The Two Worlds of Panama
Introduction
Panama City is an incredible city. Money, skyscrapers and modernity. Far from tradition people visit Panama every year for tourism, business and luxury lifestyle. But Panama is way more than that.
Besides the metropolis are also many different indigenous cultures. We visited two of them. The Guna and the Embera. This Essay focuses on the Guna.
Guna Yala - San Blas Islands
The Guna live in the north of Panama. Around 3 hour car drive away from Panama City. There is the Guna Yala Region where the Guna live. But not all on the Mainland, they live mostly on Islands. In the Guna Yala archipelago.
The Guna Yala Islands are commonly known as San Blas Islands. The name was officially changed from San Blas - as it was originally named by the Spanish - to Guna Yala in October 2011.
The Archipelago consists of 365 Islands. There are villages on 42 of them. Only 7 villages are on the mainland. All of them are different communities with an independent political organization, led by the spiritual leader of the communities.
They live on their own, fish, grow plantain and coconut, create artisan products and have their own education, work and life far from the rest of the world and surrounded by beautiful nature. Their own paradise.
The Guna are probably the closest thing to a local water tribe, which could be part of the World of Avatar.
Quick Recap: History of the Guna
Today it wouldn't be like this if the Indigenous would not have fought for their land. But first we have to go back even more to the 1800's.
They lost their home once already. Because of conflicts with the Spanish the Guna had to leave their home located in what today is part of Colombia. In the 1800's they populated the islands for the first time.
But that's not the only time the Guna had conflicts with colonists. After the independence of Panama in 1903 the new government desired control over the Guna Yala region. Over two decades the government's laws greatly affected the way of living and culture of the Guna people.
All led to the San Blas Rebellion which involved several efforts by the Guna to oppose Panama's control. Their resistance caused the 1925 Revolution, which resulted in 27 deaths but a peace agreement in the end.
The Guna are among the Indigenous people in Latin America who have been perhaps most successful in defending their cultural heritage. This is why the Guna represent a strong contrast to modernity and the Western lifestyle, particularly in Panama where American influence significantly shapes the country's culture. Their way of life embodies a divergence from contemporary norms, emphasizing the dichotomy between traditional values and modern influences in Panamanian society.
A contrast which couldn't be bigger.
Contemporary Problems
Since back then the Guna continued living in their own way. But still there are problems and conflicts they have to face today.
Modern society is facing a global transformation, largely driven by new technology and the widespread influence of social media. And even the Guna are not safe from this influence. Since the pandemic, there has been an increased openness towards tourism as a significant source of income. This shift has led to greater connectivity, with many destinations now actively engaging in the digital world. They are not only connected to the internet but also have a pronounced presence on social media platforms.
So now internet and smartphones are totally common. Teenagers see the world outside on social media and are now part of the globalized world. The Problem: many Kids and Teens are not interested in the traditional way of living or the language anymore. Older Guna are worried about the loss of culture, language and tradition.
If you go to San Blas you will notice there are mostly older people or children. Young Adults tend to leave their communities and go to Panama City for further education since the Guna children only receive basic education and lack opportunities for advanced learning. A few of them come back but definitely not all. Many migrate to Panama City, which is also home to a Guna community.
Climate Change is another big problem. It affects us all but especially those who are not responsible for it. Tragically, Guna Yala is among the regions most vulnerable to its effects. The Islands are facing rising sea levels and much like low-lying island nations and territories around the world it is to be expected that the Guna will lose their islands within this century. Another reason why many move to the mainland and also to Panama City. Since most of the Guna live on the islands the rest is also forced to move to the mainland in the following decades.
This is a situation where the government of Panama helps the Guna. The Ministry of Housing consented to construct 300 houses with access to electricity and water, in addition to a hospital and a school in the Guna Yala region.
But still this is a big loss to the Guna and another thread for culture and tradition. To ensure that the ethnic and cultural identities are not lost in the move, the Guna develop programs to teach traditions and culture to the resettled generations.
Conclusion
As the Guna maintain their traditions, they face new challenges from the modern world. The rise of technology and social media has connected them more with global culture, causing a shift in the younger generation's interests away from their heritage. Many young Guna move to Panama City for education, leading to changes in the community's dynamics and posing a threat to the preservation of their traditional way of life.
Also the environmental situation presents a stark contrast: Panama City stands as the epicenter of emissions in the country, significantly contributed to by the activities surrounding the canal, while the Guna communities live in close harmony with nature. Despite their minimal contribution to the ecological footprint, the Guna are significantly more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than the City. This disparity highlights a critical issue of environmental justice, where those least responsible for environmental degradation are often the most affected by its consequences.
Panama hosts two distinct worlds: the modern metropolis and indigenous communities, each part of the country's identity. Rather than existing in conflict, collaboration between the government and indigenous groups should be the way to go. Currently, the government's efforts fall short, often leaving indigenous communities isolated from urban developments. The construction of a village for the Guna is a rare exception. However, many other indigenous populations lack support, facing challenges similar but also different to the Guna. These cultures must be protected at all costs. Even modern society, with its advanced systems and technologies, can learn a lot from indigenous tribes.
The home for unique & authentic travel
