The Kuna people, also known as Guna
Kuna people
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. The Congreso General de la Nación Gunadule since 2010 has promoted the spelling Guna. In the Cuna language, they call themselve…
Who are the Kuna Indians?
Who are the Kuna Indians? The Kuna Indians are the native inhabitants of the autonomous region Kuna Yala of Panama. The Kuna’s mainly survive by allowing tourists on their islands and selling coconuts to the mainland and surrounding countries.
Who are the gunas of Panama?
Most Gunas live on small islands off the coast of the comarca of Guna Yala known as the San Blas Islands. The other two Guna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí. They are Guna-speaking people who once occupied the central region of what is now Panama and the neighboring San Blas Islands and still survive in marginal areas.
Where do the Cunas live in Panama?
There are also communities of Kuna people in Panama City, Colón, and other cities. Most Cunas live on small islands off the coast of the comarca of Guna Yala known as the San Blas Islands. The other two Cuna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí.
Are the Kuna Islands part of Panama?
Eventually the Kuna staged a revolt and declared their independence and migrated to the coast and to the islands of the San Blas Archipelago. Officially, the islands are part of Panama, but are administered as a “country within a country,” and lead by the Kuna themselves.
Where do the Kunas live in Panama?
San Blas IslandsThe beloved San Blas Islands of Panama are home to the native people known as Kuna Indians. A small, tight-knit group of indigenous people, the community is only made up of around 300,000 in total, with 50,000 living on the 49 major islands of San Blas.
What are the Kuna people known for?
The Kuna are an indigenous group known for their colorful colorful dress and for their intricately embroidered textiles called molas. The Kuna have a long history of resistance toward western influences. Many regard them as one of the most fiercely independent ethnic groups in the world.
What are the Panamanian Indians called?
Indigenous peoples of Panama, or Native Panamanians, are the native peoples of Panama. According to the 2010 census, they make up 12.3% of the overall population of 3.4 million, or just over 418,000 people. The Ngäbe and Buglé comprise half of the indigenous peoples of Panama.
Where do the Kuna people most commonly live?
Most Gunas live on small islands off the coast of the comarca of Guna Yala known as the San Blas Islands. The other two Guna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí.
What language does the Kuna speak?
ChibchanThe Kuna language is a Native American language of the Chibchan family spoken by 50,000 to 70,000 people. Dulegaya is the primary language of daily life in the comarcas, and the majority of Kuna children speak the language.
What does Mola mean in Kuna?
Mola, a Kuna word, has several meanings: fabric or cloth, shirt or upper garment for men or women, brightly decorated women's blouses, or colorful layers of fabric, cut and hand-sewn into designs for fronts and backs of Kuna women´s blouses.
When did Panama end slavery?
Around the early 1800s, Panama, part of Spain, sued for autonomy, which they received in 1821. Independence brought about the end of slavery, but little changed for Afro Panamanians. In 1838, Panama City had a major race riot quelled by the Hispanic elite.
What are Panamanians mixed with?
The overwhelming majority of Panamanians are the product of varying degrees of admixture between European ethnic groups (predominantly Spaniards) with native Amerindians who are indigenous to Panama's modern territory.
What language do they speak in Panama?
SpanishPanama / Official languageSpanish is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from colloquial Latin spoken in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Today, it is a global language with more than 500 million native speakers, mainly in the Americas and Spain. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries. Wikipedia
What do the Kuna eat?
On the other hand, reported daily consumption of food groups varied: fruit (64.9, 95% CI, 58.1–71.4), fried food (46.9, 95%CI 40.0–53.9), cacao (42.9, 95% CI 36.1–49.8), soda (42.7, 95% CI 35.9–49.6), fish (42.5, 95% CI 35.7–49.6), junk food (10.9, 95% CI 7.0–15.9), and vegetables (9.0, 95% CI 5.5–13.7).
What do the Kuna people believe in?
A matriarchal society, the Kuna hold spiritual beliefs based on Mother Earth as the creator and provider of all things. The adult children and their families live with the wife's family.
What are some Kuna traditions?
Kuna Culture: Traditional DressMola. Mola, which has come to be representative of the entire Kuna culture, means fabric or shirt in traditional Kuna language. ... Muswe. This is the typical head scarf that a Kuna woman wears. ... Ico-Inna. Ico-inna is a very important ritual in a young Kuna girl's life. ... Uini.
What do the Kuna people believe in?
A matriarchal society, the Kuna hold spiritual beliefs based on Mother Earth as the creator and provider of all things. The adult children and their families live with the wife's family.
What are some Kuna traditions?
Kuna Culture: Traditional DressMola. Mola, which has come to be representative of the entire Kuna culture, means fabric or shirt in traditional Kuna language. ... Muswe. This is the typical head scarf that a Kuna woman wears. ... Ico-Inna. Ico-inna is a very important ritual in a young Kuna girl's life. ... Uini.
What do the Kuna eat?
On the other hand, reported daily consumption of food groups varied: fruit (64.9, 95% CI, 58.1–71.4), fried food (46.9, 95%CI 40.0–53.9), cacao (42.9, 95% CI 36.1–49.8), soda (42.7, 95% CI 35.9–49.6), fish (42.5, 95% CI 35.7–49.6), junk food (10.9, 95% CI 7.0–15.9), and vegetables (9.0, 95% CI 5.5–13.7).
Where did the Kuna Indians come from?
Kuna, also spelled Cuna, Chibchan-speaking 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.
What were the Kuna tribes?
In the 16th century the Kuna were an important group, living in federated villages under chiefs, who had considerable power, and engaging in warfare with each other and with neighbouring tribes . Agriculture was primarily based on slash-and-burn techniques, and there was extensive trade, mainly by canoe along the coast. They had a well-developed class system, with captives generally being enslaved. Important chiefs were carried in hammocks; their bodies were preserved after death and buried in large graves with their wives and retainers. Metallurgy was well developed, and numerous gold ornaments have been found in the graves, along with fine ceramicsand ornaments of shell.
Where do the Kuna live?
Singing style varies by community and genre; Kuna men perform curing songs with vocal tension; Bribri…. Panama: Ethnic groups. Next in numbers are the Kuna, who are found primarily in the San Blas Archipelago and on the coast nearby. The Chocó live mainly in the province of Darién.
How did European contact affect the Kuna?
The principal effects of European contact were to destroy the political superstructure of the Kuna and to modify the social and religious systems. In modern times they live in small villages and depend primarily on agriculture for subsistence, supplemented by fishing and hunting. Marriage is matrilocal, giving rise to extended families of several generations in which the son-in-law is under the authority of his wife’s father. Religion centres on shamans who cure the sick and practice various types of witchcraft. The sun and moon were formerly major deities, but the mythology has been much affected by European conceptions. The so-called white Indians of San Blas are actually albinos who constituteabout 0.7 percent of the Kuna population and are not permitted to intermarry.
What were the effects of European contact on the Kuna?
The principal effects of European contact were to destroy the political superstructure of the Kuna and to modify the social and religious systems.
What was the Kuna culture?
In the 16th century the Kuna were an important group, living in federated villages under chiefs, who had considerable power, and engaging in warfare with each other and with neighbouring tribes. Agriculture was primarily based on slash-and-burn techniques, and there was extensive trade, mainly by canoe along the coast.
Can white Indians intermarry in San Blas?
The so-called white Indians of San Blas are actually albinos who constitute about 0.7 percent of the Kuna population and are not permitted to intermarry. This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager.
What is the position of the Kuna?
The top position of the Kuna is the "sahila" who serves as both political ruler and spiritual leader, transmitting the oral history of the Kuna in verse to the other members. A matriarchal society, the Kuna hold spiritual beliefs based on Mother Earth as the creator and provider of all things. The adult children and their families live with the wife's family. Whereas in some cultures girl babies are considered a liability, here they are celebrated since when they marry, the husband becomes an apprentice to his wife's father.
Where do the Kuna live?
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. The Kuna Yala, where most live, has provincial government status. The Comarca de Madugandi is an inland territory adjoining the Kuna Yala that was established in 1996, and the adjacent Comarca de Wargandi, was established in 2000. Both have sub-provincial status. Efforts to unite the three comarcas under one government, have met with resistance from the Panamanian government. Many Kuna live elsewhere in Panama, mostly in and around the capital. Kuna citizens may vote in Panamanian elections and hold office.
What do Kuna men wear?
Many Kuna men and women wear a form of Western clothing, including mass-produced t-shirts much of the time. The incentive to continue to sew molas also includes an incentive to display molas as a worn item of dress, which supports cultural identity and cultural continuity whilst at the same time demonstrating an item which is for sale as a souvenir, albeit generally only an individual mola panel, not a complete blouse.
What is Kuna art?
The Kuna have been making their art works for over centuries now and are pretty skilled in it. Because they where a nomad tribe back in the days they did not make much art in forms like statues or buildings but they did decorate themselves with their artworks. This decoration is also called Mola or Molas, in Kuna this means shirt or clothing.
Why Guna Yala?
The San Blas region is known by the Kuna Indians as Kuna Yala or Guna yala. This territory lies stretched north of Panama on the Caribbean Sea. It stretches from Colombia all the way to Parque Nacional Chagres, which borders Panama City. It is a 2.306 km² area, which stretches over 100 miles of coastline. The area is relatively small on the mainland since the Kuna’s mostly live on the islands. San Blas is the name the government gave to the area but since the Kuna’s live there they where able to change it. The capital of the Kuna Yala region is El Porvenir. This is also the place where the customs is located when you enter the San Blas area by boat.
What does Comarca de Guna Yala mean?
What does Comarca de Guna Yala means? Well Comarca is a Spanish word county or shire. They sometimes have region or state privileges such as the Guna does. Nevertheless since the region is now called Guna Yala it is often referred to as Comarca de Guna or Kuna. Strange thing is that world maps and for example Google maps still calls the region San Blas. This is probably due to the fact that the region is located in the waters of the Golfo de San Blas.
Who sells Molas in Panama?
Molas may be sold by Kuna women and men directly to visitors to the Kuna Yala islands, including cruise ship passengers and other international visitors to Panama, and until 1999, day visits by US residents from the Panama Canal Zone. Kuna men working in the former Canal Zone were also intermediaries, as well as Kuna women and men living in Panama City. Some non-Kuna residents of Panama City and the Canal Zone became re-sellers, operating from shops in Panama City which attracted tourists interested in indigenous handcrafts.
Do museums in Panama rely on donations?
Whilst museums in most cases rely on donations, individual collectors are known to build on collections established as short-term tourists or longer-term expats working in the Canal Zone or major Panamanian cities. Serious collectors are known to make multiple collecting trips to Panama, generally making visits to the San Blas archipelago, and then adding to collections using additional channels.
What are the two Guna comarcas in Panama?
The other two Guna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí. They are Guna-speaking people who once occupied the central region of what is now Panama and the neighboring San Blas Islands and still survive in marginal areas.
Where did the Gunas live?
Guna people were living in what is now Northern Colombia and the Darién Province of Panama at the time of the Spanish invasion, and only later began to move westward towards what is now Guna Yala due to a conflict with the Spanish and other indigenous groups. Centuries before the conquest, the Gunas arrived in South America as part of a Chibchan migration moving east from Central America. At the time of the Spanish invasion, they were living in the region of Uraba and near the borders of what are now Antioquia and Caldas. Alonso de Ojeda and Vasco Núñez de Balboa explored the coast of Colombia in 1500 and 1501. They spent the most time in the Gulf of Urabá, where they made contact with the Gunas.
What does the saila do in the Onmaked Nega?
In the Onmaked Nega, the saila sings the history, legends, and laws of the Guna, as well as administering the day-to-day political and social affairs. The saila is usually accompanied by one or more voceros who function as interpreters and counselors for the saila.
What is the Saila in Guna Yala?
In Guna Yala, each community has its own political organization, led by a saila (pronounced "sigh-lah"). The saila is customarily both the political and religious leader of the community; he memorizes songs which relate the sacred history of the people, and in turn transmits them to the people. Decisions are made in meetings held in the Onmaked Nega, or Ibeorgun Nega (Congress House or Casa de Congreso), a structure which likewise serves both political and spiritual purposes. In the Onmaked Nega, the saila sings the history, legends, and laws of the Guna, as well as administering the day-to-day political and social affairs. The saila is usually accompanied by one or more voceros who function as interpreters and counselors for the saila. Because the songs and oral history of the Guna are in a higher linguistic register with specialized vocabulary, the saila's recitation will frequently be followed by an explanation and interpretation from one of the voceros in informal Guna language.
Why did the Gunas migrate to Guna Yala?
These migrations were caused partly by wars with the Catio people, but some sources contend that they were mostly due to bad treatment by the Spanish invaders. The Guna themselves attribute their migration to Guna Yala to conflicts with the aboriginal peoples, and their migration to the islands to the excessive mosquito populations on the mainland.
What is the name of the mola in the Guna language?
Mola panels are used to make the blouses of the Guna women's national dress, which is worn daily by many Guna women. Mola means "clothing" in the Guna language. The Guna word for a mola blouse is Tulemola, (or "dulemola") "Guna people's clothing."
What race are the Guna children?
Guna children in 1927. The child in the center is albino. Guna people have a high incidence rate of albinism, which led to their nickname of " White Indians " in the early 1900s. In Guna philosophy, albinos (or "sipu") were given a special place and are considered a special race of people.
Where do the Guna live?
The Guna primarily live between three politically autonomous reservations in Panama, called comarcas, most especially concentrated in the popular tourist destination of the San Blas Islands (also known as the Comarca de Kuna Yala or Guna Yala). They also live in communities in Panama City, Colón and also in other cities and towns throughout ...
Where are Guna Indians from?
The Guna Indians (Kuna Indians) The Guna* Indians (formerly known as the ¨Kuna Indians¨ or ¨Cuna¨**) are the amerindios, or indigenous people, of Panama and Colombia.
What do Guna women rely on?
Most Guna women rely on the trade of molas as their primary source of income. As an autonomous province and with minimal interference from the national government, the Guna are the governing authorities of the San Blas archipelago and reside on 49 of the 378 islands. They wholeheartedly invite visitors to share in their crafts, dress, food, music, ...
What are the traditional Guna women's dresses made of?
Guna women are known for their colorful, daily, traditional form of dress made of gold bands, nose ring, leg beads, headscarves and molas, intricately woven textiles with geometric shapes on natural colors (as shown in the photo above). Molas have become an important symbol of Guna culture, and with tourism becoming particularly important for ...
Mola (Textile Pieces)
The textiles pieces made by the Kuna women are called Molas. The world Mola translates to ‘shirt’ or ‘clothing’ in Dulegaya, the native language. Mola textiles originated with the Kuna Indians painting geometric shapes and designs on their bodies using any natural colours around them.
Kuna Indians Traditional Outfit
The Mola is part of the traditional outfit worn by the Kunas. The full traditional outfit consists of a patterned wrap skirt (saburet), a red or yellow head scarf (musue), arm and leg beads (wini), a gold nose ring (olasu), earrings and the mola blouse (dulemor).
Where do the eldest leaders of the Kuna live?
The eldest leaders of the Kuna live on the island Acuadup, this means Rock Island in the Kuna Language. The leaders on this island make all the main decisions for the other island and they help in trades and marriages with other Kuna communities.
What are the Guna Indians?
About the Guna Indians. The native people living on the San Blas islands are the Kuna indians. They are a small but proud community of around 300.000 people in total. About 50.000 Kuna’s live on the 49 major islands of San Blas and are controlled by their own community leader called a Sahila.
What is the main income of the Guna?
The Guna’s main income is tourism and coconuts. The Kuna’s mainly survive by allowing tourists on their islands and selling coconuts to the mainland and surrounding countries. On all the islands of San Blas grow Palm trees that provide plenty of coconuts that give a steady flow of income all year around for the Kuna’s.
What are the Kuna women called?
The textiles pieces made by the Kuna women are called Molas. The world Mola translates to 'shirt' or 'clothing' in Dulegaya, the native language. Mola textiles originated with the Kuna Indians painting geometric shapes and designs on their bodies using any natural colours around them. They later weaved these designs into cotton pieces and later still sewed these patterns onto cloth.
What does Guna Yala mean?
Guna Yala in Kuna means "Land Guna" or "Guna Mountain". The area was formerly known as San Blas, and later as Kuna Yala, but the name was changed in October 2011 to "Guna Yala" when the Government of Panama recognized the claim of the people that "Guna" was a closer representation of the name in their mother tongue than "Kuna".
How many islands are there in San Blas?
The San Blas islands, where the Kuna Indians live, is made up of around 380 islands. However, only around 50 are inhabited by the Kunas. The rest are small islands consisting of sand and palm trees.
What is Kuna society?
The Kuna are a matriarchal society. They marry young, usually in mid-teens. The groom moves into the home of his wife's parents. He may spend several years as an apprentice to his father-in-law. Divorce is rare.
What is the Kuna culture?
The Kuna (also Cuna) Indians of Panama are a fascinating tribal society. In spite of historical pressure to become part of Panama and westernize their culture, they have managed to avoid the stress, bustle and complexities of their neighbors and remained content living much the same way their ancestors did.
What was the name of the island that the Kuna migrated to?
Eventually the Kuna staged a revolt and declared their independence and migrated to the coast and to the islands of the San Blas Archipelago. Officially, the islands are part of Panama, but are administered as a “country within a country,” ...
How many representatives are there in the Kuna Yala area?
At the same time the Kuna Yala area and its inhabitants have two representatives in the Panamanian legislature and they vote in general elections. Wary of the pressure to Westernize, the Kuna have restricted visitors to the area until recently.
What language do the Kunas speak?
They have their own language called Tule, which is also what the Kunas call themselves. Spanish is a secondary language for many. Their customs and traditions have been passed to the children in song and dance. Until recently the Tule language was unwritten.
Is San Blas a country?
Officially, the islands are part of Panama, but are administered as a “country within a country,” and lead by the Kuna themselves. Thus, the islands lying within San Blas province are rich in tradition, following their own customs, laws, and legislation enabling them to preserve their natural environment and heritage.
Overview
The Guna, in the language itself spelled Kuna prior to a 2010 orthographic reform, are an Indigenous people of Panama and Colombia. The Congreso General de la Nación Gunadule since 2010 has promoted the spelling Guna. In the Guna language, they call themselves Dule or Tule, meaning "people", and the name of the language is Dulegaya, literally "people-mouth".
Location
Guna people live in three politically autonomous comarcas or autonomous reservations in Panama, and in a few small villages in Colombia. There are also communities of Guna people in Panama City, Colón, and other cities. Most Gunas live on small islands off the coast of the comarca of Guna Yala known as the San Blas Islands. The other two Guna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí. They are Guna-speaking people who once occupied the centr…
Political and social organization
In Guna Yala, each community has its own political organization, led by a saila (pronounced "sigh-lah"). The saila is customarily both the political and religious leader of the community; he memorizes songs which relate the sacred history of the people, and in turn transmits them to the people. Decisions are made in meetings held in the Onmaked Nega, or Ibeorgun Nega (Congress House or Casa de Congreso), a structure which likewise serves both political and spiritual purpo…
Flag
The Guna flag was adopted after the 1925 rebellion against Panamanian suppression. Horizontal stripes have a proportion of 1:2:1 and the central swastika is an ancestral symbol called Naa Ukuryaa. According to one explanation, it symbolizes the four sides of the world or the origin from which peoples of the world emerged. In another explanation, it symbolises the octop…
Culture
The Guna are famous for their bright molas, a colorful textile art form made with the techniques of appliqué and reverse appliqué. Mola panels are used to make the blouses of the Guna women's national dress, which is worn daily by many Guna women. Mola means "clothing" in the Guna language. The Guna word for a mola blouse is Tulemola, (or "dulemola") "Guna people's clothing."
Economy
The economy of Guna Yala is based on agriculture, fishing and the manufacture of clothing with a long tradition of international trade. Plantains, coconuts, and fish form the core of the Guna diet, supplemented with imported foods, a few domestic animals, and wild game. Coconuts, called ogob [IPA: okˑɔβ] in the Guna language, and lobsters skungit [skuŋkˑit] are the most important export produc…
History
Guna people were living in what is now Northern Colombia and the Darién Province of Panama at the time of the Spanish invasion, and only later began to move westward towards what is now Guna Yala due to a conflict with the Spanish and other indigenous groups. Centuries before the conquest, the Gunas arrived in South America as part of a Chibchan migration moving east from Cen…
Language
The Guna language is an aboriginal American language of the Chibchan family spoken by 50,000 to 70,000 people. Dulegaya is the primary language of daily life in the comarcas, and the majority of Guna children speak the language. Although it is relatively viable, Guna is considered an endangered language.
Spanish is also widely used, especially in education and written documents.