What exactly is the "Mayan council of elders" and how long have they been in existence?

I would like to know if this is a modern organization or something that has been around for a long time. Yes, I know the Mayans are an ancient people, but this organization gets thrown around as if they are a special repository of the Maya. They also go by many different names: Council of Elders of the Sacred Mayas, Consejo de Ancianos Mayas,National Mayan Council of Elders of Guatemala, Mayan Elders National Council, for example. Anyone know the history of this group?