Kuna yala ky is a semi autonomous indigenous region in the north of panama, encompassing approximately 200 km of caribbean coastline. The kuna indians are a fascinating tribal society residing in the san blas archipelago. Revolution in 1925 resulted from resistance by the kuna people to the panamanian government edicts. Kuna of madungandi and embera of bayano indigenous. Stories, myths, chants, and songs of the kuna indians.
In the early 18th century, when the spanish conquistadors expanded the. They use a combination of herbs and chants to heal their patients. This is a well researched and well written book about my tribe. The kuna live on the san blas islands off the coast of panama which have one of the worlds highest populations of albinos eric lafforguebarcroft media fri 26 jun 2015 06. With sandy beaches, clear water, coral reefs, and sunny skies, kuna yala seems like paradise to tourists. The kuna indians of panama have become identified with the mola blouses worn by kuna. Kuna collection of joel sherzer the archive of the. Jul 30, 2014 one of the most touted confirmations of cacao as a health food comes from a group of studies on the kuna people, an indigenous culture of central american indians in panama. Molas are a sign of independence, pride and tradition. Development from above and below in northcentral panama. Kuna yala, the indigenous name for kuna land, is a narrow strip of coastline that stretches about 250 miles along panama s caribbean coast and borders colombia. The kuna indians have governed their region since the 1920s.
Pdf contrary to a recent deluge of scientific and popular publications, the islanddwelling kuna people of ailigandi, san blas panama do not consume. In the 16th century the kuna were an important group, living in. They speak kuna the name of the language in kuna is dulegaya as well as spanish. On the caribbean slopes of the tabasara mountains, which face the rainbearing trade winds, average rainfall is approximately twice as heavy as on the leeward pacific slopes. The kuna people inhabit approximately 49 islands of the three hundred sixty five islands which form 170 mile chain lying about 12 miles off the caribbean coast of panama from kuna yala point to the gulf of uraba. Most kunas live on small islands off the northern coast of panama known as the san blas islands.
The beloved san blas islands of panama are home to the native people known as kuna indians. Apr 21, 2009 fn4 the petitioners point out that the kuna of madungandi reserve was created in 1996 by law 24 of january 12, 1996 and is situated east of panama province, chepo district, in the area known as alto bayano. The kuna people inhabit approximately 49 islands of the three hundred sixty five islands which form 170 mile chain lying about 12 miles off the caribbean coast of panama from kuna yala point to the gulf. To identify the various kinds of plants and animals from the rainforests of panama, colombia, and san blas kuna. Evidence for dietary habits among the kuna indians of panama outside of cacao consumption is limited. The kuna of panama are famous for their brightly colored textile art called molas. The isthmus of panama must have been one of the worst places on earth for an indigenous people to live. Differences in populations measured in 2011 and our sample in 20 include this sample being island dwelling and having limited access to the mainland, whereas the prior study population included kuna who either lived in panama city or living in indigenous zones that are accessible to the city by land. Panama, the united states and the san blas kuna find, read and cite all the research you need on. The greatest number of kuna people live on small islands in the comarca of kuna yala or on the islands off the coast of panama, known as the san blas islands. Meanwhile surfers will be psyched to have worldclass breaks all to themselves. Prosperity documentary with kuna people of coastal panama.
Kuna of madungandi and the embera of bayano indigenous. They mostly eat fish, coconuts, and plantains which are very similar to bananas. Examination of dietary habits among the indigenous kuna. Eventually, kuna believers teamed up with wycliffe translators keith and wilma forster and the bible society of panama, and work on the old testament began. Fn4 the petitioners point out that the kuna of madungandi reserve was created in 1996 by law 24 of january 12, 1996 and is situated east of panama province, chepo district, in the area known as alto bayano.
To introduce the kuna yala reserve as a cause celebre among environmentalists and advocates of indigenous peoples rights. Rising seas and severe storms have endangered the indigenous island culture of the kuna peoples of panama, forcing them to weigh relocation. The kuna are among the first communities described with a little agerelated rise in blood pressure or hypertension. About the kuna indians san blas islands of panama guna. Ive been working with the kuna people of coastal panama for years, to work together to create a sustainable economic system. When the arrival of the spaniards and the missionaries to america in the fifteenth century, new materials and changes in customs also arrived, including cloth. The cuna, in the language itself spelled kuna prior to a 2010 orthographic reform and guna thereafter, are an indigenous people of panama and colombia. Indigenous peoples in panama and the applicable legal framework 9. Most of the kuna s 62,000 people are dispersed among three comarcas or reservations located in northeastern panama, where they enjoy substantial political autonomy. Like the mayans and the aztecs, the kuna have long been sipping on several different variations of a cacao based beverage, which they call siagwa. Recruitment took place at the local clinic and throughout the larger ustupu and ogobsucum kuna communities over a oneweek period in 20 using a convenience sample and a consecutive sampling design. The state agrees to continue the kunas compensation payments for five more years, but fails to fully carry out the agreement. Kuna yala, the indigenous name for kuna land, is a narrow strip of coastline that stretches about 250 miles along panamas caribbean coast and borders colombia.
Kuna of madungandi and the embera indigenous people of bayano. The way of the cocoa counsel from the kuna indians of panama. The kuna are one of the most powerful indigenous groups in panama and have actually. Many people think that every indigenous group in the americas were brutally conquered. Kuna woman kuna woman in traditional dress, san blas islands, panama. Kuna dance groups are becoming increasingly popular among kuna youth.
Oct 16, 2009 kuna traditional dances san blas, panama subscribe and click the bell to enable notifications for my new videos. The kuna rebelled in 1925 killing panamanian policemen and many children of mixed blood living on the islands. In spite of historical pressure to become part of panama and westernize their culture, they manage to remain living much the same way their ancestors did. The current preferred and legally recognized spelling is guna. Examination of dietary habits among the indigenous kuna indians of. The mola of the kuna indians from panama and colombia. The communities are located off the eastern coast of panama and have limited access to healthcare. This paper aims to provide information on dietary habits and investigate sociodemographic correlates of diet for the indigenous population living off the coast of panama. Dec 06, 2010 rising seas and severe storms have endangered the indigenous island culture of the kuna peoples of panama, forcing them to weigh relocation. The cinematography of the prosperityfilm tells the story in a beautiful way. The native kuna people live in the tropical coastal area. Learn more about their traditions in our overview of the indigenous cultures of panama.
The kuna shire, or kuna yala land of the kuna people is an independent region, comprised of over 370 islands. The native people living on the san blas islands are the kuna indians. Jun 26, 2015 the kuna live on the san blas islands off the coast of panama which have one of the worlds highest populations of albinos eric lafforguebarcroft media fri 26 jun 2015 06. I have recently come home to buenos aires, argentina from panama. Sep 30, 2017 ive been working with the kuna people of coastal panama for years, to work together to create a sustainable economic system. The kuna indians who reside in an archipelago on the caribbean coast of panama have very low blood pressure levels, live longer than other panamanians, and have a reduced frequency of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and cancer at least on their death certificates. The kuna are one of the most powerful indigenous groups in panama and have actually gone to war with the republic of panama over disagreements. Pdf artefacts and bodies among kuna people from panama. The kuna general congress and the statute on tourism. Kuna traditional dances san blas, panama subscribe and click the bell to enable notifications for my new videos. Shallow marine areas of ky are considered to be among the most pristine in the caribbean, harboring a number of.
Cosmopolitan panama the dazzling blue coastline and shimmering skyscrapers say miami, though many joke that you hear more english spoken in panama. During my stay there i had the opportunity of living among the kunas for a week. To make money, the kuna people sell food products such as coconuts and lobsters to other countries. It is loaded with archival photos and is aimed towards the layperson. Shallow marine areas pdf and any associated supplements and figures. The mola of the kuna indians from panama and colombia joe. Artefacts and bodies among kuna people from panama.
They now inhabit part of the countrys northern shore and the neighboring san blas archipelago. The kuna call this region kuna yala, or guna yala home of. After the revolution, an agreement was reached according to which the kuna would join the general school system but they also achieved cultural autonomy. The kuna and their molas objectives to introduce a people that are an advocate for indigenous rights, the kuna. The mola of the kuna indians is a textile art created by kuna people from panama and colombia. In the cuna language, they call themselves dule or tule, meaning people, and the name of the language in. Panamas indigenous kuna people are at risk from climate change, by ruxandra guidi. The us intervened and in 1938 the region was officially recognized by the government of. One of the most touted confirmations of cacao as a health food comes from a group of studies on the kuna people, an indigenous culture of central american indians in panama. In the guna language, they call themselves dule or tule, meaning people, and the name of the language is dulegaya, literally people mouth. Global trends suggest an uptake in processed foods conferring risk for chronic disease.
The guna comarca is adjacent to the panama mainland. The state stops compensation payments due to an alleged fund shortage. The kuna indians home on offshore islands on the caribbean coast of panama has probably been their home for centuries, since the time of the spanish conquistadors. The kuna people of the san blas islands panama travel. Pdf where chocolate begins and research methods end. Kuna of madungandi and the embera indigenous people of bayano and their members v. The kuna dedicated their bible in three locations in september 2014.
Arbena and others published a people who would not kneel. Prevalence and correlates of diagnosed and undiagnosed. Panama, the united states, and the san blas kuna, 1998. The kunas native language, mola means shirt or clothing. The kuna people of the san blas islands panama travel articles. Kuna of madungandi and embera of bayano indigenous peoples. The us intervened and in 1938 the region was officially recognized by the government of panama and autonomous rule was granted. The word mola comes from the word kuna dule gaya meaning clothing. Their reservation, or comarca, consists of a strip of the mainland and about 400 islands. Climatic conditions are markedly different on the atlantic and pacific sides of western panama, especially in the amount and seasonal distribution of rainfall. The kuna people live on panama s northeastern caribbean coast, and their beautiful lands which they call kuna yala, known to others as san bias draw many visitors. The kuna yala, where most live, has provincial government status.
The kuna, or cuna, is the most prominent indigenous population in panama, around 50,000 kuna in panama and colombia. While this is generally true, a people who would not kneel documents how the kuna of panama were able to avoid that fate. A guide to visiting panamas indigenous kuna indians. The kuna people largely inhabit the san blas islands, 365 islands off the north coast of the isthmus of panama, east of the canal. Kuna, also spelled cuna, chibchanspeaking indian people who once occupied the central region of what is now panama and the neighbouring san blas islands and who still survive in marginal areas. Kuna, also known among themselves as the tule, native south american group of the chibchan language family and of panama. With respect to the creation of the bayano integral. The guna, in the language itself spelled kuna prior to a 2010 orthographic reform, are an indigenous people of panama and colombia. Guna woman making molas with children, guna yala ccri, panama. They are an amazing people who live in a gorgeous place in the world.
The kuna people live in small villages in panama, each with its own government. The indigenous peoples kuna of the madungandi and the embera of bayano. Culture of panama history, people, women, beliefs, food. Panama the peninsula principles in action displacement solutions.
The kuna live in three politically autonomous comarcas or reservations in panama, and in a few small villages in colombia. To comprehend kuna aesthetics, it is suggested, we need to look at the way amerindians conceive the person, at how bodies are created, and at the relationships that human beings and animals entertain. The kuna women of panama create brightly colored textiles called molas. In the kuna language, they call themselves dule or tule, meaning people, and the name of the language in kuna is dulegaya, literally people mouth. Specifically, before this, the kuna were accusing the local authorities of suppressing their culture. The state agrees to continue the kuna s compensation payments for five more years, but fails to fully carry out the agreement. The kuna people migrated from south america to panama sometime in the 15th century. They occupied an area of about 400 islands along the caribbean coast, which is known today as the san blas archipelago. Kuna indians of the san blas islands, panama travel. What did the kuna people gain from the panamanian government.