Dr. Richard Hansen is an American archeologist who's dedicated much of his life to El Mirador, Hansen has been trying to build a privately-managed park in the area for the last 20 years. WATCH NEXT: The Indigenous People Saving the Amazon - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lcyVjKRzr83UfIU.html

Richard Hansen sounds like a modern-day colonist to me

Jesus Christ what a slap in the face to all the native people there. He's basically making a Disneyland on ancient ruins.

He’s really suggesting that Guatemalan people spend their time smoking weed and have no vision... he’s not trying to protect the forest, he’s trying to get rich off ancient ruins that are in the country of the people he’s insulting. Disgusting.

3:55 he was about to say: "these people are stupid" then corrected himself because of the camera.

Hanson insults the same people he's trying to exploit, for his own greed. This is disturbing. Leave them ALONE!

As a Guatemalan I say: GET OFF MY LAND!!!

As a Guatemalan, I thank you so so much for bringing this news to the media. We’re doing our best to collect firms to stop this.

When I went to Tikal, I loved how calm it was. I didn't go there to ride a train and eat a modern meal. In fact, there are little shops in the area that have food. Those owners and their families have lived there as long as they remember. That's what it's all about. Not a "would be resort"..

"these people" thats all i needed to hear thumbs down to that guy.

I thought archeologist were supposed to persevered history not turn into an attraction.

I'm mayan and this is a disgrace to my heritage and my people. I want to stop it. I'm not asking for money I'm asking for justice.

His entitlement is disgusting. He already acts like it’s his when he shows the congress people.

Hansen is definitely a modern day colonist. Like the Guatemalan Professor mentioned that he isn't even remotely interested in preserving the actual history of the place by publishing it, instead he is more interested in making his grandiose ideas come true.

I hope the Guatemalan people succeed in keeping the colonizers out of there....The ancestors won't take kindly to this..

I am not against tourism, of course not. But this is stupid. Just imagine resorts and train rails near the amazons, the Giza pyramids or inside the Colosseum. I think is the same and I would like the tourism in Tikal to be improved, but not by arrogant foreigners like Richard Hansen.

In 2000, the day after Richard Hansen presented his project of "Cuenca del Mirador" I traveled to the archeological site with him, accompanied by three journalists, a former director of INGUAT (the Guatemalan tourism commission), and two well-known public Guatemalan figures (one of them representing the Novella Foundation). Hansen, who the previous day offered interviews with the media (I coordinated such interviews) showed us two of the largest pyramids, La Danta and El Tigre, he also showed other constructions and shared his theories about the Mayan society. He clearly stated that he was AGAINST building a big airport and constructing 5-star hotels because that wouldn't be positive for the local economy, he told us that he wanted to keep things as they were so travelers were obliged to hire local guides, to rent their horses and mules, and to buy their food in order to keep the money within the community. I remember he said something like "if we allow the creation of a big infrastructure all the money will go to the owners of the hotel chains and we want to support the local people". So, why did he change his mind? What interests are moving him? I am very disappointed, for 20 years I admired him and his vision, he even explained to us that even if they had the money to uncover all the pyramids he wouldn't do it, he would just uncover the frontal half of the pyramids because that way he would be leaving something for the archeologist of the future to discover, also because they would have better technology to preserve it. That sounded simply genius to me, but now I am convinced he is moved by the wrong intentions. Now I can just hope his plans will never come to fruition.

They think their ancestors migrated to Ancient Mayan cities but they all still look as white as mayonnaise? 🤔

No!!!!! USA needs to keep their hands off of Guatemalan property!

I am Guatemalan and I believe that Guatemala has so much to offer in regards of tourism, culture, biodiversity and history, but it will not work if it is not owned and regulated by Guatemalans. We have something that many other places do not have, history of long gone civilizations, colonial architecture, rainforests, mountains, beaches even reefs... We need to use it to our benefit, share it with the world through tourism, but the wealth should remain in Guatemala.

Please sign petitions to not allow this man to ruin Guatemala 🇬🇹

So "preservation" here is just another word to rewrite History to his liking ?

Then get ready for the ruins to become even more ruined.

As an ex-mormon, I'm so glad I escaped - this is insanity.

Guatemala is SUCH A beautiful country!

When you log an area you can replenish it. However, if you build a structure there is no replenishing it... he’s a ConMan.

I really wish that doesn't come true. There has never been a moment in history in where the US actually helped guatemalan people. We're still suffering from what Banna Fruit Co. did, and we're gonna let another US company take over so much land again? I really hope not.

“These people” and “they have no vision” sounds like a neo-colonialist. It’s their land they don’t want you to profit off it fair enough and bugger off

3:48 I can tell he isn't impressed with these Guatemalans, but he does want to make money off of them. Ever seen Antigua? Ever seen Guatemala in general? They have more vision then you do sir.

What does he mean when he says "guatemalans have no vision?" Ummmm hello sir look at the gorgeous place YOU are trying to profit from!!

I did the five day hike there. They guy at 4:56 was my guide. It was so special because nobody was around our little group of 7 people for miles and miles. And watching the sunset/sunrise on top of the pyramids. Only with the sounds of the jungle is one of the best memories I have. It would break my heart to see it become a money machine for an US american.

Sería importante que tuviera subtítulos en español, así los guatemaltecos a quien nos incumbe está noticia podríamos entender.

First the aliens built the Pyramids of Egypt and now the Mormons built the Mayan Pyramids...

I don't like this, I'm from America and I feel this would destroy the local people's lively hoods. They seem to be doing a good job at protecting the forest. The ruins don't need to become a privatized tourist trap. This guy and others invested in his plan just care about making money. To build that train some forest would have to be cut away to lay down tracks. Plus, once tourism hits heavily in the area there will be other types of industry wanting to move in like corporate run hotels, American fast food, and ect. The ruins and forest have been fine this entire time with the locals managing it. The usa needs to leave it alone and learn to better manage its own resources at home that are being polluted and destroyed.

The US has no damn business in this country everything touched by US is destroyed. Wheres the US when Guatemala needs help? Nowhere! So keep yourself within that same sight distance. We don't want the US nowhere these sacred ruins. Yes! Im a proud Guatemalan.

3:47 He whines about being called an “imperialist gringo” and then immediately shows that he’s an imperialist gringo. LMFAO

Is there a way to get Spanish subtitles on this video? It would be great if it could reach a broader audience in Guatemala.

"They have no vison" is this guy for real?? He beleives in a recent made up religion, go to another country because he thinks his ancestors built what they did not, and wants to turn what it's his into an pathetic cash machine. Some them just wont let go of this colonialist mindset, their complexe of superiority is through the roof. Looks like he has not learnt a damn this from actual history, his travels and the people he met. Unbelievable!! He has the nerve to day they have no vison when he cant look back at the past and the mistakes made. All he cares about is his stupid book. Crazy!! Thank gob we have movements and people not taking this bs anymore.

As Guatemalan, I recognize there is a lack of vision between the organizations and the government but Guatemala has a very deep history of interventionism from the United States which has created a lack of identity in our people, I prefer less tourism than a foreigner person has again his hands on what is really our own, a little our own from a lot of things other persons and countries had taken from us. The vision of Hansen is one that lacks respect, from our culture and our customs, this is a sacred place for the Mayans, and no one mentions that as if the Mayan's beliefs, history, and culture are something that doesn't exist anymore. You can see Hansen has the same old beliefs by analyzing the idea of a train, a train was built here in Guatemala by the united fruit company to transport Banana which is one of the first ideas imposed by the United States to get cheap labor and control our government to favor a foreigner business. Read our history and you can make the comparison yourself.

As a US American who has visited Guatemala I would tell Richard Hanson this: the Guatemalan people do have visions and dreams of their own, they just don't match your vision.

Trash claiming ancient history as their own. Shameful!!

building a train track through the jungle wont cut a single tree, just go around them???..wtf is this guy drunk?

Once again the Europeans come in "knowing" what is best for the "no vision" Natives. For HIs profit and His Religion to make a mormon Mayan Disneyland

He’s playing them like little kids 😂 let’s do a little “prayer” just as he joked about death on what would be considered sacred place, I see no respect, he’s just playing his part for them to be paying their part.

Jamás permitiremos que este proyecto se realice y que Estados Unidos quiera adueñarse de esta zona. JAMÁS! POR FAVOR.. PEDIMOS A LA COMUNIDAD INTERNACIONAL QUE INVESTIGUE Y SE ENTERE REALMENTE DE QUE TRATA ESTE PROYECTO Y LO QUE PRETENDEN HACER CON LA ZONA DEL PETÉN. #SAVEPETEN

Not the Mormons again :(

So sad that some Mormons are claiming to be descendants of Mesoamericans.

If this man somehow convinces the Guatemalan government to help him with this, I am organizing a protest and we are all hiking to that place and keeping them from changing anything on my peoples land. We will camp out there until they give up.

This is a huge issue that goes deeper than the gringo trying to profit out of Guatemalan people. As a Mexican National I’ve experienced how our own people don’t care about archeological sites. There’s so many sites in Mexico that are ruined by graffiti and garbage. The gringo is an issue that needs to be deal with separately but we also need to start with our own people who have no education on archeology.

She was looking at him like he is full on stupid 3:45 😂😂

They should start at the caucus mountains that's where they'll find their Origins.

Amazing thank you vice for provide a space to those that can't be heard , I hope Guatemalan know that history and heritage is important for the future it will be a shame to see their treasure converted into Disneyland.

I am Guatemalan 100%, the idea of developing a small train to tour around a precious Jungle is just a project like Disneyland, SeaWorld and all the them in the USA. Keep your project for yourself and leave Guatemala alone.

Typical American Style 1) go to a under / lesser developed nation 2) find something of value 3) make it look like you've discovered it 4) take the natives (politician preferred) and show him/her own country parts 5) publicize large sum of dollar (eventhough a fraction will only be spent) 6) reap all the benefits 7) show loss or trash it in man-made calamity and blame opposition of the project 8) collect insurance and ask Govt' for more money and no taxes on gains or no charges on taking all the cash elsewhere.

Did he just imply we are all potheads?

I hope the narcos get in instead of his stupid little train 🤦🏽‍♂️

THE CAUCASITY!!!!! 😤

I'm Guatemalan and although it seems that this project is soon to become a reality, it will surely never happen. Politicians in Guatemala have the tendency to take an interest in something for a short period of time and this project is not an exception. Hansen's amusement park will die as just what it really is, an illusion.

This is all about capitalism. Some places should be left alone. I've been to Tikal and it's absolutely amazing but there are places that should be hard to get to and left as they are so that they are not ruined by today's people with no appreciation for anything.

It would be nice to compare this project with Machu Pichu, since the UK was the one who did Machu Pichu´s Train and owns the only hotel at the mountain top. A research about the benefit that the train (with UK investment) brought to the rest of the country and compare it with this project. Please let us know when you put it out.

Conex, conex palanxen, xicubin, xicubin yocolquin. - Aguante fuerte mis pueblos. Nuestro dia ja viene. As a 1st Generation Mayan-American this registers beyond an emotional level. My ancestors weep for my son's sons, may they one day walk the forest of my family before it is nothing but pictures and oral history.

You know how America took over most of native American reservations? They made a railroad straight through the middle of the land. I see what they're doing lol. Can't be sly.

Great. Now it's gonna be the McMayan ruins™... 😕

Dr. Richard Hansen's vision is his own, not of the people that live there and call it home. "History does not repeat itself, but is often rhymes" -MT

Went to El Mirador. It is amazing. I’m glad I got to go before the mainstream tourists got to it.

I'm Guatemalan and this ain't right

I'm sorry, but the community lives there, it's their home. They get the final say, if they don't like it then too bad for Dr. Richard.

Thank you vice for true reporting. It’s important to develop and help others learn from the past just as in Egypt or the romans. But it’s imperative to help the surrounding community to develop and expand from where others will just take advantage.

A friend and I went to El Mirador 5 years ago. I had never heard of Richard Hansen before then. He is very important in Guatemala as he uncovered many of the archeological sites in the Peten Region. In fact, many would agree that the reason there is even a tourism industry in the Peten (Mayan) region is because of him. From what I've read, he is very instrumental in increasing the prominence of Guatemala's cultural heritage. He also employs locals in the excavation and restoration of archaeological sites, so I do have some respect for his work. That being said, when my tour guide explained to me that Hansen was trying to link the Mormon history with the Mayan History, I was legitimately shocked. Since then, I have read more on this topic. Although I'm no expert, if you ask me, this is simply a way for Hansen to legitimize a religion (Mormonism) that many view as fabricated an illegitimate. One thing I will say, is that any prominence Hansen has brought to the region has come at a heavy cost. If you ever have the chance to visit El Mirador, I highly recommend the two-day hiking option in which you will be able to see all the looted sites that the locals pillaged after the excavation projects ran out of money in the 80's and ended. What resulted was locals who were now trained in identifying the sites with artifacts/objects and other treasures, which they then looted. They are scattered all over the Peten region and are very easy to identify. According to my tour guide, who by the way is a local who works for Hansen restoring sites, may of the treaures that were looted by the local and other robbers were sold very cheaply to collectors just so they could ahve enough money survive, but others used the money for alcohol and partying. Many of these beautiful Mayan vases are now in private collections and even in some museums. So, if you ask me, Hansen's opinions about the Guatemalan's having no vision are not entirely groundless. I sense that the politicans want to change thatm I just don't think Hansen's vision is any better. A mini-train in to the region? Really? Anyway, I highly recommend going there. Visit Guatemla City and Antigua, Go to Tikal, and then take 3-5 day trip and go to El Mirador, you will love it if you like solitude. Just try to go when it's not mosquito season like I did. I have heard horror stories about the mosquitos.

We are not Puerto Rico that us citizens can't just come to my country and do what they feel and little by little push the communities out and turn those amazing places in to a Disney Land. Hell nooooo 🇬🇹

I still don't understand how Mormons are connected to this

As a Guatemalan, I feel offended that a foreign person is trying to take something that belongs to our country. This belongs to our native people. You don’t get to build your “Disneyland” at a site that is sacred. I hope we can stop this greedy “archeologist”.

Hasn’t the U.S. put Guatemala through enough?

And this is what US branded colonialism looks like in 2020, Fing make America great a la 1973 style, sans pinochet

It’s insane it seems like they truly believe the Mormons built the pyramids 😭

The people of Guatemala will be united and will not allow it. We won't let you destroy something that belongs to us.

This is the kind of great reporting I come to Vice for. 👍👍👍

This is not your Land!!!!!!!

calling my ancestors and family pot heads. thank you

I hope the cartels end this madness.

As a Black and Guatemalan American I truly could throw him into a river for what he just said about my people. I really...my blood boiling would be an understatement. An understatement at the least.

Guatemala does need more tourism. But you need to get the violence n poverty n robbery under control first if not tourism will never grow.

My wife and I just completed 5 day hike to El Mirador. I have heard completely different story from expats living in Guatemala. People said that Cooperativa Carmelita is evil, their logging is not sustainable. Local driver told me in Spanish that cutting one cedar tree in the forest causes destruction of many more trees, and those concessions cause a lot of damage to the environment. I have heard the opposite opinion that Richard Hansen is the only one who cares about that cultural heritage to be preserved. I don’t take any sides, I just wanted a cool hike, but ended up in the middle of heated discussion.

His statement about Guatemalans being stoned really bothered me... that was very disrespectful of him after he is trying to profit off of the site

I swear nothing is safe anymore. 😑

*Here comes Christianity again to save the day* 🙄

Guatemalan American, have been to the country and still have ties down there. This guy's dream will die the moment he spends his first millions on planning. Because every leader and politician will want a piece of the action and they will bleed him dry, if the jungle doesn't do it on its own. Construction will be a nightmare, and he will also have to contend with the traffickers and gangs roaming the country (I mean, after all, these routes run through their own networks because they are exactly so remote so as to not draw attention). Having a tall white American dude suddenly hacking through the jungle like Illinois Smith will only cause unwanted attention. Dead in the water.

I think if he coordinated more with locals and give certain first hand rights to the land instead of using it himself. They should own it and have power to make decisions and he should try and make profits, that will help both

@13:25. Really? The entire country? Gtfo

im gonna be mad if this project happens

Finally, there might be McDonald's and Burger King fast food near the pyramids.

I truly hope the Guatemalan government doesn't allow it. Of course, for that to happen, they need to not be corrupt.

As a guatemalan i am extremely disgusted by your video and the intention of turning our history into a luxury hotel among other horrible attractions. This will not only destroy such an emblematic monument from our culture, but will kill the flora and wildlife native from the area. This is ridiculous, disgusting, frustrating and makes me feel powerless. We don’t have a vision? this isn’t supposed to be Universal Studios, it belongs to the mayan culture we belong to and i can’t believe how there’s people that wants to do profit from a culture that isn’t even theirs...

The fact he called us campesinos my blood is boiling!! The audacity of these modern-day colonists!

Any updates on this situation?

Wow, talk about horrific bias in the name of so called science. I would not call him an archeologist with that kind complete insult of the local indigenous population!

*I love Buddhist and Hindu temples in THAILAND. Every one of them can be found online but it's not the same as going to them and seeing. HERE WE HAVE a situation where loads of people will come in and put money into Americans hands. See the sights and go home. Why would the Guatemalan people want this. It's sacred, maybe it should be difficult to reach*

He’s just doing it for personal gain. I hope that his vision never becomes a reality. The land should be kept and preserved by the Guatemalan people, not a foreigner. It’s my culture, not a theme park!

This is so sad to me as I’ve been to all these ruins and my family went to America to seek refuge from poverty in Guatemala so seeing this happen hurts me so much becuase it’s such beautiful sights

*In short words the Guatemalan People say: They don't need more tourism. What they need is industrialization, jobs, education and more opportunities* *They are sicking and tired about the corrupted system in Guatemala that keeps them in poverty.*