Speaker: Dale Johnson
A thousand years before Christ, the flourishing city/kingdoms of Mesoamerica developed in the region now mapped as southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. They built temples rivaling those found in Egypt, and created a sophisticated calendar more accurate than our own. Today, the descendents of these ancient Mayans are still farmers and modern-day cowboys, and celebrate their heritage in myriad ways. In some areas, practicing Mennonites have laid claim to the land. It's a fascinating mix of cultures, history, and sights that include everything from ancient temples to the Hieroglyphic Stairway to the Great Barrier Reef of the Caribbean.
Dale Johnson is a life-long filmmaker who began his career in the Army, living for a time with the Choco Indians in lower Panama. He spent two years directing and filming the outdoor television series The Lone Star Sportsman, and five years at NASA working on films during the "Skylab" era. His most recently completed film for the National Forest Service won a Gold Medal at the New York International Film Festival.