Based on research supported by the Peace Corps, this book about the Guatemalan Indians examines some of the cultural implications and problems of current efforts that aim toward national integration of traditional communities. There are seven major chapters. Chapter 1, "A Social History of the Guatemalan Indian," looks at the Indians under both Spanish rule and national rule after independence. A Guatemalan peasant community is described. The second chapter discusses agricultural beliefs and practices in the Maya highlands, examining ritual and technology, change, and risk taking. The issue of cooperation versus individualistic competition in Indian communities is the topic of chapter 3. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 deal with medical innovations. The role of the shaman is examined, a case study of one town is presented, and disease prevention is discussed. The schooling process in cultural perspective is the focus of chapter 7. The appendices contain: a journal article discussing the fate of two innovators in a Maya village; maps showing current language boundaries of and ethnographic studies conducted in Guatemala; a directory of Guatemalan institutions, libraries, and individuals with social science research interests; a glossary; and a bibliography of resources dealing with the Maya highlands. (RM)