Visiting indigenous Guatemala

In prospect of visiting weavers in Guatemala, I've been studying Guatemalan history and culture (and trying to add more Spanish words to my vocabulary, though I read that most of them will not understand Spanish any better than I do, being Mayans and therefore shut out of the dominant culture.) They are both shut out and hiding from it, after 30 years of a concerted attempt by the government to wipe out the indigenes. I am shocked at the continuance of the domination of European culture over the indigenous one, even after so many centuries. Other countries have absorbed the conquerors and sprouted new branches on their cultural tree. I am guessing that when I visit, I will see these branches as well, but perhaps hidden from "white eyes."