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THE INDIGENOUS EMBERA INDIANS:PANAMA
Panama...Central America. Date: December, 2016:
One of my most memorable event highlighted on this trip was to Cristobol, Panama Region: Darien Provience where the indigeous Embera Indians lived in the tropical Chagres National Park, much like when discovered by Christoper Columbus in the 1500's. On the day of the excursion upon arrival to the shores of Lake Alajuela, we were greeted by Embera men dressed only in colorful beaded Loin cloth (called "Guayuco") to cover their genitals. They gave out life jackets to everyone. The weather was rainy & cold (seasonal heavy downpours this time of the year)... but later became favorable for this adventure!
The Embera men escorted us to their handmade dugout canoes with outboard motors. They each rowed 10 canoes crowded with tourists across the Chagres River toward their village located deep in the tropical rain forest....about an hour or more from shore. The ride was smooth, some collection of water got into my canoe, but the indian in the rear was scooping out the excess...The view of nature (tropical trees, low misty white clouds seen from the primordial rain forest backdrop, otters swimming in the river, spotted monkeys in nearby trees, and calm river water rift from canoes gliding over the water. Young boys were seen navigating canoes back and forth along the river as we passed them.
The men seemed very comfortable with tourists which I later learned that they used the trade to trade! Tourism offers them a chance to make some money by selling their beautiful one-of-a kind hand-crafted items (a repository of both talent and cultural perservation). It was also my understanding that this particular tribe organized themselves in1985 through the Panamian government to join the tourist trade...Wise move!
We landed on wet, slippery red soil that reminded me of red clay soil of Georgia USA... greeted by Embera women adorn with headbands made of Hibicuis flowers in their hair, necklaces, Tubari with layers of silver coins to cover thier chest area, & traditional "Paruma" (a single piece of colorful cloth wrapped around their hips to resemble a shirt. (The chief or "Cacique' told us that the cloth was made in Japan, however, the Embera & Wounaan tribes sends their traditional patterns when manufactured there). Lipstick and Rogue has made its way in!
Hollywood Comes A Calling in 1986: The Wuanana tribe appeared in two (2) movies. They first appeared in Roland Joffe's Movie: "The Mission" ,played along side actors Robert De Niro & Jeremy Irons and spoke in their own language.
In my own opinion and from this experience...A must see when visiting Panama!
One of my most memorable event highlighted on this trip was to Cristobol, Panama Region: Darien Provience where the indigeous Embera Indians lived in the tropical Chagres National Park, much like when discovered by Christoper Columbus in the 1500's. On the day of the excursion upon arrival to the shores of Lake Alajuela, we were greeted by Embera men dressed only in colorful beaded Loin cloth (called "Guayuco") to cover their genitals. They gave out life jackets to everyone. The weather was rainy & cold (seasonal heavy downpours this time of the year)... but later became favorable for this adventure!
The Embera men escorted us to their handmade dugout canoes with outboard motors. They each rowed 10 canoes crowded with tourists across the Chagres River toward their village located deep in the tropical rain forest....about an hour or more from shore. The ride was smooth, some collection of water got into my canoe, but the indian in the rear was scooping out the excess...The view of nature (tropical trees, low misty white clouds seen from the primordial rain forest backdrop, otters swimming in the river, spotted monkeys in nearby trees, and calm river water rift from canoes gliding over the water. Young boys were seen navigating canoes back and forth along the river as we passed them.
The men seemed very comfortable with tourists which I later learned that they used the trade to trade! Tourism offers them a chance to make some money by selling their beautiful one-of-a kind hand-crafted items (a repository of both talent and cultural perservation). It was also my understanding that this particular tribe organized themselves in1985 through the Panamian government to join the tourist trade...Wise move!
We landed on wet, slippery red soil that reminded me of red clay soil of Georgia USA... greeted by Embera women adorn with headbands made of Hibicuis flowers in their hair, necklaces, Tubari with layers of silver coins to cover thier chest area, & traditional "Paruma" (a single piece of colorful cloth wrapped around their hips to resemble a shirt. (The chief or "Cacique' told us that the cloth was made in Japan, however, the Embera & Wounaan tribes sends their traditional patterns when manufactured there). Lipstick and Rogue has made its way in!
Hollywood Comes A Calling in 1986: The Wuanana tribe appeared in two (2) movies. They first appeared in Roland Joffe's Movie: "The Mission" ,played along side actors Robert De Niro & Jeremy Irons and spoke in their own language.
In my own opinion and from this experience...A must see when visiting Panama!
Please Enjoy The Photo Slideshow Below: Embera Indian Village
*Note: Descriptive captions at top of each picture
*Note: Descriptive captions at top of each picture
Embera Community: According to Panama's 2010 Census Report, about 22,000 Embera & around 9, 000 Wounaan Indians live around or in the Darien Rainforest of Panama or Colombia. At least five (5) other communities also exist in the area. The Embera live somewhat primitive, off the land for hunting and fishing. The river serves as their highway and source of livihood.http://www.moralesmissions.org/indigenous-peoples-of-panama.
www.moralesmissions.org/indigenous-peoples-of-panama.html
Matriarchal in nature in which they live in family units based on the mother's lineage side of family. They practice polygamy. A large communal area in the center of village was used to greet large crowds and for ceremonies.
The chief or "Cacique" was the spokesperson who gave us a history (in his native language) about their use of plants for medicinal purposes, demonstration of tools to hunt/fish, plants and a nut called the "Tagua" used to make craft items and colors for them. They till small communal gardens... everyone helps out during harvesting time. They have access to tributary waters from several rivers in the area.
They make and live by their own rules or set of law and not by the Panamanian or Colombia government. Embera is the word meaning "Good Man or Good Friend."
Houses: Located close to the two nearby river banks... made of thatched roofs (palm fronds), no walls, no furniture and built elevated about 8-10 feet off the ground on stilts which provides protection from flooding...to enter inside is to climb up a ladder with carved rungs (nicely crafted wood work). The ladder is removed at night to prevent wild animals from entering.They sleep on mats made from tree barks. Children sleep in hammocks.
Adapability noted at times in that, cell phones existed, as a matter of fact, before I realized it, I aked one of the kids to take my picture posed with some of the girls... he didn't hesitate to locate and click the phone camera as if experienced... to say the least!
Deforestation is a major threat to tribes in this area and they have learned to find new ways or techniques to survive.
School: The children attend free government school dressed in western uniforms. They shed them for traditional clothings once they return home to their rain forest.
Language: They speak to each other in their native tongue, (Choco language) but is not know to have a single language. They were required by the Panama government to learn both Spanish &English. spoken with clarity & impressive articulation!
Food Source/Diet: They are hunters for meat. Diet also include fish, fowl, jungle plants, roots, nuts, palm tree hearts. They grow plantains, rice, yams/yucca root, corn, sugar cane, & Tagua nut (outer layer brown and inside white resembling ivory. Once hardened, it is carved/shaped into beautiful colorful pieces (small frogs, alligators,turtles, etc as seen in above slideshow.
www.moralesmissions.org/indigenous-peoples-of-panama.html
Matriarchal in nature in which they live in family units based on the mother's lineage side of family. They practice polygamy. A large communal area in the center of village was used to greet large crowds and for ceremonies.
The chief or "Cacique" was the spokesperson who gave us a history (in his native language) about their use of plants for medicinal purposes, demonstration of tools to hunt/fish, plants and a nut called the "Tagua" used to make craft items and colors for them. They till small communal gardens... everyone helps out during harvesting time. They have access to tributary waters from several rivers in the area.
They make and live by their own rules or set of law and not by the Panamanian or Colombia government. Embera is the word meaning "Good Man or Good Friend."
Houses: Located close to the two nearby river banks... made of thatched roofs (palm fronds), no walls, no furniture and built elevated about 8-10 feet off the ground on stilts which provides protection from flooding...to enter inside is to climb up a ladder with carved rungs (nicely crafted wood work). The ladder is removed at night to prevent wild animals from entering.They sleep on mats made from tree barks. Children sleep in hammocks.
Adapability noted at times in that, cell phones existed, as a matter of fact, before I realized it, I aked one of the kids to take my picture posed with some of the girls... he didn't hesitate to locate and click the phone camera as if experienced... to say the least!
Deforestation is a major threat to tribes in this area and they have learned to find new ways or techniques to survive.
School: The children attend free government school dressed in western uniforms. They shed them for traditional clothings once they return home to their rain forest.
Language: They speak to each other in their native tongue, (Choco language) but is not know to have a single language. They were required by the Panama government to learn both Spanish &English. spoken with clarity & impressive articulation!
Food Source/Diet: They are hunters for meat. Diet also include fish, fowl, jungle plants, roots, nuts, palm tree hearts. They grow plantains, rice, yams/yucca root, corn, sugar cane, & Tagua nut (outer layer brown and inside white resembling ivory. Once hardened, it is carved/shaped into beautiful colorful pieces (small frogs, alligators,turtles, etc as seen in above slideshow.