It also appears that much of their knowledge of the history of their people comes not from the prevailing accounts of the oral tradition of their ancestors, but more from books published by past missionaries and anthropologists. Is it in the few books written by people who have interacted with them, or does it come from the elders who themselves were told stories by their grand fathers. All accounts reflect a bias of the teller and over time details are added, lost, changed. The published work of one anthropologist or the notes of one missionary are more easily accepted as historical fact than the recounted fables of the Pech people which are more often described as myths or legends. In my opinion, in this case, viewed together they are one history.
Legends originate from historical events.
Published accounts are impressions and conclusions drawn by one person. In Las Marias we spent time with some of the elders of the village. Some of these people have lived there from before it was an established village. Many of them believe that history doesn't come from the books, but from what they remember being told as children by their grand parents. History according to the younger generation, is the one that began with the conquest and assimilation by the Spanish.