Wedding Table

Snapshot of a wedding table at Mi Pueblito with an empty bottle of champagne the day after the Big Day. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Kerosene Lamp

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Mi Pueblito Guide

Snapshot of an attractive Kuna Indian guide at Mi Pueblito posing for the camera. She spoke perfect Kuna dialect, English and Spanish. Her guide services at Mi Pueblito were excellent. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Afro-Caribbbean Architecture

Snapshot of the delicate architectural style of Afro-Caribbean architecture depicted in a display house at Mi Pueblito on the slopes of Ancon Hill in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Gazebo’s Hanging Lantern

Snapshot of a lantern surrounded with strings of light in a gazebo at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama. At night this edifice glows with thousands of rays of light on the breezy slopes of Ancón Hill. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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La Casa Miller

Snapshot of a replica of the old Miller House of Calidonia—now extinct—located at Mi Pueblito. It was a historic icon that should never have been demolished. This is only what is left of this magnificent edifice built during the construction of the Panama Canal at the turn of the century.  Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Ethnic Diversity in Panama

Every since the discovery of Panama in 1501 by Rodrigo de Bastidas, this narrow piece of Tropical land has been a crossing point home for multiple ethnic groups.  In Panama, we have the peaceful coexistence of numerous foreign communities such as:  Spanish, Greek, Italian, Indian, Jews, Palestinians, Chinese, West Indians, Colombians and so forth.  The construction of the Trans-Isthmian railroad in 1855 and the Panama Canal in 1914, attracted many foreign workers to the isthmus.

Panama is also fortunate to have a rich Amerindian population.  In fact, 6.7 percent of the country’s population consists of Amerindian descendents.  The Amerindian population includes six distinct indigenous communities: the Emberá, Wounaan, Ngäbe Buglé, Kuna, Naso-Teribe and Bribri. More than half the Amerindian population live in the Panama City–Colón metropolitan corridor.  These numerous Indian tribes represent a strong tourist attraction for foreign visitors who find these ethnic groups to be fascinating subjects to study and photograph.

For example, the Kuna Indians are internationally recognized due to their rich culture and their attractive molas (in Kuna dialect “dulegaya”).  Mola means “blouse” or “clothing“. Molas are colorful panels and intricate reverse applique that are sewn together to create the Kuna’s blouse. The Kuna molas are Panama’s most famous native handcraft,  Many of these blouses and individual panels have come to be prized collectibles amongst textile enthusiasts and museums all over the world.  The Kuna live mainly along the Caribbean coast east of Colón, and account for approximately thirty percent of Panama’s indigenous Indians.

The indigenous Indian tribes are concentrated in remote regions of Panama, and it has been their isolation that has contributed to their their cultural survival. The Ngäbe-Buglé (also called Guaymí Indians), who account for around sixty percent of all the indigenous Indians in Panama, inhabit the remote parts of northwest Panama. In order to sustain themselves, many Ggäbe-Buglé resort to working in the cash economy. Coffee picking, work on large cattle farms and on banana plantations provide the main source of income. Also, once made for war and ceremony, some Ngäbe-Buglé sell beaded necklaces on the side of the roads in Panama.

Other smaller Indian tribes are scattered in the remote mountains of western Panama and the interior of Darién. The Emberá occupy the southeastern of Province of Darién along the border with Colombia. Most are bilingual in Spanish and Chocó.  The Bribri are a small section of the Talamanca tribe of Costa Rica.

The slightly more than 3,800 Naso-Teribe Indians live along the Teribe, San Juan, and Changuinola rivers in the western Panamanian province of Bocas del Toro. Nearly all of them speak the Teribe language, which belongs to the Chibchan Family. They are linguistically and culturally related to the Térraba (who also are known as Teribe) Indians of Costa Rica. The majority of Naso-Teribe of Panama live as farmers or as laborers in the American banana plantations of Changuinola in the province of Bocas del Toro.

The Wounaan are also one of six indigenous peoples (Bribri, Ngäbe-Buglé, Emberá, Kuna, Naso-Teribe, and Wounaan) who live within the Republic of Panama. The Wounaan is one of the smallest indigenous groups in Panama.  The majority of the 6,800 Wounaan live in the Province of Darien; Panama’s largest and scarcely populated province. Most Wounaan live in small communities, located within and outside the two Embera-Wounaan “comarcas” (Indian reservations), which are indigenous communities with special autonomous administrations. They also live inside and around Panama City and other urban neighborhoods along the Pan American Highway, and specifically, in three villages in the Eastern part of the Province of Panama along the Pacific Ocean’s foothills of the Maje mountain range.

Recently I went to Mi Pueblito and took a couple of shots of the area adjacent to the Indian Village.  The village itself was being restored after it was destroyed by heavy rainfalls during December 2010.  Some natives sought refuge in nearby buildings where they are currently selling their handicrafts.

These are the pictures of a Wounaan and Kuna natives in a handcraft store at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama.

Snapshot of Italo Chiripua's business card showing the products that he sells and his cell phone number. As you can see, he sells both retail and wholesale merchandise to the public. Italo is a Wounaan native from Darien. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Italo Chiripua in front of several hand woven baskets by his wife. Italo is a savvy businessman and peddles his products at Mi Pueblito to earn a living. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Italo Chiripua, a Wounaan native, and a Kuna Indian inside their souvenier's shop at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama. They sell painted feathers, woven baskets, masks, plates, figures made from tagua seeds and a lot more. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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Coconut Monkeys

Snapshot of three cute monkeys handcrafted by Wounaan Indians from dry coconut shells. These handcrafts are being exhibited at Mi Pueblito in the Indian Village. There is much more to see here. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Picturesque Church Perched on a Hilltop

Below are a couple of pictures of a pretty nice wooden church following the architectural style of Afro-Caribbean buildings.  This structure is located within the premises of Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama.  The lush foliage you see behind the church, is the famous Ancon Hill which stands like a sentinel in the vibrant urban center of Panama City.

Here we go.

Snapshot of an Afro-Caribbean church exhibited at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a wooden church perched on a hill beside the slopes of Ancon Hill in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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An African-Caribbean Style Church

Snapshot of an African-Caribbean church exhibited at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama. A similar structure is located Downtown (Calidonia) where it houses an Afro-Panamanian museum. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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