Kekchi

The Kekchi, also spelled Kekchí or Q'eqchi', are an indigenous Maya people of Guatemala and Belize. In Guatemala they are concentrated in the northern and eastern highlands, especially in Alta Verapaz Department and surrounding areas; smaller communities are found in Izabal and Baja Verapaz; Belize also has Kekchi-speaking communities near the border with Guatemala.

They speak Q'eqchi' (Kekchi), a Mayan language in the Quichean–Mamean family. Q'eqchi' is written primarily with the Latin alphabet; many speakers are bilingual in Spanish. There are several dialects; some variation in orthography exists.

Traditional livelihoods include agriculture, with crops such as maize, beans, and root crops; coffee production is common in some areas; weaving and crafts are common. The social and political life is organized through local community structures and customary law; religion is a syncretic mix of Roman Catholicism and indigenous Maya beliefs, with ritual practices tied to agricultural cycles.

In the modern era, Kekchi communities participate in Guatemala's education system, often with bilingual intercultural education initiatives. Language rights and cultural preservation efforts are pursued by community organizations, researchers, and international institutions. The Kekchi are one of the most widely spoken Mayan language communities in Guatemala.