Posted: Wednesday, February 19, 2025. 7:33 pm CST.
Belizean Felicita Cantun with the OBE Award she received from King Charles in London -Photo Credit: Jenny Cantun
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize Yucatec Maya leader and educator Felicita Cantun received the Order of the British Empire on Tuesday from King Charles at Buckingham Palace in London, England, for her contributions to Maya culture in Belize.
Cantun was the driving force in the revival of the ancient Maya ball game of Pok Ta Pok in Belize, which led to Belize’s Ek Balam winning the World Championship. She later founded another men’s team, the K’iinich Ahau, and later started a women’s team, Ix – K’iinich Ahau. The women’s team won first place in a tournament in neighboring Quintana Roo, Mexico, last December.
Cantun also leads a children’s choir through which she teaches children the Maya language.
Order of the British Empire Award received by Belizean Felicita Cantun ferom King Charles at Buckingham Palace in London – Photo Courtesy: Felicita Cantun
“It is a very grateful and humbling experience that I had yesterday,” Cantun told Breaking Belize News on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. “I traveled to London to receive an OBE award. My award was pinned on my traditional Maya Yucatec dress by the King himself.
“It was a very humbling experience because I know that people appreciate my work by being here. I was the only one from Belize. The OBE was in recognition of what I do with culture in Belize. The King wanted to know, so I spoke with him about Pok Ta Pok, about the game that I revived. I spoke to him about my indigenous choir. I have a Coro Indígena Infantil Jul K’iin (Sun God).
“With the children we sing in the Maya language. I teach them the Maya language. What was most outstanding to him was the choir and the Pok Ta Pok.
“I’ve always had my culture at heart, and everything I do, I do it out of the love of culture, and so I really appreciate being recognized.
“I had the opportunity to come to London, to go into the palace and talk to the King. This was awesome,” Cantun stated.
Belizean Felicita Cantun with her daughter Jenny in London – Photo Courtesy: Felicita Cantun
Cantun explained that she started Pok Ta Pok in 2015 and her work with the choir began one year ago. She said Pok Ta Pok has grown outside of Yo Creek, Orange Walk, where the game’s revival started.
“Pok Ta Pok is played in different communities in Orange Walk. We have players from San Lázaro, San Felipe, August Pine Ridge, San José, and even Orange Walk Town. Pok Ta Pok has grown and continues growing. Now, I even have a female Pok Ta Pok team,” Cantun told Breaking Belize News.
She said the women’s team competed in a tournament in El Salvador and won another tournament in Quintana Roo, Mexico, last December.
Regarding the choir, she said she uses song to teach the children the Maya Yucatec language. She said her choir participated in an international indigenous languages gathering in Quintana Roo, Mexico, last December as well.
Cantun taught in Orange Walk schools, mostly in Yo Creek, for 40 years, and even after retirement, she continues teaching.
Cantun was married for 53 years, but her husband passed away last year. She has four children, two sons, and two daughters. Her daughter Jenny accompanied her to London.
While in London, she met with the Belizean community.
“We got together, and I got to tell them about my work in culture. We also ate tamales and Belizean food,” Cantun said.
She added that two Belizeans living in the United Kingdom, Melinda Odum and Raquel Goold accompanied her to the OBE Award Ceremony.
Cantun said she will visit with Belizean students at St. Anthony’s University in Oxford on Thursday. She explained that she visited the British Museum to find out more about the Crystal Skull that was found in Belize. She was able to see the Crystal Skull.
Cantun traveled to London on February 13 and will return on February 24.
Belizean Felicita Cantun with her daughter Jenny and Belizeans Melinda Odum and Raquel Goold at Buckingham Palace in London – Photo Courtesy: Felicita Cantun
Cantun said they weren’t allowed to take photographs with Buckingham Palace, so she still doesn’t have a photograph receiving the award.
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The post Belizean Felicita Cantun honoured with Order of the British Empire by King Charles appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, February 19, 2025. 7:33 pm CST. Belizean Felicita Cantun with the OBE Award she received from King Charles in London -Photo Credit: Jenny Cantun
The post Belizean Felicita Cantun honoured with Order of the British Empire by King Charles appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.