Despite the widespread belief that Indians have lost their identity due to widespread oppression, the Kuna people live on the busy sea route off the coast of Panama. And even though all these 50,000 people without exception, Catholics and Protestants, this does not in the least prevent them from honoring the traditions of their ancestors and strictly following them.
Guarding the Moon
They worship the moon, believing that it was thanks to this star that life was born. Their clothes, shoes and baskets are adorned with moles - intricate patchwork. This craft, passed down from generation to generation, has long been elevated to the rank of art by the Kuna Indians. And multi-colored jetties have become their calling cards and a hot commodity: you can make good money on them. The rest of the kun's activities are the same as many centuries ago: fishing, collecting coconuts, growing corn and sweet potatoes, and, of course, protecting the moon. Yes Yes! It is guarded by the albino Indians.
It is known that there is on average one albino for every 20,000 newborns in the world. In the Coon, blonde-haired blue-eyed children appear much more often - this is about every 145th baby. Strictly speaking, this is a consequence of an insufficient amount of melanin pigment in the body of parents, as well as frequent marriages between relatives. But the Panamanian Indians are sure that albinos are born thanks to the connection of the Kuna people with the Moon - their main luminary. Therefore, being born an albino here is a great success. It is believed that the "moon children" are called upon to protect the moon from the terrible dragon, which regularly tries to eat it. This is confirmed by lunar eclipses. The main task of albinos at this moment is to take bows and arrows and start performing a special ritual dance. This surest remedy has been tested for centuries: the dragon invariably retreats.
Therefore, the Indians treat the blond and blue-eyed as the chosen ones: they get the best food and clothing, light work. The albinos' business is to maintain contact with the Moon and always be on the alert, the dragon does not sleep either …
Civilization's response
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Many centuries ago, the kuna were chosen to live on the small islands of the San Blas archipelago in the Caribbean, near the coast of Panama. At one time, the newcomer white people wanted to make the Kun, like other Indians, civilized: the Panamanian authorities put their administration over them, imposed a tax on them, and forced them to work forcibly.
The patience of a completely peaceful people overflowed in 1925: the Kuna killed all Panamanian officials on their islands, as well as the women and children who came with them, and declared themselves a separate republic with their ruler. Since then, the main holiday for local Indians is Revolution Day.
The authorities, making sure that fighting such subjects was more expensive for themselves, gave up on the rebels: let them figure it out. Moreover, in 2001, the autonomy of the Kuna within the state of the Republic of Panama was enshrined in the constitution. By the way, the other two indigenous Indian peoples inhabiting Panama do not have such autonomy.
Do not elect the voiceless
The supreme body of the Kuna people is the General Council, which consists of 49 community elders. So there is no trace of anarchy on the islands. Each community living separately has its own leader - Saila. If before he was appointed from Panama, now he is elected at the gathering. What are the requirements for a candidate? Gender does not matter, but mature age - yes. The candidate must be a member of the community elders. And also have … vocal abilities. The fact is that Saila does not so much talk with his fellow tribesmen as he sings: he issues all orders, messages, permits a cappella. And everyone is obliged to obey him. Even for a trip to the mainland with goods, the permission of the Sayla is required. As well as the fact that one of the strangers lingered on the island: be it a relative or a particularly persistent tourist who wants to spend the night in an aboriginal hut.
For all that, this leadership style can only be called authoritarian. The fact is that the most topical issues for everyone are discussed at the general meeting, and the Sayla somehow has to listen to the opinion of the majority, making the final decision.
The second person in the community - a shaman, or, locally, it is not - can only be a woman. It is believed that she is closer to both community members and nature, to which the coon has a particularly reverent attitude.
A man has his place
It is the fair sex who play the dominant role in all Kuna communities. Perhaps because local men do not have the usual opportunities for the stronger sex to express themselves. They do not need to protect anyone: no one attacks the Kuna Islands. And the woman copes with the mission of the breadwinner herself perfectly: she will not fail on fishing, and will collect coconuts, and dig up the sweet potato.
By and large, men are left with only construction, but again, the construction of a hut does not require any outstanding skills. But the creation is supposedly - yes: therefore, many Indians are addicted to this purely ladies' occupation. Sewing comes out for them - just a feast for the eyes: tourists with their hands tear off.
Local guys are even deprived of the right to choose a bride for themselves. This is the prerogative of the girls. When they reach 13 - 14 years old, they decide whom to marry. Four days before the ritual, the girl is settled in a separate house, where women prepare her for marriage. After that, all potential suitors of the community are gathered, and the girl, in the presence of relatives and neighbors, announces her choice. In case the young man does not look at his bride, he has three attempts to escape. However, if the girl's relatives and friends catch him, the guy will have to marry. But if quick legs will carry him out from under the crown, the girl will need to choose another victim.
After the wedding, the newly-made husband goes to live in his wife's house, where he finds himself in an extremely dependent position: he has no right to dispose of money or property without the permission of his wife. But he has a duty: to be present at childbirth. A few days before the intended delivery, the married couple is released from work and prepares a special place on the seashore or in a reservoir. Kuna believe that their deity Moon came out of the water, and therefore babies should appear in the water.
During childbirth, the husband, looking at his wife, imitates childbirth and sometimes screams louder than the woman in labor. Moreover, if the mother of the child immediately begins household chores, the father gets a few days of rest.
Even Kuna holidays and those with a ladies' bias, not counting the Day of the Revolution and Christmas. Actually, there are only three of them: the birth of a daughter, the onset of growing up and a wedding.
Hut, panel, antenna …
Of course, modern life has made some changes in the life of a kun. TV antennas appeared on the same reed huts. Where does the electricity come from? From solar panels: environmentally friendly, and there is enough sun at these latitudes.
The Indians receive money for the "excesses" of the civilized world from the already mentioned sale of patchwork sewing, as well as coconuts and fish. In connection with the development of sea tourism, the kuna also has another source of income. Women for money pose for photographs in national costumes: one picture - one dollar. And the Indians are developing the hotel business: they build small hotels for unassuming tourists. More discerning guests of the kuna can even rent out an uninhabited island for several days: fortunately, of the 400 islands of the archipelago, which are owned by the Indians, only 50 are inhabited.
It is no wonder that the kunas are quite happy with their position and very rarely do any of them express a desire to leave the archipelago. They feel good at home …
Journal: Steps of the Oracle # 11. Author: Peter Nikolaev