Kuna Yala

Kuna Yala means in the Kuna language "Kuna territory." It is also known as San Blas, a name given to this territory by the Spanish conquistadors and which remains to this day. The region borders on the west with the Province of colon and on the east with Colombia, to the south you find the provinces of Panama and Darien and the 365 islands that make up the archipelago that extends out into the Caribbean Sea.

Most of its population is concentrated in these islands. By the mid 19th century they started populating the islands of the archipelago. The continental part of the "comarca" (territory) is mostly uninhabited. They have been able to preserve the biologic diversity of the region and their culture.

For the Kunas the land is the mother of all things. She is the guardian of all that exists and represents the spirit, the strength and the vigor of the Kuna culture. The elders have taught the Kuna people that there are 8 spiritual levels in which they can find themselves: gold, silver, iron and other minerals that maintain Mother Earth. If they allow these minerals to be exploited, their trees will dry up and production will decrease. That it is why it is so important for them to take care of the environment and not abuse it.

The Kuna culture is one of the most studied and their traditions amaze and surprise tourists. One of the most striking practices is the fact that their young do not receive their names until they reach puberty. Until they reach puberty, the Kuna women are called by a nickname. The women wear the beautiful "molas." Molas are considered one of the most sophisticated handicrafts in Latin America. They are made from brilliantly colored cotton textiles. Cuts are made in the clothe making layers which are later sewn. To complement the molas, the women wear brightly colored cloths tied around their waist, in a manner of skirt and a red handkerchief with yellow designs on their heads. They also adorn themselves with necklaces, rings, and bracelets of gold with thich they complete their daily attire. The Kunas wrap their ankles and wrists in bracelets made from bright colored "chaquiras" (beads called winis in the Kuna language).

Their economy centers around the harvest of coconuts which they sell mainly to Colombian ships that sail in the region. Coconuts are traded for clothes, food or accessories such as sunglasses.

Another aspect that catches the attention of tourists is the high incidence of albinism in the Kuna territory. Experts attribute this to the fact that they rearely marry outside their community. Children of the moon, as the albinos are called, are revered and treated as special people.

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.