The Kuna Indians are a strongly knit tribal society living on the islands called San Blas Islands, and on the mainland of the Atlantic side of Panama. The Kuna Indians preserved their culture very well, living almost exactly the same as their ancestors. Agriculture and fishing are their main source of income as well as their intricate and beautiful knitted clothes called molas created by the women. Between their beliefs and ways of living there is no other culture out there like the Kuna's. They somehow managed to retain their tribal identity and kept themselves free from the complexities of modern society   |
Monday, April 21, 2014
Kuna Introduction
Migrations and Diaspora
Like previously stated from the origins post, the Kuna people came from Colombia where they went towards the Darien mountains and relocated to Panama and the San Blas islands.
These migrations were caused partly by wars with other indigenous tribes and possibly by bad treatment of the Spanish invaders. To this day, The kuna reside on the east coast of Panama. Most Kuna people stay within the reservation, but there are a few who travel out to Panama city for finding jobs and getting an education at universities. Other then that, they don't travel outside of Panama, for they are proud of their culture and want to preserve it.
 |
| Darien Gap |
These migrations were caused partly by wars with other indigenous tribes and possibly by bad treatment of the Spanish invaders. To this day, The kuna reside on the east coast of Panama. Most Kuna people stay within the reservation, but there are a few who travel out to Panama city for finding jobs and getting an education at universities. Other then that, they don't travel outside of Panama, for they are proud of their culture and want to preserve it.
 |
| Darien Mountains in the Darien gap |
Origin of the Kuna people
The Kuna Indians have lived in Panama and the San Blas islands for the last two hundred years. Their actual origins are disputed though. According to oral tradition the tribe emigrated from Colombia at the end of the 16th century, after their tribe was repeatedly attacked by Amerindians.
They fled and settled in the Darien Mountains. Under pressure from other tribes, or possibly the Spanish conquistadors. The majority of the Kunas moved to the coast and later to the offshore islands which are the San Blas Islands.
The Kuna Indians have governed their region since the 1920's. The Kuna rebelled in 1925 killing Panamanian policemen and many children of mixed blood living on the Islands. The US intervened and in 1938 the region was officially recognized by the government of Panama and autonomous rule was granted. Today the Kuna have 2 representatives in the Panamanian legislature and can also vote in general elections.
They fled and settled in the Darien Mountains. Under pressure from other tribes, or possibly the Spanish conquistadors. The majority of the Kunas moved to the coast and later to the offshore islands which are the San Blas Islands.
 |
| Kuna flag : Swastika represent the four winds |
The Kuna Indians have governed their region since the 1920's. The Kuna rebelled in 1925 killing Panamanian policemen and many children of mixed blood living on the Islands. The US intervened and in 1938 the region was officially recognized by the government of Panama and autonomous rule was granted. Today the Kuna have 2 representatives in the Panamanian legislature and can also vote in general elections.
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.
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.
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”
 |
| 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”
World of the Kuna
The Kuna have plots of land in the jungle where they grow plantain, bananas, and avocados, and other fruits. They also grow corn, manioc and ñame.
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).
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:
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.
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"
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).
 |
| 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.
 |
| Molas created by the women |
 |
| Winnis |
 |
| 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"
Kuna Beliefs/Cosmos
The Kuna are animists. They believe in a creator God who now is far away from them and that the poni, groups of malevolent spirits roam the earth entering peoples bodies causing sickness and disease. The use the nuchus, small dolls carved out of balsa wood, to protect them from the poni.
The Kuna people may have the highest cases of albinism in their culture. According to legend, the albino people are called “moon children”. They are responsible for shooting arrows at the full moon. Since the moon controls the tides, they believe the presence of albinos is a gift from the gods to protect them from rising tides.
Ceremonies
ikko inna (needle ceremony): a baby girl's nose is pierced for a gold nose ring
inna tunsikkalet (short ceremony): a puberty rite that usually lasts one or two days
inna suit (long ceremony): a ritual cutting of the hair that usually lasts three or more days. Once a young girl's hair is ritually cut short, she becomes available for marriage. Sometimes an inna suit is held for a very young girl even though she will not be ready for marriage for many years.
 |
| Nuchus dolls |
The Kuna people may have the highest cases of albinism in their culture. According to legend, the albino people are called “moon children”. They are responsible for shooting arrows at the full moon. Since the moon controls the tides, they believe the presence of albinos is a gift from the gods to protect them from rising tides.
Ceremonies
ikko inna (needle ceremony): a baby girl's nose is pierced for a gold nose ring
inna tunsikkalet (short ceremony): a puberty rite that usually lasts one or two days
inna suit (long ceremony): a ritual cutting of the hair that usually lasts three or more days. Once a young girl's hair is ritually cut short, she becomes available for marriage. Sometimes an inna suit is held for a very young girl even though she will not be ready for marriage for many years.
Kuna Homeland
The Kuna people reside on the San Blas Islands, which is the eastern section of Panama’s Caribbean Coast.
Approximately 65 of the 350 islands are inhabited. There are several Kuna villages in the jungle areas of Panama on the Madungandi reservation. However, recently many have moved to Panama City for work and education at universities.
On the island, the ground consist of sand and compacted coral. The environment on both the islands and mainland is very tropical with palm trees and lots of humidity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)