Kuna Cultural Survival

These days the Kuna Indians sell their Molas to tourist but not as clothing because they don’t want tourists to wear the traditional clothing. You can buy patches of Molas for wall decoration or for pillows. You are able to buy Molas in Panama or Colombia, however they are not allowed to be sold outside these countries because the Kuna’s forbid it. Selling these molas bring in a lot of money for the families.

Tourist purchasing molas

The Kuna’s mainly survive by allowing tourists on their islands and selling coconuts to the mainland and surrounding countries. On all the islands, palm trees provide plenty of coconuts that give a steady flow of income all year around. If you were to steal or take a coconut from the island, you would be punished with a high fine.

Kuna woman carving a coconut

When visiting, you must pay $1 for each island visited.
The tourists are only allowed on a couple of islands of San Blas and on these islands the Kuna provide food and stay for them all year around. 
If you enter the San Blas area you are to obey the rules and traditions of the Kuna’s. Because of the traditional lifestyle of the indigenous inhabitants the area is still relatively untouched by the tourist branches.
Kunas are very proud of their culture and try to keep it from being exposed from the outside world.

Within the government house in Carti. a sign is displayed with the phrase “The people who lose their culture lose their soul”