Panama: Indigenous Groups That Are Important to the Country’s Cultural Heritage

Panama is home to six indigenous groups - the Ngöbe-Buglé, Emberá-Wounaan, Naso Tjërdi, Guna, Bri Bri, and Bokata.

The figure for the Panamanian population sits at 3.4 million inhabitants, of which 12.28% are Indigenous, according to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA).

Despite the creeping influence of modern society, many of these indigenous communities continue to hold strongly onto their traditional culture and language and are facing great changes, per Anywhere Panama.

Guna

The unbelievable natural beauty of the place, located along the eastern Caribbean coast in the picture-perfect San Blas Archipelago, has drawn tourists for decades.

But Guna have fought wars with the Spanish and Emberá-Wounaan, and in 1925 won a revolt against the Republic of Panama. This earned them the semiautonomous status that they enjoy today, and as such, Guna is somewhat wary of outsiders.

Today, this is reflected in their attitude towards tourists. Many welcome the economic opportunity of tourism but hold strong to their belief that visitors should pay for the privilege of visiting their comarca (ancestral lands). Even taking a photo of Guna will cost you $1.

This restraint, on the other hand, has helped in the preservation of their culture, and visitors can get a wonderful glimpse into their world.

Interestingly enough, the Guna is the world's second-shortest people (after the African pygmies) and has the highest percentage of albinism.

Ngöbe-Buglé

The Ngöbe-Buglé, Panama's largest indigenous group, is made up of two distinct but culturally similar tribes: the Ngöbe and the Buglé. Although there are significant ethnolinguistic differences between the two, the differences are often minor, so they are often referred to in conjunction with one another.

Similar to the Guna, the Ngöbe-Buglé have mainly resisted foreign influence, have managed to succeed in preserving their culture, and have maintained political autonomy.

The Ngöbe-Buglé rely on subsistence agriculture to survive. The men use slash-and-burn techniques to produce corn, rice, bananas, plantains, and cassava; the women raise the children and create handicrafts such as the two most common: Naguas and Chacara.

Emberá-Wounaan

Subsistence agriculture and fishing are the Emberá-Wounaan's main sources of living. They used to be slash-and-burn farmers and hunters, but the practice is restricted due to their residency within a national park. Rice and maize plantations have popped up in their lands, allowing members of the community to work as seasonal laborers.

The Emberá-Wounaan are known for their artistic abilities, particularly in basketry and carving statues. Their highest quality baskets are woven so tightly that it's said they can hold water.

Naso

The Naso is a small indigenous group that lives in the northeastern reaches of Panama in the Bocas del Toro region. Only a few thousand Naso are estimated to remain in Panama, while some are also found in southern Costa Rica. For decades, the Naso have stayed isolated and relatively autonomous, but their culture is now under threat from youth migration, missionary activities, tourism encroachment, and a massive hydroelectric project.

Bri Bri

Another indigenous community living in Panama's Bocas del Toro region is the Bri Bri.

The group originated in the Talamanca reserve of Costa Rica, and some have made their way to northern Panama; nevertheless, many Bri Bri remain in Costa Rica.

They can communicate in both Bri Bri and Spanish. Most people do not have access to running water or electricity, and they rely on farming, hunting, and fishing to get by. Their isolation has helped them to keep their traditional identity, but it has also limited their access to education and health care.

Bokata

The Bokata is Panama's final and smallest indigenous community. They inhabit eastern Bocas del Toro and northwest Veraguas and number just around a thousand.

The group retained their own language and culture, and there were almost no roads across Bokata territory until the late 1970s.

However, the Bokata are finding it more difficult to maintain their cultural traditions and practices due to the pressures of modern civilization. Every year, the Bokata become more integrated into the Mestizo population.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

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