How many newcomers need to come to our country intending to stay before we see them as future citizens rather than “immigrants?” Though they come from many parts of the world, do we place them all under the same demographic umbrella? And once they’ve arrived, it may be hard to see where these people come from and notice certain differences. They are often viewed under one simple label, “immigrant.”
Here in Oregon, a community of people called Mam, an Indigenous group from northern Guatemala, are exemplifying and giving way to that idea. Perhaps as the new nomads of American society.
Throughout the years, Oregon has seen a gradual increase in the Mam community, mostly in Newport and the Cottage Grove areas. Speaking a Mayan language only a handful of the population know, their vernacular has demonstrated the challenges that people go through coming into a new country. However, some individuals and groups have helped along the way, not just helping them adjust but giving them their rightful representation…