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  As a text filled with intricate imagery, a balance of position, and religious promotion, the Poma De Ayala is a very interesting piece of literature that tells a tale of conquest and history. From initial interpretation, the book contains origin stories and brings forth a certain dynamic from one that shares a link with both Indigenous and European by blood. The author asserts an opposing view to the occupation initiated by the Spaniards over the Inca in Peru, while (maybe unintentionally) pushing the narrative of Christianity in the account of history.  What caught my attention was the story of the Wari Wiracocha Runa. It depicts this first generation of the Indies population, identifying them as Spaniards and “the ones who left Noah’s ark following the flood” (p.25). From these people who were unable to increase the population for more than 800 years, came the Wari Wiracocha Runa. These are the Indigenous that stem from Spaniards and were able to as the text says forever m...

The second half of the Popol Vuh continued my imaginative experience in understanding the belief system and origins. Similar to the first half, every story carries with it a different feeling or emotion due to the descriptive nature of the text. From their summoning to ascension, the twins Hunaphu and Xbalanque went through different trials and tribulations. From creation to existence, humankind became formed as something through experiences. My two biggest takeways, which could be a misinterpretation, is that the Ki'che' belief system stems from brutal violence and that humanity has subalternity embedded into their existence. In finishing each passage, the detailed description of violent actions made me stop reading numerous times due to the explicit writing. This pattern of destruction and revival would later be understood as serving the objective once I finished, but as I was reading it gave a feeling of mayhem. I believe it was the section when the twins were summoned inv...

The Popol Vuh gives an imaginative experience as the descriptions show us the history of the K'iche' people and the links to establishment and development in indigeneity . Just reading the preamble illustrated a similarity in biblical-like belief. Showing a form of religion and basis of how the Ki’che’ were first and forever situated into this large living space. It depicts this world as being centered around these two all knowing characters labeled as the Framer and the Shaper. These mother and father figures that are identified as male and female respectively, serving the functions of birthing children and the other as planting them. Both would engage in historic discussion, leading to a decision in conceiving humans under “a luminous sky” which intricately links life and light together. The Framer and Shaper brought  about this world by simply vocalizing the phrase “Earth” and land formations arising from their spirit. My reaction was how beautiful these origins were phras...

Hello everyone, my name is Abdulaziz Insaniye and I am a fourth year Political Science and History major here at UBC. I was unable to make the first class, however I am looking forward to meeting all of you next week. I have never written a blog so I will start off by saying a little bit about myself. I have a Somali background as my parents grew up in Somalia, but I was born and raised in Surrey, BC. In my spare time, I enjoy watching football (American and European!!!), basketball, and whatever anime my little sister tells me to watch. I used to be a basketball coach and at one point in time owned my own moving company. I also love to travel whenever I have the ability to go, although I have not had that luxury for a little while now.  As for why I chose to do both a Political Science and History major are for a variety of reasons. Since i could remember, I always wanted to be both a politician and a lawyer. Seeing shows and movies of the guy in the suit saving the day was someth...