“Every image should reflect your personal vision,” Yohana González Q’alel.
Yohana González Q’alel is a Maya woman from Chi uwi’la, known also as Chichicastenango, in the highlands of Quiché, Guatemala—a region rich in indigenous traditions. Growing up speaking K’iche’ and surrounded by cultural rituals, Yohana learned from her grandparents and parents the deep strength of her identity and the resilience of indigenous life. Her art is a reflection of this heritage.
Multi-talented, Yohana is an educator, photographer, illustrator, and cultural activist whose work brings the voices of her people to the forefront. With a degree in Pedagogy, she uses her skills in documentary, conceptual, and community art to preserve and amplify indigenous stories.
She has also co-founded B’elejeb’ B’atz, a collective that brings together young artists and educators across Guatemala to foster creativity and cultural exchange. Her collaborations with Festivales Solidarios allow her to create art that communicates powerful messages, and through the Wonon Project, she helps integrate Maya Science and Technology into education in western Guatemala. Each of these efforts reflects her commitment to preserving and celebrating her heritage.
For Yohana, photography is more than just a medium; it’s a way to preserve culture and spark social change. Through her lens, she captures the vibrancy of indigenous life, sharing the stories and wisdom passed down by her grandparents.
“Through their steps, I learned to recognize the strength of my identity and the resilience of indigenous life,” she reflects. Her camera has become a tool for cultural activism—honoring the knowledge of elders, protecting collective memory, and ensuring her community’s history lives on for future generations.
Once Yohana embraced photography, she quickly saw its potential as more than just a hobby. She realized it could be a powerful tool for resistance and cultural preservation.
“As an indigenous woman, I grew up seeing the stories of my people, their struggles, and Maya rituals often ignored or portrayed negatively,” she says.
Photography became her way to challenge this narrative. What started as a personal passion grew into a communal mission—a tool to document the everyday lives and histories of her people.
Reflecting on her greatest inspirations, she feels immense gratitude for her grandparents. “They were part of the associations in our town, and through them, I learned the deep meaning of the commitment to preserving our ancestral practices,” she shares.
She also credits her parents for instilling in her a deep respect for their community’s values and for nurturing her love for their indigenous roots.
“Their efforts reflect not only the resilience of our identity but also a profound love and respect for our origins,” she says. These teachings, passed down through generations, have shaped her perspective and strengthened her commitment to preserving the traditions that define her.
At the center of projects she holds dear, Yohana captures the work and wisdom of indigenous women, elders, and community leaders. Her focus shines a light on the vital roles of midwives, market women, healers, weavers, indigenous authorities, community association members, and young women who continue to embody the strength of their indigenous identity.
“These women are the guardians of ancestral knowledge and life itself,” she explains.
Her work aims to break the cycles of exotification and superficiality that have long been imposed on indigenous peoples. Instead, she seeks to present their stories with dignity and respect.
A recurring theme in Yohana’s photography is the powerful connection between indigenous women, the land, and the rituals that preserve their culture.
“This relationship is the heart of resistance and culture,” she explains. “These women are the guardians of ancestral knowledge and life itself.”
Whether photographing midwives, timekeepers, or women in the marketplace, Yohana captures the strength, wisdom, and vitality that radiate from them.
“Through their actions, they keep their traditions alive,” she says, highlighting the deep bond between the land, rituals, and the women who sustain her community.
When starting a new project, Yohana’s creative process begins with in-depth research. She listens carefully to the stories of the people she wishes to document, making sure their voices are heard and respected. Alongside her research, she is guided by the interests and needs of the community.
This means engaging directly with those she works with, listening to their perspectives, and seeking their consent to ensure their stories are shared with dignity. At the core of every project is her commitment to honoring their voices and experiences.
Yohana’s work centers on documenting the lives of people, honoring their stories, and recognizing the significance of each project. Instead of focusing on one city, her work extends across multiple indigenous communities.
Currently, she is documenting life in three key areas: Chi uwi’la (Chichicastenango), her hometown; Tz’olojya’ (Sololá), where she captures the work of midwives; and Xelajuj N’oj (Quetzaltenango), where she continues to explore midwifery and its cultural importance.
In recent years, Yohana’s work has evolved into a series of impactful exhibitions. She has participated in several photography projects centered around historical memory and women.
One of these began with the work of indigenous women in her town, showcased at the Ruk’ux Festival 2021 in a photographic exhibition.
This exhibition was later moved to the El Renacer de los Pueblos Festival in Iximché Tecpán 2023. She was also part of a visual arts mentorship with photographs on the theme “Tejer Libertad” (Weaving Freedom), which focuses on the creation of Maya textiles as indigenous art made by girls, with a photographic exhibition led by the women’s art collective La Revuelta.
Yohana is currently working on a photographic project titled “Memorias Latentes” (Latent Memories), which began in 2023 in Quetzaltenango. She is now expanding the project to Sololá, where she documents the work of midwives in these towns. The resulting photographs are displayed alongside student work from educational centers in the Sololá region.
In June 2024, she had the opportunity to showcase her photographs at the Pavarotti Educational Center of the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation. The exhibition was later featured at the International Indigenous Women’s Day Festival, organized by the Mujeres Tz’ununija’ Movement, in Sololá.
Through her photography, Yohana has learned many valuable life lessons. One of the most profound is the importance of patience and observation. “As an indigenous woman, photography has taught me to look beyond the surface and find beauty in the small, everyday details that often go unnoticed,” she reflects.
Yohana’s attention to detail has strengthened her connection with the people she photographs, allowing her to capture not just their images, but the very essence of their lives.
Through photography, she has also learned to appreciate her own history and the importance of preserving indigenous customs.
“I’ve come to understand that the images we create are a tool for empowerment,” she says. “They provide a space for voices to be heard.”
Photography has also opened doors for Yohana to connect with other artists, audiences, and cultures, sparking dialogue about indigenous life and traditions.
She reflects, “Through my exhibitions, I have discovered how human stories have a universal ability to resonate, no matter the cultural context.”
These connections have reinforced her belief in the power of art to bridge divides and foster understanding.
Her advice to emerging photographers is simple and profound. “Focus on observing your surroundings and connecting genuinely with people, not just with the camera,” she advises.
Yohana emphasizes the importance of maintaining an authentic voice in one’s work, free from the pressures of trends or external expectations.
“Every image should reflect your personal vision,” she concludes, a reminder that true artistry comes from within.
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Soledad Quartucci, CEO, Latina Republic
Latina Republic envisions a world where the beauty and resilience of Latin American and Caribbean cultures are recognized and appreciated globally. By amplifying the voices of artists and cultural custodians, we strive to cultivate a deeper understanding of the region’s challenges and triumphs. Our goal is to inspire greater appreciation for the arts as a tool for empathy, unity, and transformative social change. Through our work, we aim to equip all stakeholders with essential insights for addressing regional challenges, ultimately enriching the global cultural landscape and portraying the victories and hardships of everyday life in Latin America.
