Who Are The Mayan People?

There are 7 billion people in the world. 600 million live in northern America. 125 million live in Mexico with 1.5 million living near the Cancun peninsula, and only around 2,000 of them are Itzan. The Itzan people are in grave danger of extinction, with only 1,983 natives left. Did you know that only 8 people in this whole world, speak itzan fluently?

But who are the Itza people? The Itzan are one of the few surviving tribes of the Mayan people but they are also shrouded in mystery. No one knows exactly what they believe or how they came to be there. There are a few legends but none tell of the Itzas descent from the Mayans. The Itzans survived Spanish conquest until 1697, almost 2 centuries after most Mayan tribes and people had been integrated into mission towns, fled, or been killed. The 1,983 people of itzan descent that remain, reside mainly in Guatemala, specifically in the town of San Jose. “San José is a crowded, nucleated town climbing up
the steep hillsides from the shores of Lake Petén Itza'.”(Every Culture) Most residents live in traditional houses are rectangularly shaped, made of wattle (a type of acacia tree) and daub (a mud based plaster) with thatched roofs. They have many gods and also worship animal spirits and pyramids. Most gods are affiliated with nature, such as the sun god or the maize god. One of the most famous Itzan worship places is Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is one of the 7 world wonders. It “is rich in monumental architecture and sculpture which promote themes of militarism and displays imagery of jaguars, eagles, and feathered serpents.”(Ancient EU) The site is thought to have been built in the Classic period (c. 250-900 CE). Chichen Itza was in the center of a Mayan village. Unfortunately, because of it being a world wonder, Chichen Itza brings many visitors. These visitors simply want to see the wonder for themselves but are slowly breaking the pyramid.

Some of the main problems that face the Itza are the loss of culture, language, and complete extinction. Since almost no conservation efforts are being taken towards the Itza population, they have had to revive themselves practically from the dead. One of the main causes of the loss of the language, culture, and decrease in population was that immediately before the Spanish conquered the area, they had been warring with the few other native Mayan tribes that were left, and were already weak and down in numbers. After trying to convert and congregate the Itza, the Spanish banned the speaking of their language from 1930’s - 1980’s causing 2 generations to never learn itzan. (revloy) There was a lot of prejudice and unfair things that happened to the Itza in the middle of the 20th century, they lost their land, city, and monuments all in a few years.

Fortunately, there have been schools set up to teach the itzan language and a ban on travelers climbing the steps of Chichen Itza has been put in place.
Chichen Itza has countless carvings in it and not all were done by the Itza. There are hundred of initials carved into the top, base, and steps of the monument. The Itza people have, in recent years, become more active in conservation efforts made towards them.

How long can the itza people survive with only about 2,000 people and 8 fluent speakers in this ever-modernizing world? The itza are one of the last remaining descendants of the Mayan, one of the only ones to (barely) survive the conquest by the Spanish in 1697, the banning of their language and by association, their culture. Thanks to the itza population starting to reach out to the world along with scientists and historians, we have begun to restore and discover some of the itza cultures. But, because of the mystery behind the itza, we may never find out all of the many secrets their history
holds.