Pech (paya) File

The Pech trace their origins to the Chibchan-speaking peoples of South America, having migrated north into Central America thousands of years ago. Their traditional life is deeply tied to the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve , where they maintain a spiritual connection to the land and forests.

Their belief system center on a spherical universe supported by four beams, where human life exists on a middle plane between a subterranean world of ferocious animals and a seven-level sky of sun and fire. Pech (Paya)

Historically nomadic, the Pech developed intricate knowledge of medicinal plants —using over 60 species specifically for snakebites—and were the first to harvest the aromatic resin of the liquidambar tree for ceremonial use. The Pech trace their origins to the Chibchan-speaking

The Pech (traditionally known as ) are an Indigenous nation in northeastern Honduras whose history is a profound testament to resilience against centuries of displacement and cultural erosion. Settled primarily in the departments of Olancho, Colón, and Gracias a Dios, they call themselves Pech , meaning "people," a name that asserts their identity against the exonym "Paya," which they view as pejorative. Roots and Worldview Roots and Worldview