Photo: Dr. Joseph Palacio presents books to the Minister
of Education, Hon. Francis Fonseca

by Marco Lopez

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 15, 2023

Few Belizeans have had the type of bird’s eye view of the birth and development of this nation that Dr. Joseph Orlando Palacio has had. As the first Belizean archaeologist and the first Belizean Garifuna person to be trained in the subject area, he is considered a pioneer of Belizean archaeology and anthropology. The release today of his three-volume series titled “The Practicing Anthropologist”, is aimed at providing Belizean students and the public at large with a snapshot of the work Dr. Palacio has done over the decades.

In the first book of the series, titled, “Building a Nation”, Dr. Palacio’s essays provide an anthropological study of the process of nation-building, and how factors such as migration and community development affected Belize’s growth.

Notably, Dr. Palacio throughout his career has been an unapologetic defender and promoter of the Garifuna language, history, and culture. His second volume looks at indigenous peoples of the Caribbean—with whom the Garinagu are closely related through both history and genealogy. “Cultural Diversity and Caribbean Indigenous Peoples” is the title of this second volume. 

Finally, the third volume covers matters closer to home: Garifuna Peoplehood and Barranco contains essays telling the story of Dr. Palacio’s home village, and highlighting the cultural fidelity of the Garifuna people, continued through their oral history, food, social structure, spirituality, culture, and land.

This three-part study gives an intimate look at Dr. Palacio’s work on behalf of the Garifuna people and toward the process of nation-building and recounts his own life experiences, from his early days in Barranco to how he became the first Belizean Archaeological Commissioner.

During the official ceremony to launch the series, which took place at the House of Culture in Belize City yesterday, Dr. Palacio’s daughter, Arreini Palacio-Morgan, noted that her father, around the age of 9, was moved by a speech delivered by then Legislative Assembly leader, George Price. Price would go on to be the Father of the Nation, and Palacio would be instrumental in establishing the first archeological department in the colony.

As the first native archaeological commissioner, he would preside over the excavation of Maya sites such as Nim Li Punit, Xunantunich, and Cerros, and the creation of a framework to prevent the looting of Belizean artifacts. His work included creating legislation that regulates the excavation and preservation of artifacts, and that is still referred to today.

His work has contributed significantly to Belize’s international recognition for its ancient Maya cities, and by extension, has contributed to a flourishing tourism industry.

Dr. Palacio taught indigenous history at the University of the West Indies and is a founding member of the Caribbean Organization of Indigenous People (COIP). Outside academia, his work also includes serving as chairman of Barranco Village for a period. He has written many monographs and articles, which include the collection of essays, The Garifuna: A Nation Across Borders, which can be found online. 

During his remarks at the ceremony to launch the series, Minister of Education Hon. Francis Fonseca said Dr. Palacio has been known for his passion and commitment: “This passion and commitment is reflected in his numerous essays on archaeology and social anthropology. His research and writings range from topics on food and social relations in a Garifuna village to social-economic integration of Central American immigrants in Belize, the Garifuna continuity in Barranco, settlement and land use, and, one of my favorite essays: ‘The Garifuna Across Borders’.”

Dr. Palacio’s son, Dr. Vincent Palacio, is the president of the University of Belize. He commented that the release of these three books is a milestone for the Garifuna people and Belize. 

“My father, Joseph Palacio, has spent his entire life building this legacy, and now we have his writing being published. That’s something that we have to value. At the University of Belize we have an institute of indigenous cultures and languages; now this source will definitely add value to that,” Dr. Vincent Palacio stated. 

The books can be purchased online on Amazon and will be available in hard copy form at the Image Factory in Belize soon.