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Native American Tribes of Guatemala

This is an index to the Native American language and cultural information on our website pertaining to Guatemalan Indian tribes. Some pages contain more information than others. If you belong to an indigenous tribe from Guatemala that is not currently listed on this page and you would like to see it here, please contact us about contributing information to our site.

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The name "Guatemala" is of indigenous origin. It comes from a Nahuatl word, Cuauhtēmallān, which means "place full of trees." However, the Nahuatl language was never actually spoken in the area that is Guatemala today-- it was a word the Spanish conquistadors learned from the Aztecs and brought with them as they moved east to attack this new, mostly Mayan territory. Today, Guatemala has one of the largest indigenous communities in South America. More than 40% of the country's population is indigenous, and another 20% identify as mestizo (mixed-race indigenous people.) Five million Guatemalans speak an indigenous language, with the two most common being the Mayan languages Quiche (or K'iche') and Kekchi (or Q'eqchi.) Although Spanish is still the only official language of Guatemala, and many speakers of Mayan languages have faced discrimination and persecution, today there is an increasing sense of pride in Guatemala's indigenous languages which are taught in public schools and used throughout Guatemalan society.

The original inhabitants of Guatemala include:

The Acatec Indians The Achi Indians The Aguateca Indians
The Cakchiquel Indians The Chicomuceltec Indians The Cholti Indians
The Chorti Indians The Chuj Indians The Garifuna Indians
The Itza' Maya Indians The Ixil Indians The Jacalteco Indians
The Kanjobal Indians The Kekchi Indians The Mam Indians
The Mopan Indians The Pokomam Indians The Pokomchi Indians
The Quiche Indians The Sacapulteco Indians The Sipacapense Indians
The Tacaneco Indians The Tectiteco Indians The Tzutujil Indians
The Uspanteco Indians The Xinca Indians

Resources about the indigenous languages of Guatemala:

Language Map of Guatemala and Honduras:
    Images showing the location of the major languages and dialects spoken in Guatemala.
Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala:
    National government office promoting education and literacy in Guatemala's indigenous Mayan languages.
Guatemala Animal Names:
    Learn the names of Guatemalan animals in four different indigenous languages.
El Idioma K'iche: * El Idioma Q'eqchi:
    Spanish-Maya dictionaries with audio clips to show how the Native Guatemalan words are pronounced.
Guatemalan Law Recognizes Indigenous Languages:
    News article about improvements in legal status for the languages of Guatemalan indigenous groups.

Recommended books about Guatemala's Native Americans:
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

Roads to Change in Maya Guatemala: Anthropology book about the culture of the Guatemala Mayan tribes over time.
*Forest Society: A Social History of Peten, Guatemala: Sociology study about the Indians of Guatemala.
*We Were Taught to Plant Corn Not to Kill: Essays and artwork by Guatemalan Mayas about the hardships they have endured.
*I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala: Historical fiction about the struggles of the Guatemalan Indians.
*Maya Achi Marimba Music In Guatemala: Book on the musical tradition of the Guatemala Mayans.

More resources about Native American Indian history, culture and society in Guatemala:

Centro Cultural Sotz'il Jay:
    Indigenous cultural center celebrating traditional and contemporary Mayan culture of Guatemala.
Museo Popol Vuh:
    Homepage of the pre-Columbian art and history museum of Guatemala City.
Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya: * Fondo de Desarrollo Indígena Guatemalteco:
    Organizations in Guatemala providing social support and protecting the rights of indigenous people.
Life in a Guatemalan Indian Village:
    Online exhibit about the culture, traditions, economy, and lifestyle of modern Guatemalan Mayas.
Guatemalan Ethnic Costume in Photos:
    Photographs of colorful Highland Maya clothing.
Ancient Faith of Guatemala's Indian People:
    Article on the blending of indigenous religions with Catholicism in Guatemala.
Ixcanul and the Strength of Mayan Women:
    Award-winning Guatemalan movie filmed in the Kaqchikel Maya language.
Guatemala Indigenous Peoples Flag:
    Images and descriptions of Guatemalan tribal flags.
The Mayan Empire: * Ancient Maya Civilization: * Mystery of the Maya:
    Articles on the Maya history of Guatemala.
Guatemala Maya Archaeology: * Pyramids found hidden under jungle: * Deciphering Tikal:
    Pictures and descriptions of old Mayan ruins in Guatemala.
Guatemala's history of genocide: * Violence and genocide in Guatemala:
    Articles about massacres committed against the Maya people during the Guatemalan Civil War.
Las culturas indigenas de Guatemala: * Los idiomas de Guatemala:
    Information in Spanish about the natives of Guatemala.



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