Modern Maya people are descendants of the ancient Maya and live mainly in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Their population is around eight million, similar to estimates at the time of Spanish contact. Some Maya maintain traditional ways, while others have embraced modern life.
Interest in Maya culture is growing, with Maya languages taught in schools and traditional medicinal plants now studied for their potential to treat diseases like cancer and diabetes. Maya communities and researchers are working to preserve their culture after centuries of suppression, and the Maya forest stands as a lasting symbol of their heritage and environmental knowledge.
Posted into PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICA @people-of-latin-america-JanetteSpeyer