Awakateko Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

As the Awakateko people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of their biggest obstacles. This is where Awakateko interpreters and translators step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.

For the Awakateko, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, language services play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.

This blog explores the Awakateko language, why the Awakateko are migrating, and the help interpreters can provide as they settle in the United States.

Who speaks Awakateko?

Awakateko is an Indigenous language spoken predominantly in and around the town of Aguacatán, located in the western highlands of Guatemala. This area is found in the Huehuetenango department, a mountainous region near the border with Mexico. The name derives from the town of Aguacatán, which likely comes from the Nahuatl term for “place of abundant avocados.” Speakers refer to themselves as Qatanum, meaning “our people.” Variations in spelling include Aguacatec and Aguacateko.

UNESCO classifies Awakateko as severely endangered. Although the Guatemalan government officially recognizes it and it is taught in schools, the widespread use of Spanish, especially among younger generations, has contributed to its decline.

Awakateko belongs to the Greater Mamean branch of the Mayan language family and is closely related to Ixil. Together, they form the Ixilan sub-branch. With no formally documented variants, Awakateko is considered a single, unified language.

The Awakateko trace their origins to the Maya civilization that once lived in the present-day department of Petén and the Yucatán Peninsula. By the time Spanish colonizers arrived in the 16th century, their communities had already moved to the highlands. After the Classic Maya collapse, they continued to preserve their cultural identity and practices in these areas.

Centuries of colonial rule cemented deep social and economic inequalities. Spanish colonization, and later, the modern Guatemalan state, placed the Awakateko at the bottom of a rigid social hierarchy dominated by a Ladino elite. This profoundly unequal system exerted strict control over communities, resulting in persistent marginalization that lasted well into the 20th century.

Starting in the 1940s, political reforms began to reshape local dynamics. A new generation of community leaders emerged and challenged long-standing power structures. Despite obstacles such as military repression in the 1970s, Awakatek communities gradually assumed control of local governance and established organizations to advocate for their rights.

Why are the Awakatek people migrating?

Migration among the Awakatek people is rooted in a long history of conflict, displacement, and systemic inequality. Today, worsening environmental and economic conditions push many to leave.

In Guatemala’s western highlands, communities face barriers such as limited land access, widespread poverty, poor crop yields, and under-resourced government institutions. Generations of land dispossession, neglect, and exclusion from essential services have left little room for sustainable development.

Extended droughts and unpredictable rainfall have made farming unreliable. As families have been left without food or income after repeated crop failures, traditional subsistence farming has become unsustainable.

Employment opportunities are scarce, and basic services such as healthcare and education are often inaccessible, especially in remote rural areas. The inability to afford schooling or medical care drives many families to migrate and seek a better future in the United States.

Migration, however, comes at a cost. Families are often separated, and many communities lose their working-age adults, shifting responsibilities to those who stay behind and creating heavy dependence on money sent from abroad. Countless households now survive entirely on remittances from family members working abroad.

The Roles And Importance Of Awakateko Interpreters

Awakateko interpreters help migrants to express themselves and understand the information they are given, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and make more informed decisions.

Interpreters act as trusted guides for Awakatek migrants, guiding them through the complex U.S. immigration system, and helping them get access to medical, legal, and social services. In settings like doctor's appointments, immigration proceedings, and court hearings, qualified Awakateko interpreters are indispensable. 

Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Awakatek cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.

However, the number of Awakateko speakers is decreasing each year. This small speaker base limits the number of individuals qualified to interpret professionally. Indigenous languages like Awakateko often receive little institutional support, which has resulted in a lack of formal training programs and certifications that interpreters need to work in specialized settings such as healthcare and the justice system. 

This language disparity restricts Awakateko speakers' access to healthcare, legal aid, and social services. Without language services, they are at risk of misdiagnoses, unfair asylum decisions, and unjust deportations. Awakateko speakers need access to qualified interpreters to have a clear understanding of their circumstances and exercise their fundamental right to language access in the U.S.

Work With An Awakateko Interpreter from Maya Bridge 

Our Awakateko-to-English interpretation services are trusted by government agencies, healthcare providers, and courts across the country. As a small, niche agency specializing in Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to deliver on-demand Awakateko interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

• Video Remote Awakateko Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Awakateko Interpretation 

• In-person Awakateko Interpretation 

• Court-certified Awakateko Interpretation

• Medical-certified Awakateko Interpretation

• Awakateko Translation

• Awakateko Voiceover and Subtitles

  
  

Learn more about our language services here.

Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Indigenous and Lower-resource Language Access In The U.S.

At Maya Bridge Language Services, we’re a mission-driven interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services. We proudly provide interpretation in over 230 languages, including more than 145 Indigenous and low-diffusion languages from Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Native American communities.

Since 2021, we have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world. Our growing network of trained interpreters ensures that Indigenous language speakers are heard and understood in critical moments, from healthcare to legal settings and access to government services.

Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.

About the Author

Jace Norton is a Q'eqchi' interpreter and linguist with an extensive background in the Q'eqchi' language. Norton lived and worked among the Q'eqchi' people from 2010-2012, created a language learning guide for Q'eqchi' in 2014, and worked in Q'eqchi' translation and interpretation from 2017-2021. In 2021, Norton founded Maya Bridge Language Services and is now a leading advocate for Mayan language access in the US.