| 1959 |
January 9th, Rigoberta Menchu Tum born in Chimel, Quiche Guatemala. |
| 1979 |
Her father was accused of murdering a local plantation owner and was kidnapped, tortured and
jailed for 14 months. |
| 1979 |
Rigoberta’s younger brother was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the military death squad. |
| 1980 |
Rigoberta helped organize the farm worker strike for better conditions. |
| 1981 |
Rigoberta helped educate Indian peasants on techniques for resisting military oppression
and participated in demonstrations in the capitol. |
| 1981 |
Rigoberta fled Guatemala to Mexico. |
| 1982 |
Rigoberta helped found The United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition |
| 1983 |
Rigoberta published, I Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in Guatemala. A powerful book that increased awareness around the world. |
| 1987 |
Rigoberta narrated a powerful film called When the Mountains Tremble, about the struggles and
sufferings of the Maya people. |
| 1991 |
Rigoberta worked with the UN on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. |
| 1992 |
Rigoberta won the Nobel Peace Prize. |
| 1999 |
Rigoberta wanted the Guatemalan political and military establishment tried in a court of law and
had it to take the case to the Spanish court to get heard. |
| 2006 |
Rigoberta accepted President Óscar Berger's offer to help implement the country's peace trearty and became an ambassador. |
| 2007 |
Rigoberta ran for president of Guatemala |