Immersion Program in Indigenous Maya Midwifery, Traditional Medicine, and Maternal Health
Offered by Naye Xjaw Maya Midwifery International
Experience. Learn. Transform.
Location: Naye Xjaw Birth and Reproductive Health Center, San Miguel Sigüilá, Mam Region, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Duration: 75+ Hours of Structured Learning + Unforgettable Community Experiences
Walk the Path of the Comadrona
Step into the sacred world of the Indigenous Maya Midwife (Comadrona)—keeper of ancestral wisdom, spiritual guide, and guardian of life’s beginnings.
This one-of-a-kind Student Immersion Program invites you to learn directly from Maya midwives in the Mam region of Guatemala, where centuries-old knowledge meets modern midwifery practice.
What You’ll Experience
Immerse yourself in a living tradition that honors birth as ceremony, healing as balance, and community as medicine.
You’ll study, observe, and participate in authentic experiences led by Indigenous teachers, midwives, and spiritual leaders.
Program Highlights
Ancestral Midwifery Curriculum (22 hrs)
The “Don” (Gift) of the Comadrona: History and spiritual calling of Maya midwives
Prenatal, Labor & Postpartum Care: Traditional and spiritual practices
Sweat Lodge Ceremony: Healing through fire and water
Medicinal Plants & Spiritual Healing: Connection of mind, body, and spirit
Integration with Biomedical Midwifery: Finding harmony between worlds
Nutrition, Family Planning & Breastfeeding: Guided by ancestral wisdom
Documentary Screenings: Give Light & Birth Wars
Clinical & Community Immersion (23 hrs)
Observation and participation at Naye Xjaw Birth and Reproductive Health Center
Attend births, postpartum visits, and community mobile clinics
Collaborate in Community Midwife Trainings across rural villages
Witness the profound interdependence between midwives and community life
Sessions with Key Cultural Leaders (10 hrs)
Learn from Maya elders, spiritual guides, and human rights advocates:
Maya Cosmovision and the Calendar – Don Rolando
Guatemala’s Civil Conflict & the Maya Genocide – Don Kevin Romero
Indigenous Rights & Policy – Don Noé Gómez
Linguistic and Cultural Identity – Lcda. Dalila
Ministry of Health- Lcda. Cindy Mazariegos
Maya Culture & Living Traditions (20 hrs)
Weave on the Maya waist loom
Prepare traditional foods like tamalitos de chipilín
Learn the history of chocolate with Doña Pancha
Relax in Fuentes Georginas hot springs
Participate in a sacred fire ceremony at Laguna Chikabal
Explore Maya myths, nawales, and folklore
Reflect & Integrate
Throughout your immersion, you’ll reflect with Midwife Preceptor Steph Martinez (CNM, IBCLC, Doula, BA in Latin American Studies)—a bridge between Indigenous and Western models of care.
More Than a Program—A Transformation
Beyond the 75+ hours of structured learning, you’ll be welcomed into the heartbeat of Maya community life—from births and blessings to festivals, funerals, and soccer championships.
Every day offers a new opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.
Who Should Join
This program is ideal for:
Student midwives, nurses, doctors, doulas, or birth workers
Herbalists, massage therapists, alternative medicine practitioners
Public health or anthropology students
Anyone passionate about cultural humility, Indigenous knowledge, and reproductive justice
Program Details
Location: Naye Xjaw Birth and Reproductive Health Center, San Miguel Sigüilá, Mam Region, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Duration: Approximately 2 weeks (75+ hours)
Language: English / Spanish / Mam (interpreted)
Certification: Certificate of Completion in Indigenous Maya Midwifery Immersion
2026 DATES
Spring: March 1-14, 2026
Summer: June 7-20, 2026
Fall: October 18-31, 2026
Program Fee
A tax-deductable donation of $2,500.
Join Us
Learn from the Comadronas. Honor the Ancestors. Transform your understanding of birth and healing.
Apply now by sending your CV and cover letter to administrator@mayamidwifery.org.
(Limited spots available each session.)
