{{Short description|Governor-General of Belize since 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[Her Excellency]] [[Dame]] | name = Froyla Tzalam | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG}} | image = Dame Froyla Tzalam.jpg | caption = Tzalam in 2022 | office = 3rd [[Governor-General of Belize]] | term_start = 27 May 2021 | term_end = | monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]<br>[[Charles III]] | predecessor = [[Sir Colville Young]] | successor = | prime_minister = [[Johnny Briceño]] | spouse = Daniel Mendez<ref>{{cite web | url=https://belize.com/news/prime-minister-john-briceno-independence-day-address-2021/ | title=Prime Minister John Briceño Independence Day Address 2021 | date=21 September 2021 }}</ref> | children = 2<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/MHDFIPA/posts/heartiest-congratulations-to-her-excellency-froyla-tzalam-on-her-appointment-as-/1645879845801660/|title=Heartiest congratulations to Her Excellency Froyla Tzalam on her appointment as Governor General !! Ms. Tzalam is a woman of substance, of keen intellect, and of deep and abiding commitment to Belize and all our people. She will surely do us proud in executing her duties as our country's highest official. We wish her, her husband Daniel Mendez, and her lovely children Yasil and Yanil all of God's richest blessings today... - Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs|via=Facebook |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref> | birth_place = [[San Antonio, Toledo|San Antonio]], [[British Honduras]]<br/><small>(now [[Belize]])</small> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1971|7|27}} | party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] | alma_mater = [[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]] (BA)<br />[[University of Sussex]] (MA) }}
'''Dame Froyla Tzalam''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG}} (Born July 27, 1971) is a [[Belizean people|Belizean]] [[Mopan people|Mopan Maya]] [[anthropologist]] and [[Community Leader|community leader]], who has served as the third [[governor-general of Belize]] since 27 May 2021.
She is the first indigenous person of [[Maya peoples|Maya]] descent to serve as governor-general of any country in the history of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2021/05/31/first-woman-of-maya-descent-elected-as-governor-general-in-the-commonwealth/|title=First Woman of Maya Descent Elected as Governor - General in the Commonwealth|date=31 May 2021|access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/219266|title=Congratulatory Outpouring for GG Froyla T'zalam |publisher=Channel 5 Belize |access-date=21 August 2023|archive-date=17 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417212556/https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/219266|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Education==
Tzalam is from the village of [[San Antonio, Toledo]]. She graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree in [[Anthropology]] from [[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University, Texas]]. This was followed by a [[Master of Arts|MA]] degree in [[Rural Development]] from [[University of Sussex]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://namati.org/network/member/froylatzalam/|title=froyla tzalam|website=Namati}}</ref>
==Career==
She was Director of the African-Maya History Program in the Belize Ministry for Education and then Director of the Belize Institute of Social and Cultural Research. She became the executive director of the [[Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management]] (SATIIM) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SATIIMBelize/photos/satiim-congratulates-froyla-tzalam-as-belizes-first-mopan-governor-generalpunta-/2551221498519188/|title=SATIIM Congratulates Froyla Tz'alam as Belize's First Mopan Governor General|via=Facebook|access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.satiim.org.bz/staff-board-of-directors/|title=Staff & Board of Directors|publisher=SATIIM}}</ref>
Tzalam was shortlisted for nomination to the [[Senate of Belize|Senate]] in January 2017, but declined in order to concentrate on her work with SATIIM.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/140447|title=SATIIM's Froyla Tzalam Explains Decision to Decline Nomination|publisher=Channel 5 Belize|date=January 6, 2017|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424091221/https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/140447|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Governor-General of Belize==
{{Infobox viceroy styles | image = [[File:Flag of the Governor-General of Belize.svg|150px]] | name = Dame Froyla Tzalam<br />(2021–present) | dipstyle = Her Excellency | offstyle = Your Excellency | altstyle = Dame }}
[[File:Platinum Jubilee- Belize bilateral.jpg|thumb|Dame Froyla meeting Dame [[Cindy Kiro]], Governor-General of New Zealand, in London, 2022]]
It was announced on 22 April 2021 by [[Prime Minister of Belize]] [[John Briceno]] that she was nominated to be the next Governor-General of Belize following the retirement of Sir [[Colville Young]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lovefm.com/pm-confirms-nomination-of-froyla-tzalam-as-the-next-governor-general/|title=PM Confirms Nomination of Froyla Tzalam as the next Governor General|date=22 April 2021|website=lovefm.com|access-date=2021-04-23|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423114705/https://lovefm.com/pm-confirms-nomination-of-froyla-tzalam-as-the-next-governor-general/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is the third Governor-General and the second woman appointed to the role.
On 21 March 2022, she was invested as a [[Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] by [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]], on behalf of [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Belize]], during the Platinum Jubilee [[List of official overseas trips made by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge|royal tour]] of Belize.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/court-circular-march-21-2022-25ltkz867|title=Court circular: March 21, 2022|website=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/232374|title=Governor General Froyla T'zalam Bestowed Title of Dame|publisher=Channel 5 Belize |access-date=21 August 2023|archive-date=11 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611215504/https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/232374|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=royalinstablog |number=1506553666983153673 |title=Investiture Ceremony}}</ref> In June 2022, she travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the Queen's Platinum Jubilee festivities in London.<ref>{{cite news|title=GG attends the Queen's Platinum Jubilee|date=4 June 2022|url=https://amandala.com.bz/news/gg-attends-the-queens-platinum-jubilee/|work=Amandala Newspaper}}</ref>
[[File:Realms Lunch Coronation Event (52872247956).jpg|thumb|Tzalam with the Duchess of Gloucester and the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace during her visit for the [[coronation of King Charles III]], 2022]]
Upon the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|death of Queen Elizabeth II]] in September 2022, Tzalam became the first governor-general of Belize to have served under two monarchs. She said that the Queen "was a much loved and respected figure across the globe", who "was known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2022/09/08/governor-general-dame-froyla-tzalam-issues-statement-following-the-passing-of-queen-elizabeth-ii-flags-to-be-flown-at-half-mast-2/|title=Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam issues statement following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II; Flags to be flown at half-mast|date=8 September 2022|work=Breaking Belize News}}</ref> Tzalam also represented Belize at the Queen's state funeral in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 September 2022 |title=GG Froyla Tzalam to Attend The Queen's Funeral |work=LoveFM |url=https://lovefm.com/gg-froyla-tzalam-to-attend-the-queens-funeral/ |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912204022/https://lovefm.com/gg-froyla-tzalam-to-attend-the-queens-funeral/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Alongside Minister [[Francis Fonseca]] she represented Belize at the [[Coronation of King Charles III]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Principal Attendance at the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Saturday 6th May 2023 |url=https://www.coronationroll.gov.uk/principle-attendance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505141935/https://www.coronationroll.gov.uk/principle-attendance/ |archive-date=2024-05-05 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Coronation Roll |publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom]]}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before= Sir [[Colville Young]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governor-General of Belize]]|years=2021–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tzalam, Froyla}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Governors-general of Belize]] [[Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] [[Category:21st-century Belizean women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Belizean politicians]] [[Category:Belizean Maya people]] [[Category:Indigenous activists of North America]] [[Category:People from Toledo District]] [[Category:Trinity University alumni]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex]] [[Category:Female governors-general]] [[Category:21st-century Maya people]] [[Category:21st-century Maya women]]