The Kuna Indians

Kuna, also known as the Tule, Native South American group of the Chibchan language family and of Panama. In former times Kuna occupied the greater part of the Isthmus of Panama. Cases of hereditary albinism among the Kuna have given rise to the legend of white Native Americans.

The Kuna Indians number approximately 35,000 with the majority living in the San Blas Islands and on the mainland in the Madugandi Reservation while a very small percentage live in Panama City.

They speak their own language called "tule." Many speak Spanish and some English, but in the Madugandi reservation there is little proficiency for Spanish. They live in thatched roof huts made from materials found in the jungle.

The Kuna women wear wrap around skirts and hand-made blouses known as "molas." The Mola is an intricately sewn picture made from layers of cloth in a reverse applique technique. Kuna women paint their faces with a homemade rouge made from achiote seeds. They usually wear a nose ring and paint a line down their nose.

The Kuna have the most advance political system of any tribal group in Latin America, and possibly the world. They have three village chiefs who manage village politics and a series of meetings called congresos; they conduct electrions through the village and nationally as well.

They are animists: they believe in a creator God who is far away from them and that the poni, groups of malevolent spirits roam the earth entering people's bodies causing sickness and disease. They use the nuchus, small dolls made out of balsa wood, to protect them from the poni. The saila, or Kuna chief, speaks for God much like a prophet telling the people what they need to do so God will be pleased with them. They believe they must work to please God sohe does not send an earthquake or other terrible thing against them. The vast majority of the Indians in Madugandi have never heard a clear message of the Gospel message.

A Kuna woman selling some Molas in Casco Viejo. It is very common to find them selling their Molas on plazas or on sidewalks. They can be very expensive as it is an incredible detailed work all done by hand. Many Molas are now incorporated into T-shirts, cloth purses, kitchen towels and other decorative pieces for the home. Normally there are several layers in each piece and the more layers the more expensive the piece is! You can try to bargain but they do not always budge, and you can tell from the detail that it is very time consuming. Many times as you walk down the streets in Casco Viejo you can see them sewing the pieces.