Kuna
Sometime in the early 16th century the Kuna peoples migrated to the San Blas islands from South America. They quickly occupied the 360 islands that make up the archipelago that is known as the San Blas Islands. Kuna history weaves a story of migration out of necessity due to threats from enemy Native American tribes and Spanish conquistadors.
The San Blas island and Kuna peoples are now a nation within a nation. San Blas is now officially a “comarca” or reservation. The Kuna strive to preserve their culture and traditions.
Their history is quite tumultuous. Kuna’s lent aid to European corsairs and pirates on many occasion in colonial times and this lead to Spanish conquistadors vowing to exterminate the entire tribe. After the Spanish empire fell they sided with Columbia, who granted them land and legal recognition while Panamanian authorities sought to “civilize” the Kuna. In 1925, Canadian adventurer Richard Marsh, motivated the Kuna to declare independence from Panama by creating the “Republic of Tule.” A peace treaty was later reached upon the grounds that non-Kuna peoples granted them autonomy.
Today Panamanian authorities rarely interfere with the Kuna government, which has been successfully running its self for the last 80 years. Kuna’s pride themselves on tradition, their rich culture and equality. Their “molas” are a popular and rather famous tourist souvenir in all parts of Panama. Kuna culture and families can now be found throughout Panama; the Kuna women’s traditional garb is an important element in displaying the diversity of Panama in urban scenes.
Want to learn more about traditional Kuna culture and learn Spanish? Check out our week long Intensive Spanish course that includes a trip the the San Blas Islands!
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