Maya Foundations

Casa Herrera

Casa Herrera (www.utmesoamerica.org [1]) is a research, conference, and teaching facility in Antigua, Guatemala [2]. It acts as an extension of the Mesoamerica Center of the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Art and Art History. They promote the study of pre-Columbian art, archaeology, history, and culture through education and research, and will be hosting the 2012 Maya Meetings in March, 2012.

Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

The Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies (FAMSI, www.famsi.org [3]) was created in 1993 to increase the world’s understanding of ancient Mesoamerican cultures. The organization assists researchers and maintains an email list called AZTLAN for like-minded Mayaphiles. The list is “open to all persons interested in pre-Columbian cultures, whether amateurs or professionals.”

Institute of Maya Studies

The mission of the Institute of Maya Studies (IMS, www.instituteofmayastudies.org [4]) is “to help spread knowledge on the pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas,” with an emphasis on the Maya. The IMS was founded in 1971 and is affiliated with the Miami Science Museum.

Maya Conservancy

The Maya Conservancy (info [at] mayaconservancy [dot] org, www.mayaconservancy.org [5]) is based in Austin, Texas, and works to preserve and protect Maya and pre-Maya archaeological sites throughout Central America. Their projects include improving the restoration and accessibility of the Izapa archaeological zone in Mexico [6].

Saq’ Be’

Saq’ Be’ (www.sacredroad.org [7]) is a nonprofit organization formed in the United States and named after “the sacred white road.” Trips are led by Ajq’ij (Maya priest) and the Organization for Mayan and Indigenous Spiritual Studies. They aim to teach the public about current indigenous struggles, assist indigenous communities, and arrange for meetings and exchanges between spiritual leaders of various indigenous communities.