM Island
received donations from what AM Island collectors or international collectors
collectors or international collectors
collectors or international collectors one of the most touching moments for me
one of the most touching moments for me
one of the most touching moments for me I went to a house of a friend gives me a
I went to a house of a friend gives me a
I went to a house of a friend gives me a piece and I am admiring assisted my god
piece and I am admiring assisted my god
piece and I am admiring assisted my god this is it really an important piece and
this is it really an important piece and
this is it really an important piece and I’m putting back on the shelf
I’m putting back on the shelf
I’m putting back on the shelf said no no no no take it it’s for you
said no no no no take it it’s for you
said no no no no take it it’s for you for the museum it’s for the foundation
for the museum it’s for the foundation
for the museum it’s for the foundation my hair just you know you can imagine
my hair just you know you can imagine
my hair just you know you can imagine the emotion of receiving that and I have
the emotion of receiving that and I have
the emotion of receiving that and I have a friend in in North Carolina and he
a friend in in North Carolina and he
a friend in in North Carolina and he puts in my hands a mosaic Jade mask and
puts in my hands a mosaic Jade mask and
puts in my hands a mosaic Jade mask and and I’m putting it back says no no take
and I’m putting it back says no no take
and I’m putting it back says no no take it but take it fast before I change my
it but take it fast before I change my
it but take it fast before I change my mind and and I and I took it in my hand
mind and and I and I took it in my hand
mind and and I and I took it in my hand and I smuggled into the country and is
and I smuggled into the country and is
and I smuggled into the country and is happily sitting in a museum and Mosel
happily sitting in a museum and Mosel
happily sitting in a museum and Mosel Miraflores and what about a city today
Miraflores and what about a city today
Miraflores and what about a city today so this effort it’s it’s controversial
so this effort it’s it’s controversial
so this effort it’s it’s controversial some archeologists don’t like what I do
some archeologists don’t like what I do
some archeologists don’t like what I do I’m very proud of what I do and we can
I’m very proud of what I do and we can
I’m very proud of what I do and we can have a very solid discussion about it
have a very solid discussion about it
have a very solid discussion about it and we can agree to disagree but these
and we can agree to disagree but these
and we can agree to disagree but these are public places where our pieces are
are public places where our pieces are
are public places where our pieces are exhibited and they have no place in us
exhibited and they have no place in us
exhibited and they have no place in us in a warehouse I don’t have enough
in a warehouse I don’t have enough
in a warehouse I don’t have enough places to exhibit them and we need to
places to exhibit them and we need to
places to exhibit them and we need to create a place world-class place to
create a place world-class place to
create a place world-class place to exhibit the arts show of Los Angeles
exhibit the arts show of Los Angeles
exhibit the arts show of Los Angeles invited us to exhibit there and we
invited us to exhibit there and we
invited us to exhibit there and we presented the piece and the center
presented the piece and the center
presented the piece and the center there’s almost 10 feet long some
there’s almost 10 feet long some
there’s almost 10 feet long some monumental piece and it’s a very
monumental piece and it’s a very
monumental piece and it’s a very important piece we acquired from a
important piece we acquired from a
important piece we acquired from a collector
collector
collector these pieces today are should be the
these pieces today are should be the
these pieces today are should be the core of a museum and these pieces are
core of a museum and these pieces are
core of a museum and these pieces are part of the collection like this rattle
part of the collection like this rattle
part of the collection like this rattle here on the left for a child or for an
here on the left for a child or for an
here on the left for a child or for an instrument for music you can see there
instrument for music you can see there
instrument for music you can see there they’re really fun and very beautiful
they’re really fun and very beautiful
they’re really fun and very beautiful some of them and for example this bust
some of them and for example this bust
some of them and for example this bust is the only bust of that we know that
is the only bust of that we know that
is the only bust of that we know that comes from Tikal very beautiful also
comes from Tikal very beautiful also
comes from Tikal very beautiful also that’s a that piece we acquired in
that’s a that piece we acquired in
that’s a that piece we acquired in Florida and the one on the right there
Florida and the one on the right there
Florida and the one on the right there is a another vessel to drink chocolate
is a another vessel to drink chocolate
is a another vessel to drink chocolate Maya
Maya
Maya consider chocolate very important and it
consider chocolate very important and it
consider chocolate very important and it says Lord ah how so and so this is this
says Lord ah how so and so this is this
says Lord ah how so and so this is this cup for chocolate just like you have one
cup for chocolate just like you have one
cup for chocolate just like you have one in the kitchen that says sugar and this
in the kitchen that says sugar and this
in the kitchen that says sugar and this he had one that says chocolate so these
he had one that says chocolate so these
he had one that says chocolate so these are really fun piece is very beautiful
are really fun piece is very beautiful
are really fun piece is very beautiful and it takes us to the big dream we want
and it takes us to the big dream we want
and it takes us to the big dream we want to create a museum world-class museum we
to create a museum world-class museum we
to create a museum world-class museum we want to replicate the success of cities
want to replicate the success of cities
want to replicate the success of cities in Europe like Bilbao and the Museum of
in Europe like Bilbao and the Museum of
in Europe like Bilbao and the Museum of Bilbao that changed and in a fairly ugly
Bilbao that changed and in a fairly ugly
Bilbao that changed and in a fairly ugly industrial city into a cultural
industrial city into a cultural
industrial city into a cultural destination today Bilbao has 1.1 million
destination today Bilbao has 1.1 million
destination today Bilbao has 1.1 million tourists a year it did not receive
tourists a year it did not receive
tourists a year it did not receive before involved in formula was a crisis
before involved in formula was a crisis
before involved in formula was a crisis in Spain this last few years because we
in Spain this last few years because we
in Spain this last few years because we bow was receiving double or triple the
bow was receiving double or triple the
bow was receiving double or triple the tourism than the rest of the country was
tourism than the rest of the country was
tourism than the rest of the country was because of one museum if we can do that
because of one museum if we can do that
because of one museum if we can do that for what Amala we can increase the GNP
for what Amala we can increase the GNP
for what Amala we can increase the GNP by one percent because the country
by one percent because the country
by one percent because the country receives 1.8 million tourists a year I
receives 1.8 million tourists a year I
receives 1.8 million tourists a year I think the museum can bring 600,000
think the museum can bring 600,000
think the museum can bring 600,000 people a year the math we do with
people a year the math we do with
people a year the math we do with government one percentage increase in
government one percentage increase in
government one percentage increase in gross national product that could be
gross national product that could be
gross national product that could be done through culture through an
done through culture through an
done through culture through an institution like this so I won’t bore
institution like this so I won’t bore
institution like this so I won’t bore you with the museum but that’s my big
you with the museum but that’s my big
you with the museum but that’s my big dream today I’m dedicating and
dream today I’m dedicating and
dream today I’m dedicating and committing probably in next 10 or 20
committing probably in next 10 or 20
committing probably in next 10 or 20 years of my life that I hope we can
years of my life that I hope we can
years of my life that I hope we can enjoy to bring a world-class museum
enjoy to bring a world-class museum
enjoy to bring a world-class museum dedicated to the preservation of this
dedicated to the preservation of this
dedicated to the preservation of this wonderful heritage we went to the best
wonderful heritage we went to the best
wonderful heritage we went to the best art architects of the
art architects of the
art architects of the world and we found some architects in
world and we found some architects in
world and we found some architects in Switzerland this is seen from the an
Switzerland this is seen from the an
Switzerland this is seen from the an airplane view over the museum and this
airplane view over the museum and this
airplane view over the museum and this is the view of what we intend to build
is the view of what we intend to build
is the view of what we intend to build this is 60,000 square-foot building it
this is 60,000 square-foot building it
this is 60,000 square-foot building it will take quite a bit of money that we
will take quite a bit of money that we
will take quite a bit of money that we need to raise and we’re in the process
need to raise and we’re in the process
need to raise and we’re in the process of that the government will give us the
of that the government will give us the
of that the government will give us the land there’s a lot more to talk about
land there’s a lot more to talk about
land there’s a lot more to talk about that but the purpose is conservation the
that but the purpose is conservation the
that but the purpose is conservation the purpose is to bring well-being to our
purpose is to bring well-being to our
purpose is to bring well-being to our country through tourism and for me one
country through tourism and for me one
country through tourism and for me one of the biggest purposes is to give the
of the biggest purposes is to give the
of the biggest purposes is to give the Maya people of my country a sense of
Maya people of my country a sense of
Maya people of my country a sense of pride of being Indian a sense of pride
pride of being Indian a sense of pride
pride of being Indian a sense of pride of being Maya because there’s a huge
of being Maya because there’s a huge
of being Maya because there’s a huge heritage to be proud of and a museum
heritage to be proud of and a museum
heritage to be proud of and a museum like this would be built and created to
like this would be built and created to
like this would be built and created to celebrate that heritage so National
celebrate that heritage so National
celebrate that heritage so National Geographic with this invitation is
Geographic with this invitation is
Geographic with this invitation is giving us credibility for this effort in
giving us credibility for this effort in
giving us credibility for this effort in in for that I thank you very much thank
in for that I thank you very much thank
in for that I thank you very much thank you
”
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