Guna Yala (also referred to as San Blas archipelago) is a province of Panama stretching along its north-eastern coast down to the Colombian border. The region is under autonomous administration of the indigenous Kuna community. It is unknown when exactly the Southern American people first settled in Panama. By the 16th century they had already occupied the San Blas islands. The Kuna traditionally live in a matrimonial society where the women overlook the family property. Even though their fight for independence in the 1920s resulted in extensive self-government rights, the Kuna fear for their century old traditions with the modern world closing in.
The Kuna territory spreads over 365 islands of which only 40 are inhabited – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
Soft tourism, fishing, selling coconuts and handicraft are the main sources of income for the 50.000 people of San Blas – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
In 1925 after a successful revolt against the attemts from the Panamenian government to ‘civilize’ the Kuna, a treaty was signed that offered cultural autonomy to the region – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
Due to their autonomy the Kuna managed to stick to their tribal identity. Nowadays they are able to combine their traditions with commodities of the modern world – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
Each community has its own political organization. On a regular basis the leaders of the communities come together in Congress Houses to discuss political, social and cultural affairs – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
For centuries the Kuna used to live in a matrimonial society where women overlook the family property and finances. Cultural values are passed on from mother to daughter. After marriage the groom takes the bride’s name and moves in with her family – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
While the men adapted to a modern style of clothing most Kuna women wear the national dress: a colourful skirt and blouse, decorated with a ‘mola’ (a piece of woven textile art), combined with beads around the wrists and ankles, a headscarfe and a golden septum piercing – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
The strong position of the Kuna women suffers from the fact that a lot of outsiders prefer to address the Kuna men instead of the women when doing business – Guna Yala, Panama 2015
Sustainability plays an important role at Guna Yala. Because of a spiritual connection with the environment and a fear of negative impact from the oputside, most Kuna oppose mass tourism. Still the regulated access to the region is challenged by an increasing demand for travels to this carribean island paradise – Guna Yala, Panama 2015