Don Albino

It is with great regret that we announce that Don Albino has moved from this life to another.

Don Albino was a true healer and friend—a family member to Earth Healers and Naturaleza. He was one of the few remaining elder Maya Healers left in Belize, C.A., his homeland. His passing is a profound loss to our community and the world.

Don Albino was a visionary among visionaries. Though he never learned to read and write, he spoke volumes on his passions in Maya healing and culture. His vision and drive to help preserve and share his knowledge about healing, traditions in field and forest, and culture led him to bring healers together to preserve the wisdom, traditions, and land that they hold so dear. His deeply intuitive  connections also enabled his leading of the associations that he banded together into a drastically different world-- a world of collaboration and fruitful relationships with entities as diverse and far-reaching as Belize Indigenous Training Institute, University of Ottawa, Earth Healers and Naturaleza, and Cleveland State University. He forged these partnerships so that he could spread his knowledge and passions to young Maya apprentices and to others who wanted to learn.  As one of the primary founders of Itzama, Don Albino rallied and brought together other renowned Maya Healers, such as Don Emilio and Don Francisco, from far across the Maya homeland. He often walked many miles through bush and on dirt roads under scorching sun and torrential rains to deliver messages and updates about Itzama developments to fellow members and young Maya apprentices. His commitment was strong and worthy of admiration. He stayed with us as long as he needed to ensure stability, purpose and tangible outcomes; he was, in effect, the glue that bound us through tough times and then some. He knew when to leave us to go.

Don Albino was a quiet person who always preferred to be anonymous. However, when he spoke, everyone listened. His words were always wise and he often spoke in fables. A few stories:

“I remember a time, back in the early days of Itzama—before we had our dirt road, we got our vehicle stuck while driving across the pre-road (more of a field really) to get there. It had just rained and        there we were stuck in the middle of the jungle. We got out of the vehicle, and sat down under some trees. Don Albino said something to the effect that we need to stop now to listen and learn. He began looking around at the plants (he and another healer, Don Lorenzo) and began to chuckle. Here it is. And then, they taught me about the wonders of a plant in close proximity—a particularly special plant. I will never forget him, his lessons, his drive for his passions, and his willingness to share his knowledge on true healing.” T. Pesek

“During community meetings he would sit and narrate mythical stories handed down by his grandfather. His stories were reminiscent of scenes from Apocalypto or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But they were better, they were real—he would tell of Jaguar warriors and Eagle warriors who would leap, fly, and disappear into the jungle. With superhuman powers these warriors would travel long distances and speak with nature. They would morph into different animals and protect their environments his stories would often engage children. Indeed, he inspired me want to learn more of my own culture when I was a kid. I now think how profound his transmissions were. I sometimes like to think of Earth Healers as being the modern day Maya warriors.”  M. Cal.

We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us in flesh but are sure that he will be proud to see his healing legacy and vision develop with Itzama and our projects. This tremendous loss serves as a reminder to the profound importance in perseverance to keep steering the course with Itzama as a mechanism in both generational transmission of knowledge and community based conservation of the land—which goes hand in hand with the knowledge in imparting wisdom. This is wisdom our next generation of leaders needs and is good reason to move quickly before we lose another member of the Maya healing community. Don Albino leaves behind a wife and large family who desperately need us both financially and emotionally.

We have established the Don Albino Shaman Apprentice scholarship fund. Tax deductible donations to this fund can be contributed to Naturaleza. Please spread the word!

http://www.naturalezafoundation.org/donate.htm

The fund is available to Maya youngsters chosen by the healers to learn their secrets. They will work in the gardens at Itzama, learn this age-old knowledge in healing and field and forest and then obtain a university education of their choosing at one of our collaborating universities. We would like to faciliate action in appropriately mentoring our next generation of leaders.

Don Albino was 90 years old.

Until we meet again, dear friend, thank you.

-- Todd Pesek and Marvin Cal on behalf of Earth Healers and Naturaleza—brothers and sisters to each other and our forest.