Lacandon

Lacandon, also spelled Lacandón, refers to an indigenous Maya people of eastern Chiapas, Mexico. They inhabit the Lacandon Jungle along the Usumacinta River and near the Guatemalan border. The Lacandon are one of the Maya groups with a distinct language and cultural practices, though most now speak Spanish as well.

The Lacandon language is a Mayan language spoken by the Lacandon people. It is endangered, with only a portion of the population fluent; younger generations increasingly use Spanish. Many Lacandon communities remain relatively small and separated in the forest, maintaining traditional houses and livelihoods.

Traditionally, the Lacandon pursued subsistence agriculture (milpa), growing maize, beans, and squash, along with hunting, gathering, and collection of forest products such as resins and medicinal plants. The forest is deeply integrated into their cosmology and ritual life, and many ceremonies follow the Maya agricultural calendar. In modern times, languages and customs face pressures from outside economic forces, but some communities have maintained distinctive crafts and songs.

Historically, contact with Europeans began in the colonial period, but the Lacandon remained relatively isolated for centuries. In the late 20th century, forest policies and land-use pressures—culminating in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve established in 1978—led to land conflicts and changes in traditional settlement patterns. Today, the Lacandon are recognized as an indigenous people under Mexican law; they continue to seek protection of their lands, language, and cultural heritage amid ongoing environmental and social challenges.