Why Did The Kuna Indians Preserve Their Culture

The Kuna Indian still live today in Panama and in Colombia. They got their independence from Panama in 1925. The Comarca de Guna Yala is the home to Kuna Indians. It is 226 kilometers long, known as San Blas. The Indians think that their 365 islands represent the days of the year, but they only inhabited 49. They don’t have a garbage disposal system, they throw their trash on the beach, polluting it. Thier diet consists of fish, coconut, chicken, eggs, tortillas, and plantains. These Indians want to preserve their culture, but at the same time develop their economy. The Kuna political organization is based on a gathering house. It was made to discuss local events, problems, make decisions on pressuring matters and listen to their chief's advice. On

At a young age the kids start to work. The man wears T-shirts and jeans while the women wear colorful handmade dresses or tulemocas. The art of the Mola is a big part of their culture. It originated from the paintings of the body and then it was translated to the cloths in the 17th century. The mola consists of using birds, beasts, men and geometric zigzags most traditional from the Kuna art. The gold, silver, and feather ornaments showed the certain ranks of woman. There is a feeling of pride expressed in the woman's mola because they're the only ones in the world who wear them. It is something important to their identity. The mola was used as a way to rebel against Panama’s government, by wearing them. Their religion consists of chants and gestures of appeasement used by the medicine men and a group of Indians who control the evil spirits. Their god is called Paba Tummat with his spouse Nan Tummat. Coffee is part of their culture because they believe coffee is the great mother's milk. Small wooden dolls in a form of human or animal are used to treat diseases. They have lullabies because of it’s importance to them. An example is when a complication occurs while the women giving