At its peak, the Maya civilization had one of the richest
cultures in the Americas. Today, ethnic Mayas in central America
and Mexico suffer from discrimination, exploitation and poverty.
In Guatemala, where nearly half of the population is indigenous,
descendants of the once-mighty ancient civilization have even
fallen victims to genocide. The rich Mayan culture will be in
the global spotlight Friday when revelers — and doomsday
watchers — will mark the end of a 5,200-year era as sketched out
in the elaborate Mayan calendar. But the plight of indigenous
Mayas in the region will likely go undiscussed. “The indigenous
population was always seen as cheap labor and this persists to
this day,” said Guatemalan anthropologist Alvaro Pop, a member
of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
“They are seen as a tool and are not the focus of public
policies.” The Maya civilization reached its peak between the
years 250 and 900, but then slipped into decline around 1200.
Three centuries later, during Sp