An ambitious effort is underway to create a free, online encyclopedia in the Yucatec Maya language, known as "Wikipedia ich maaya." The project is driven by the Maya-speaking community of Yucatán, in collaboration with Wikimedia México, and is part of the larger Program for Indigenous Communities and Original Peoples. Its primary goal is to build a collective knowledge resource in Yucatec Maya, while also activating other Wikimedia projects like Wiktionary and Wikibooks in this language, which is spoken by hundreds of thousands of people. For years, the project faced significant hurdles. Historically, as noted in reports from organizations such as UNESCO, Indigenous communities in Mexico have faced a pronounced digital divide, characterized by a lack of infrastructure, economic resources, and digital tools adapted for non-Spanish languages. Decades of exclusionary policies deepened these gaps, leaving projects like Wikipedia in Maya to contend with unstable internet connections, insufficient computers, and a shortage of institutional support for digital language revitalization. However, a breakthrough came in 2025 with the establishment of a formal partnership with the Directorate of Indigenous Education of the Yucatán State Secretary of Education. Through the advocacy of Vicente Canché Moo, head of the Department of Maya Language Materials Design, workspace and institutional backing were provided via the 'Ko’one’ex Kanik Maaya' program. This collaboration aims directly at minimizing the vast content gap and lack of representation for the Yucatec Maya and their culture on the world’s largest encyclopedia. The heart of this initiative involves 101 bilingual Maya-speaking teachers. Throughout 2025, the team from Wikimedia México trained these educators through a series of in-person workshops held in May, August, September, and November. The sessions, each lasting four hours, focused on translating the Wikipedia interface, creating new articles, and building an active, self-sustaining community of editors. The ultimate aim is for Wikipedia in Maya to graduate from its Incubator phase and secure its own independent domain. The progress so far is tangible: as of late 2025, the translation of the most crucial interface messages is 99.6% complete, and 17% of the core MediaWiki system messages have been translated. The work, however, is far from simply technical. One of the most fascinating and complex challenges involves the very nature of creating modern knowledge in an ancient language. The Maya language, like many Indigenous languages worldwide, is dynamically evolving. In the workshops, teachers engage in thoughtful debates about how best to express contemporary concepts. Some participants lean toward creating new words, neologisms. In contrast, others prefer to draw from deep historical conventions of the language or to "Mayanize" loanwords from Spanish—a language used daily alongside Maya—for concepts that are now integral to 21st-century life and the internet. These discussions about terminology and expression are essential for the language's vitality but require more time than initially anticipated, as the community thoughtfully navigates how to preserve its millennial legacy while embracing the present. Despite these thoughtful challenges, the response from the Maya-speaking community has been marked by great enthusiasm and commitment. Participants have shown a strong desire to build a supportive network, with some volunteering to become group leaders to help their colleagues. This spirit ensures the project’s growth beyond the workshops. Adding to this momentum, the project received exciting news at the close of 2025: it was selected to be part of the Linguistic Diversity Hub's Mentorship Program for the 2025-2026 period. This recognition will provide crucial guidance and resources. The path forward is one of both revival and innovation. By translating the digital tools of knowledge and creating content about their world, history, and culture, the Yucatec Maya community is actively ensuring their language remains a living, dynamic force in the digital age, reversing historical neglect and carving out a vibrant space for their voice in the global conversation.

The project is driven by the Maya-speaking community of Yucatán, in collaboration with Wikimedia México, and is part of the larger Program for Indigenous Communities and Original Peoples. Its primary goal is to build a collective knowledge resource in Yucatec Maya, while also activating other Wikimedia projects like Wiktionary and Wikibooks in this language, which is spoken by hundreds of thousands of people.

For years, the project faced significant hurdles. Historically, as noted in reports from organizations such as UNESCO, Indigenous communities in Mexico have faced a pronounced digital divide, characterized by a lack of infrastructure, economic resources, and digital tools adapted for non-Spanish languages.

Decades of exclusionary policies deepened these gaps, leaving projects like Wikipedia in Maya to contend with unstable internet connections, insufficient computers, and a shortage of institutional support for digital language revitalization. However, a breakthrough came in 2025 with the establishment of a formal partnership with the Directorate of Indigenous Education of the Yucatán State Secretary of Education. Through the advocacy of Vicente Canché Moo, head of the Department of Maya Language Materials Design, workspace and institutional backing were provided via the ‘Ko’one’ex Kanik Maaya’ program. This collaboration aims directly at minimizing the vast content gap and lack of representation for the Yucatec Maya and their culture on the world’s largest encyclopedia.

The heart of this initiative involves 101 bilingual Maya-speaking teachers. Throughout 2025, the team from Wikimedia México trained these educators through a series of in-person workshops held in May, August, September, and November. The sessions, each lasting four hours, focused on translating the Wikipedia interface, creating new articles, and building an active, self-sustaining community of editors. The ultimate aim is for Wikipedia in Maya to graduate from its Incubator phase and secure its own independent domain. The progress so far is tangible: as of late 2025, the translation of the most crucial interface messages is 99.6% complete, and 17% of the core MediaWiki system messages have been translated.

The work, however, is far from simply technical. One of the most fascinating and complex challenges involves the very nature of creating modern knowledge in an ancient language. The Maya language, like many Indigenous languages worldwide, is dynamically evolving. In the workshops, teachers engage in thoughtful debates about how best to express contemporary concepts.

Some participants lean toward creating new words, neologisms. In contrast, others prefer to draw from deep historical conventions of the language or to “Mayanize” loanwords from Spanish—a language used daily alongside Maya—for concepts that are now integral to 21st-century life and the internet. These discussions about terminology and expression are essential for the language’s vitality but require more time than initially anticipated, as the community thoughtfully navigates how to preserve its millennial legacy while embracing the present.

Despite these thoughtful challenges, the response from the Maya-speaking community has been marked by great enthusiasm and commitment. Participants have shown a strong desire to build a supportive network, with some volunteering to become group leaders to help their colleagues. This spirit ensures the project’s growth beyond the workshops. Adding to this momentum, the project received exciting news at the close of 2025: it was selected to be part of the Linguistic Diversity Hub’s Mentorship Program for the 2025-2026 period. This recognition will provide crucial guidance and resources.

The path forward is one of both revival and innovation. By translating the digital tools of knowledge and creating content about their world, history, and culture, the Yucatec Maya community is actively ensuring their language remains a living, dynamic force in the digital age, reversing historical neglect and carving out a vibrant space for their voice in the global conversation.

Carlos Rosado van der Gracht

Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, PhD, is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway. Most recently, he earned a doctorate in Heritage Studies in 2026.