Stories of Survival: The Chalatenango Massacres

A series of documentary films by Juan Andrés Bello, in collaboration with the survivors of the Salvadoran Civil War

Sunday, October 23rd | 2:30-4pm | Museum London (Documentation to follow)

The Chalatenango Massacres, is a series of documentary films telling the stories of the crimes committed by the Salvadoran army and paramilitary groups against peasant communities at the outset of the country’s Civil War (1979–1982). It was produced by Juan Andrés Bello (Triana Media), with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the London Arts Council, and the Sumpul Association.

The screening at Museum London was followed by a Q&A, and a celebration of life, with participation of the Salvadoran community in London. This event is an Embassy Cultural House Project, presented in partnership with Museum London and with support from the London Arts Council (Community Arts Investment Program). Other partners include the Social Justice Committee at St. Michael’s Parish, London.

For more information on the project, in both English and Spanish, please visit the project website here. 

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​These are some images of El Salvador. Did you know that Salvadorans are the second largest Spanish speaking community in London, Ontario?

Many of them came in the 1980s and 1990s, fleeing their country because of the Civil War.

Rosaura Rivera is the only survivor of the El Rincón Massacre. On May 8, 1980, other six women were killed in the El Rincón hamlet, in the area known as Manaquil (Nueva Trinidad, Chalatenango Department). It was one of the first massacres that took place during the Civil War in El Salvador (1979-1992).

This video is part of “The Chalatenango Massacres", a series of short documentary films telling the stories of the crimes committed by the Salvadoran army and paramilitary groups against peasant communities at the outset of the country’s Civil War (1979–1982).

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​Behind The Scenes

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