The Lenca Indian Heritages

There Are Several Lenca Indian Heritages in Intibuca

A. The Educated Urban Mestizo Culture

These are the shopowners, professionals, teachers and government workers who live well.  The women work very hard and long hours but the life of the men is not very difficult.  When their work day is over they sit down while their wives who may have worked just as hard prepare their food and serve them by placing their plates on the table.  They have enough food, nice clothes, usually a vehicle and live well according to local standards.

They are the real power in the community as the decisions they make affect the life of the others.  They are the ones who do all the activities that control the culture.  They serve on committees, do the political activities, run the community activities and are the people who dress well.  Usually the women of this class wear suits.  The men usually dress well but not elegantly.

B.  The Working Class Urban Dwellers

These are the servants, the yard workers, those who work the trucks and do all the scut work of the culture.  They are poorly paid and seldom eat well.  They work hard long hours for very little. They do not receive bonuses, nor does anyone ever say "Good Work".  They live at the mercy of their employer and one look or one word of protest could lead to their being fired without question and without mercy. These are the people who make the lives of the Educated Urban Mestizo people satsifying. They have no power and no say in how the culture develops.

C.  The Wealthy Landowners

These are the lucky landowners who usually live on large tracts inherited from their ancestors.  Many are descendents of the Spanish but there are pure Lencas who also own land.  They often have lovely homes in the countryside with many workers who tend the crops and do all the work.  They usually also have a nice home in town where they hold fiestas and enjoy a good life.

Many of these people treat their workers well and are kind to them allowing them to eat from the plantain, potatoes, corn and other crops they produce.

Their concerns are the prices for coffee or beans and have little interest in other aspects of life except soccer and politics.  Often they are active in the political party of their choice.

D.  The Poor Rural Mountain People

These are the people we usually think of when we say Lenca. They live in small mountain aldeas like Ologosi, Chogola and others where they have lived for centuries.  They usually inherit their small farms and seldom sell their properties.  Many of these properties are not even titled but their families have lived on the same plot for centuries.