In 1984, Reverend Father Thomas García, parish priest of San Andrés Xecúl (in the department of Totonicapán), organized a group of people conscious of the realities of the poverty in which they were living. Amongst them were weavers, tailors, farmers, midwives, health workers, healers, musicians and community leaders who were internal refugees, all of whom were devoted to both Mayan spirituality as well as Catholicism. The organization they formed was called ´Cruz Maya´, the Mayan Cross. For two years they met in the Parish church of San Andrés Xecúl, until the bishop decided to move Father García to another location, and the group was left without leadership.

Newly independent from the Parish, in 1986 the group began re-unifying and reanalyzing their situation, and decided to strengthen their organization. They began by seeking advice, and by consensus decided to change the name of the organization to POP ATZ´IAQ, which translated from K´iche means the ´story of weaving´. This name holds deep meaning and value in the Maya cosmovision, and propelled the group as they agreed on their objective of seeking community development for their communities. A provisional board of directors was elected, consisting of individuals strongly dedicated to their objective.

In 1988 the members of Pop Atz´iaq decided that to further their work they needed to become a legal not for profit entity with a constitution under the laws of the country. This was necessary to avoid the risk of political repression which was rampant at the time. As a result, the provisional board of directors undertook the following actions: the fourth of November 1989 the organization was constituted as the Asociación Centro Cultural y Artesanal ¨Pop Atz´iaq¨; and the twenty fourth of May 1990, it was approved under the statutes of Agreement No. 506-90 as legal entity with public rights.