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July
2004
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The
Kuna Indians
The Kuna Indians of Panama
live in a world all their own. They even call their home,
“Kuna Yala” which means, “Land of the
Kuna.” They’ve lived in the San Blas Islands
Region in Panama for the past 200 years. Before landing
there, it is believed that they might have come from Colombia
after many violent attacks by the Amerindians. The Kuna
are lost and very few have ever clearly heard the good news.
They do believe that a god created the universe, but that
he then left them with evil spirits to roam the lands and
strike them with diseases and sicknesses. They use wooden
dolls called “nuchus” to protect themselves
from the spirits that they call “poni”. They
fear natural disasters will plague them if they don’t
do good deeds to please god. They are very caught up in
their superstitious beliefs and fearfully try and please
god to stay safe. They have no concept of eternity and have
no reason for a hope beyond the things of this world.
CUSTOMS
Despite their beliefs, the Kuna Indians are very friendly
and hospitable. Their way of living is completely foreign
for most people who are used to living in a high-paced modern
society. Although you may have never heard of them before,
you’re likely to have seen something they make. Kuna
women are famous for making “molas” which they
wear on their blouses. Great time and effort is spent as
they decoratively sew panels of fabric in a reverse appliqué
technique. They generally portray a particular scene in
a Kuna legend. These days, molas are sold to tourists and
collectors to help the Kuna’s economy and are especially
valuable if they were actually worn by a Kuna woman, and
not just made to be a souvenir.
Women always look their best dressed in their traditional
“molas,” wrap skirts, arm and leg beads, a gold
ring in their nose and ears, head scarves and paint on their
faces. Unlike the elaborate costume for the women, Kuna
men just wear jeans and a shirt.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
When a man and a woman marry, the man moves in with the
woman’s family to work under his new father-in-law.
Long ago, the Kuna prohibited ever leaving one’s village
so intermarriage was the only option. Most Kuna are still
related to each other now because the tradition of intermarrying
is still customary. As a result of this custom, there are
more albinos within the Kuna Indians than anywhere else
in the world. Men and women’s roles are pretty clearly
defined amongst the Kuna. Men are the gatherers, repairers
and providers, and also sew the men’s clothing. Many
Kuna’s are farmers and hunters and they make their
thatched roof homes from collected materials in the jungle.
The women cook, clean, unload boats and sew women’s
clothes.
POLITICS
Since they are self-governing, they have developed a political
system that is advanced far beyond other tribes across the
world. One head chief and three chiefs below him oversee
the issues in the village and administer through meetings
called, “congresos.” They have an “arkar”
who communicates between the people and the chiefs. They
have developed a “sualipetmar” who are much
like policemen on the islands. The Kuna are even represented
by two leaders in the Panamanian legislature where they
vote in general elections.
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
This isn’t a small people group; there are actually
about 76,000 in all living around Panama. Although Spanish
and even some English is relatively well known, their main
language is “Tule.” Only about half of the Kuna’s
kids go to school and as a result, about 85 percent of the
Kuna are illiterate. Many who attend school only complete
the sixth grade. They can continue their education if they
can afford to and want to, but they must go to a larger
school on a bigger island and then eventually into Panama
City.
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