They eat a variety of wild game hunted from the jungle, but mostly catch fish, preferably talapia.They also drink a variety of chichas (drink made by boiling or mixing water and something else).
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| Cocoa chicha |
The Kuna speak their own language called "Tule". While on the San Blas islands, many Kuna speak Spanish and even some English. Here are some phrases from their language:
- Hello – Na
- How are you? – Bede nued guddi?
- Fine, thank you. And you? – An nuedi. Bedina?
- Fine – Nuedi
They live traditionally in thatched roof huts made from materials readily found in the jungle such as bamboo and palm trees.
The Kuna women wear wrap around skirts and hand-made blouses known as "molas". The Mola is a intricately sewn picture made from layers of cloth. The men wear a traditional Kuna shirt and pants, jeans, or shorts. Kuna women paint their faces with achiote seeds. They also usually wear a nose ring and paint a line down their nose.They wear winnis (bracelets and multi color beads) all over their arms and legs as well to protect themselves from bad spirits.
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| Molas created by the women |
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| Winnis |
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| Attire of a Kuna woman |
Each populated island has a chief or 'sahila' who holds the highest position in the village. He has two or three deputy sahilas to help him, and an 'arkar', who acts as the chiefs interpreter passing on his pronouncements to the people. Below them come the 'sualipetmar' who are the equivalent of our police, and maintain order in the village.
Fun fact: they are the second shortest people in the world. The tallest of the Kuna people is around 4'8"
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