Kaqchikel has around 410,000 speakers, and is part of the Quichean-Mamean branch of the Mayan language family. It is spoken by the Kaqchikel people of midwestern Guatemala, predominantly in the departments of Sololá, Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, and Guatemala. Despite the Spanish Conquest's exploitation and genocide of indigenous peoples, Kaqchikel survived, and is now taught in public schools.