Misplaced Pages

#311688

65-486: The Bokota dedicate themselves to livestock, fishing, and hunting. They still use weapons like bows and arrows and spears or fishnets. Men wear shirts of manta-sucia , while women dress similar to the Ngobes . They wear necklaces, facial paint of black and red, and shiny hair combs. They make hats of vegetable fibers, backpacks, baskets, and daily dresses called cobo . They live in round houses on stilts. They are monogamous , and

130-567: A , slightly higher than the English aw in the word saw . Spanish speakers hear ä as either an o or an a . Ngäbe means "people" in their native language of Ngäbere . Numerous Ngäbe have migrated to Costa Rica in search of work on the coffee fincas . Ngäbere and Buglere are distinct languages in the Chibchan language family. Ngäbe territory originally extended from the Pacific Ocean to

195-535: A General assembly, governor, and any number of regional and local leaders, although the government still controls public expenditure and tax revenues within the territory. The comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, located in north western Panama, was formed in 1997 both as a latent result of government promise and of considerable political pressure from the Ngäbe-Buglé , united by threats of natural resource exploitation and environmental degradation on their ancestral lands. The territory

260-488: A chief, who often had an assistant, or cabra , and a council of advisers. In 2012, the Ngäbe adopted a system intended to integrate their traditional government with the modern Panamanian system. As such, the Ngäbe have Official Administrative Authorities and Traditional Authorities. The Administrative Authorities include: a governor and vice governor, mayors for each of the seven districts, and representatives of each county within

325-498: A few large cooking pots called pailas and many keep chicha , a corn drink, in the house. Guaymí men typically wear homemade multi-colored pants, straw hats and rubber boots, while women wear full bright colored dresses with shoulder and neckline adornments ( nagua ) and embroidered bands around the waist and bottom. Women generally do not wear shoes. These items are usually made at home with hand crank sewing machines and, like chácaras, sold for extra income. The filing of teeth to

390-462: A fist fight. On the fourth day, the challenged leave, and the hosts take care of the inebriated and injured, who are unable to leave. Attendees of balseria typically dress in traditional Ngäbe clothing and colors. They wear feathers, animal skins, and even entire animals on their backs. Some men also wear the woman's traditional dress, or nagua , to hide their legs during the match. Horns, whistles, and improvised trumpets are widely used. Outside of

455-462: A four-foot-long balsa stick at their opponent's legs. The objective is to hit the opponent below the knees until he can no longer continue. Opponents meet before the match to decide how many sticks will be thrown by each (10 being few, 40 being a lot, and 20 being average). There is no tournament structure, and matches are initiated by challenge and request. The event is initiated when one town invites to host and challenge another town. A good harvest or

520-463: A large part in determining land ownership and use rights. As the Ngäbe-Buglé typically practice subsistence agriculture, definitions of land ownership and use are of pinnacle importance to every household, especially as population increases in proportion to arable land in the comarca and productive land is degraded by excessive use. The intricate system on which land resources are allocated is based on

585-408: A more generalized issue, and it becomes more difficult to generate capital in a shrinking labor market, malnutrition is prevalent, especially in children and expecting mothers. Attempts to generate capital by becoming a migrant worker also have negative social effects including added strains on family structure and increased pressure on women to provide for their children alone. The dispersed nature of

650-465: A platform under the roof is used for food storage and there are a number of raised bed platforms. Chácaras (called kra in Ngäbere), are sturdy bags made from plant fibers. They are used both as storage units and to transport materials. Occasionally you can even see infants being transported in a chácara. Some women also make these bags to sell so they may participate in the informal economy. Families have

715-410: A point using a machete sharpener is not uncommon among Guaymí men and women, although the practice is generally carried out in more traditional areas. Families are usually rather large and often groups of women live close together so they can assist each other when caring for children. Polygamy was once common among the Ngäbe-Buglé as the number of wives and children a man has signifies prestige. It

SECTION 10

#1732887003312

780-413: A reciprocal obligation to host are typical catalysts. Once a date is selected, the host presents the challenged with a knotted rope—each knot represents a day, and the rope is used as a countdown for the event. In the weeks leading up to balseria, participants in each town blow animal horns and other makeshift trumpets to announce the imminence of the event. On the first day of balseria , the hosts receive

845-451: A xenophobic, folk-style Christianity. Practitioners are noted as wary and resentful of Latinos, and do not drink or practice balseria . The Ngabe who practiced Mama Tada created a stronger sense of brotherhood. This religion is believed to have contributed to the Ngäbe's unified effort to earn their own autonomous area. The Balseria is a four-day festival and Ngäbe traditional sport. The sport consists of two players, who take turns throwing

910-459: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article relating to the Indigenous peoples of North America is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ng%C3%B6be Bugl%C3%A9 people Ngäbe-Buglé ( Spanish: [ˈŋɡoβe βuˈɣle] ) is the largest and most populous of Panama 's five comarcas indígenas . It was created in 1997 from lands formerly belonging to

975-458: Is almost never discussed, even during birth. When the baby is deemed healthy, people consider it safe to acknowledge the pregnancy. Many women have traditionally given birth in their homes, with the help of their mother or a midwife . The government has established some women's clinics in Ngobe territory, seeking to improve women's health. The staff have had to adapt some of their practices to accommodate

1040-625: Is done on foot or horseback as there are few year-round access roads leading into the comarca (the first ever starting out as a mine access road that runs up to Buäbti and continues to Escopeta, the location of the Cerro Colorado mine) from San Felix, a city connected to the interamericana highway via Las Cruces. Although closely associated and collectively referred to as the Guaymí, the Ngäbe and Buglé are two separate linguistic/indigenous groups whose languages are mutually unintelligible. The larger group,

1105-460: Is made up of land previously belonging to the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Veraguas, and divided into seven districts (listed above with capitals); the capital of the entire comarca is Büäbti, located in the Müna district. As the Ngäbe-Buglé population tends to identify more with their communities than with an ethnicity and is distributed rather unevenly, the political organization that prompted

1170-451: Is maintained. In the higher elevations, such livestock is supplemented by hunting (where permitted). The primary crop for the Ngäbe on the Atlantic slopes is green bananas. In order to survive, many Ngäbe resort to working in the cash economy. They pick coffee, work on large cattle ranches, and on banana plantations to make cash. Also, some Ngäbe sell traditional beaded necklaces on the side of

1235-448: Is no longer common since supporting multiple wives and large families is increasingly difficult. Social capital and reciprocity networks formed through a kinship system are important for reducing economic and social resource vulnerability while creating opportunity for families to cooperate and take advantage of more opportunities that will help them and other members of their kinship group get by. Marriage and kinship relations also play

1300-617: Is today's western Panama ; each was named after its chief and each spoke a different language. The chiefs were Natá , in Coclé Province ; Parita in the Azuero Peninsula; and the greatest chief Urracá , in what is now Veraguas Province . Urracá became famous by defeating the Spaniards time after time. He forced Diego de Albitez, a captain of the Spanish, to sign a peace treaty in 1522. He

1365-460: The Caribbean Sea , though there was never an empire or a distinctive “Ngäbe territory”. Most Ngäbe lived in dispersed villages, which were run by chiefs and influential families. Few, if any, Ngäbe occupied the mountainous region in which they now live. They retreated to that area under pressure from Spanish colonists and development of low-lying areas. Christopher Columbus and his men contacted

SECTION 20

#1732887003312

1430-582: The Ngäbe , speak Ngäbere , while the smaller group, the Buglé, speak Buglére ; both are members of the Chibchan language family. Collectively, these two groups make up the largest indigenous population in Panama. Note the difference in spelling of Ngäbe and Ngöbe; the two variations depend on local dialects. The vowel low-back-rounded sound indicated by ä does not exist in Spanish and is confused with "o". (Since newspapers know

1495-571: The poverty level and do not own modern technology. Because of the rugged geography, building roads and new infrastructure to Ngäbe reservations has been expensive and difficult for the government. Some Ngäbe choose to live secluded from modern societies. In the early 21st century, most Ngäbe work as subsistence farmers and agricultural laborers. On the Pacific slopes, the main crops are rice , corn , yucca , otoy, ñame , and several species of beans. Small-scale livestock production of chickens and pigs

1560-567: The Bokotas have often intermarried with the Ngöbe Buglés, another indigenous tribe of Panama. There are still fullblood families of Bokota. Many traditional ceremonies are maintained, including the ceremony of lightning, which prevents lightning from striking their houses. They speak the Bokota language , also called Buglere , which is one of the Chibchan languages . This Panama -related article

1625-773: The Comarca, balseria has a negative reputation in Panama; it is officially outlawed by the government. The general attitude is that balseria is a drunken, violent mess. According to the Ngäbe, while alcohol and violence are present during balseria, it is primarily a cultural event, a unique sport, and a chance to demonstrate pride in their heritage. Among all the provinces in Panama, the Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle consistently score lowest in terms of human development , education, income, and social and economic investment indices. They are also most recently second lowest in life expectancy and employment rate. Some facts: Development projects like

1690-411: The Comarca. Spanish missionaries introduced Roman Catholicism in the early 1600s. Since the late 19th century, Protestant, Mormon and Evangelical missionaries of various types have also worked among the people. While the people are predominately Catholic, some Ngäbe have since adopted various forms of protestant Christian views, including: The British Methodist Church established a mission field among

1755-555: The Guaymi Indians about 1926-27, under the leadership of the Rev. Ephraim S. Alphonse (1896-1995). Born locally on the island of Carenero , in Bocas del Toro Province , he was the son of John Alphonse, from Martinique , and Carlotha Reid, a native of Bluefields, Nicaragua . Both parents were of African descent. Alphonse first worked in the area as an engineer, but became increasingly interested in

1820-724: The Guaymi people. He lived, worked and raised his own family among the Valiente people on the Cusapin Peninsula. Working with them to learn the language, he devised a written form and translated the four Gospels of the New Testament and many hymns into the Guaymi dialect. He created a Guaymi Grammar and developed a dictionary in Guaymi, Spanish and English. These were later printed by the Bible Society . Copies of Alphonse's work are held in

1885-490: The Guaymí diet. Meat is rarely eaten although many families keep cows, pigs, ducks, and chickens (mostly egg laying); sardines are a common staple and hojaldras (fried Panamanian bread) are sometimes eaten for breakfast. Most farming is done on land cleared using slash and burn techniques, and due to growing population pressures, this land is rarely left fallow for sufficient time, so crop yields tend to decrease over time. As subsistence agriculture becomes less and less reliable,

1950-439: The Guaymí people have started to participate in the cash economy, which provides some relatively accessible alternatives for generating capital and obtaining necessary amenities and resources. Labor is one abundant resource the Guaymí possess, although due to poor education and low human capital including health and nutrition, the labor force is rather unskilled. As a result, many men serve as migrant agricultural workers or leave

2015-430: The Ngäbe in 1502, in what is now known as the Bocas del Toro province in northwestern Panama. He was repelled by a Ngäbe leader with either the name or title of Quibían . Since that contact, Spanish conquistadors , Latino cattle ranchers, and the development of large banana plantations successively forced the Ngäbe into the less desirable mountainous regions in the west. Many Ngäbe were never defeated in battle, including

Bokota people - Misplaced Pages Continue

2080-644: The Ngäbe to form more compact communities by building roads, schools, clinics, and other infrastructure in designated points in what is now the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé . This marked a social change in lifestyle, as formerly dispersed villages and family units did converge and form larger communities. In 1997, after years of struggle with the Panamanian government, the Ngäbe were granted a Comarca, or semi-autonomous area. The majority now live within its boundaries. The Spanish found three distinct Guaymi tribes in what

2145-418: The Pacific slope there is a windy dry season (December to April) and a wet season. As a result of greater seasonal variation, there are more localized geographies on the Pacific slope and vegetation consists of grasses mixed with tropical forest cover. Small perennial streams and larger rivers run on both sides of the continental divide and are used for bathing, laundry, and drinking. In the region most travel

2210-776: The archives of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The government honored him with the Order of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and a Medal of Belisario de Porras Noncomala is the name of a traditional deity. Methodists established a main church in Cusapin and smaller congregations around the Peninsula. The Methodist Church also established a medical clinic in Cusapin. Members of the Bahá’í Faith number around 8,000. Some writings of

2275-416: The best of the day and may feature up to 60 balsas being thrown. After the inaugural match, the rest of the day is informal. Matches are initiated through challenges. The only rules are that no two balseros from the same town can face one another, and players must hit each other below the knees. The "below the knees" rule is enforced by spectators and "teammates" of the players, the implied consequence being

2340-448: The challenged in their town and provide food and drink (generally fermented corn, banana, and palm leaf liquor). The second day consists of much of the same. The unstated goal of both sides is to exhaust the other by festivities before the games on the third day. At dawn on the third day, the best balseros of each town lead a procession to a predetermined location and begin the games by facing one another. The dawn matches are supposed to be

2405-449: The comarca Ngöbe-Buglé have schooling beyond the sixth grade. Finally, many Guaymí communities are threatened by environmental degradation caused by both farming and government or corporate exploitation of their land. The Cerro Colorado copper deposit, one of the world's largest deposits of copper ore is located in the comarca Ngäbe-Buglé. Mining in the area, although it is legal because the property rights of subsurface resources belong to

2470-525: The comarca to seek other types of informal jobs. 2008. Many men work during the coffee harvest in the Chiriqui Highlands including Boquete and Santa Clara. This region of Panama is known for high quality shade-grown, and in some cases, organic coffee. The Guaymí also harvest seasonal vegetables grown at higher altitudes. Women also participate in the informal economy by making chacaras, naguas and jewelry to sell, and some men sew pants or weave hats to do

2535-404: The districts. These are elected by the people. (Or appointed by national government?) The Traditional Authorities include a congress, which is led by a general congressional president and three regional congressional presidents. The congress works in conjunction with a general Chief, three Regional Chiefs (regional level), and seven Local Chiefs (district level). The Chief acts mostly as a voice of

2600-400: The dresses were introduced by Catholic missionaries for modesty's sake, as the Ngäbe traditionally wore loincloths and little else. The dresses are usually adorned with geometric patterns at the sleeve and neck lines, the waist, and at the bottom of the skirt. The classic Ngäbe geometric pattern is called "pintura" (paint), or "dientes" (teeth), and is said to represent mountains, animal teeth,

2665-496: The early 21st century, there are approximately 200,000-250,000 speakers of the Ngäbere language . Guaymí is an outdated name, derived by the Spanish colonists from the Buglere term for this people ( guaymiri ). Local newspapers and other media often alternatively spell the name Ngäbe as Ngobe or Ngöbe because Spanish does not contain the sound represented by ä , a low-back rounded

Bokota people - Misplaced Pages Continue

2730-614: The faith have been translated into the native language. Mama Tada is a Ngäbe religion (some argue a cult), dating from September 1961. The Virgin Mary (and possibly Jesus – there are several stories) allegedly appeared before a Ngäbe woman named Besikö (pronounced "bessy-go") over the Fonseca River . She was given several messages and commands for her people. While the exact commands of the vision have been hotly disputed, they roughly consist of: Besikö, thereafter more commonly known as Mama Chi,

2795-564: The famous cacique Urracá who in the 16th century united nearby communities in a more than seven-year struggle against the Conquistadors. Those Ngäbe who survived on the outskirts of this region began to slowly intermarry with the Latinos and became part of what are now termed campesinos, or rural Panamanians with indigenous roots. In the early 1970s the Torrijos administration tried to encourage

2860-461: The formation of their comarca is fairly unusual, but nonetheless demonstrates a powerful capacity to influence government actions. Ngäbe-Buglé comarca is characterized by mountainous terrain, steep slopes and generally nutrient poor soil with high rock content, all characteristics that make farming difficult. On the Caribbean slope there is no dry season and tropical forest dominates the landscape; on

2925-592: The global carbon offset goals set by nations at the UN . In February 2012 many Ngöbe protested against the new dam; two were killed in the confrontation and more than 100 injured or arrested. Many international environmental organizations have protested against the project, such as the German organization Rainforest Rescue , which wrote a petition , addressed to the DEG. A woman is considered "sick" ( bren ) while pregnant, and pregnancy

2990-419: The grave as grave goods. After the funeral, some families abstain from eating salt or sugar for four days in order to purify the body. After four days, each family member eats a spoonful of cooked bananas with salt and sugar to break this fast. Since roughly the 1960s, Ngäbe women have worn full-length, short-sleeve dresses called "naguas". They extend from the neck to the ankles. It is widely believed that

3055-418: The kinship system. Ownership rights to unclaimed land are established through occupation and farming, although very little fertile land in the comarca remains unclaimed. Members of a kinship group collectively own land, but those who live in the village on the land control it. Undeniable rights to this collectively owned land belong to each member of the kinship group, while borrowed rights are often extended to

3120-613: The lowlands along the Atlantic coast, and those of the tropical forest in the highlands of Veraguas and Chiriquí Province . They never surrendered and fought until the collapse of the Spanish Empire in the nineteenth century. When Panama broke away from Spain and joined Colombia in the early 19th century, the Ngäbe remained in the mountains. In the 21st century, some are slowly assimilating into Panamanian society. The Ngäbe traditionally organized in millions of farms or otherwise lived nomadically in family units. The chiefdoms were run by

3185-483: The members of a spouses family, although these rights can be revoked. In this way, social organization shapes the pattern of economic life and livelihood for most Guaymí. The most common crops grown in the comarca Ngäbe-Buglé ( Ngobeland ) are corn, rice, beans, otoe, bananas, and coffee although people also grow tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables in smaller gardens at home. Fruits such as mangos, oranges, nance , grow seasonally along with cacao, all of which supplement

3250-423: The night. A deep hole is dug, and a tunnel, or shelf is carved out in the bottom part of the hole. The casket is placed in the tunnel, so that the dirt that fills the hole does not fall on top of the casket. The mound is covered in otoe de lagardo leaves. When chewed, these sting and stain the mouth. They are put on the grave to prevent evil spirits from coming near. The deceased's possessions are placed on top of

3315-418: The paths of legal recourse available to them when it would be beneficial to do so. This condition especially affects women because far fewer of them speak Spanish than men. Levels of secondary education are also low in the comarca Ngäbe-Buglé as children are financially limited and transportation to secondary schooling presents a great challenge for many families. As a result, only ~18% of children ages 15–19 in

SECTION 50

#1732887003312

3380-527: The people but can hold considerable and influential power in that capacity. The Comarca Ngäbe-Bugle is approximately 6,700 square kilometers, encompassing areas of the three westernmost provinces of Panamá: Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui and Veraguas. Altitude varies from about 350 feet above sea level to over 7,000 feet in the central mountains; only about half of this land is arable. A few Ngäbe have acquired solar electricity (through an electrification project), as well as cell phone service. Most still live below

3445-482: The population also makes existing medical care hard to access, and a general lack of potable water and sanitation services cause a myriad of health problems. Lack of sufficient infrastructure and under provision of social services by the government is often the root of many problems that plague the most rural areas. Prevalence of poor Spanish skills is also an issue as Guaymí people are often unaware of legal rights and hence either fail to communicate complaints or to use

3510-563: The provinces of Bocas del Toro , Chiriquí , and Veraguas . The capital is known as Buäbiti in Guaymí and Llano Tugrí in Spanish . Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca is sub-divided into 3 sub-regions, 9 districts and 70 corregimientos : Starting in 1972, the Panamanian government was required to establish comarcas, demarcated regions in which indigenous groups possess exclusive land rights and considerable administrative autonomy. Within comarcas, people elect

3575-407: The ripples of the river, or dragon scales. Men typically wear collared cotton-and- polyester -blend shirts and polyester trousers. Some men wear farmer's hats made out of pita leaves, but most wear baseball caps adopted from urban residents. For most of the year, both genders wear "chancletas" (sandals) or rubber boots when moving about, due to Panama's heavy rainfall and the lack of infrastructure in

3640-650: The roads in Panama. The Ngäbe women make many traditional crafts, both for their own use and their families', but also to sell as extra income. These include handmade bags from plant fibers called kra , colorful dresses called nagua , and beaded bracelets and necklaces. The men weave hats from plant fibers. Many of the coastal-living Ngäbe men, such as those living on the Bocas del Toro islands or on Punto Valiente, rely on ocean resources to provide for their families. They go spearfishing and lobster diving. They both consume and sell what they catch, depending on their circumstances at

3705-415: The same. Social capital is again salient to participation in the informal economy as relationships provide people with new opportunities to make money; social capital can even be a mechanism used to attract help from both governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Ngäbe-Buglé experience much adversity as a result of contemporary conditions. As localized problems of land and crop shortage grow into

3770-498: The state, poses a great environmental threat as waste materials from extraction and processing pollute local watersheds. Although they may provide temporary income, mining endeavors also have many adverse social and cultural effects in the comarca and most natives are opposed to mineral exploitation on their lands. 8°46′11″N 81°44′02″W  /  8.76972°N 81.73389°W  / 8.76972; -81.73389 Ng%C3%A4be The Ngäbe are an indigenous people within

3835-527: The territories of present-day Panama and Costa Rica in Central America. The Ngäbe mostly live within the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca in the Western Panamanian provinces of Veraguas , Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro . They also have five indigenous territories in southwestern Costa Rica , encompassing 23,600 hectares: Coto Brus, Abrojos Montezuma, Conte Burica, Altos de San Antonio and Guaymi de Osa. In

3900-568: The time. In the province Bocas del Toro , the Changuinola Dam was completed in 2011 as a project for flood control and production of hydroelectric power. The government took over great areas of the Ngöbe reserve , flooding it under waters of the reservoir behind the dam. According to a 2012 documentary by Al Jazeera , Panama: Village of the Damned , no compensation was made to the people whose land

3965-455: The vowel should have a dieresis on it they often misspell it as "ö".) The sound represented by "ä" is virtually similar to the sound "aw" in the word "saw". The spelling Ngäbe, used here, is the more widely spread (/correct) spelling in Ngäbere. The Guaymí generally live in houses supported by sticks with a grass or zinc roof and dirt floor, wealthier families may have a cement floor. In each house

SECTION 60

#1732887003312

4030-411: The women's culture and to encourage traditional midwives to come to the hospital. After a death, the immediate family will stay up all night with the body for several nights, drinking cacao and coffee, eating, and talking. Candles must remain lit all night. On the days leading up to the funeral, neighbors and friends will visit to offer their condolences; they will sit with the family members for part of

4095-424: Was also told that her people's failure to adhere to these principles within five years would result in the death of all Ngäbe. Mama Chi's preaching affected a great many Ngäbe, who adopted the principles to varying degrees of strictness. Not all complied within five years and the apocalyptic prediction proved false. These original orders have been combined with Christian principles. Mama Tada is now considered more of

4160-483: Was betrayed and sent in chains to the town of Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic coast. According to historian Bartolomé de las Casas , Urracá escaped and made his way back to the mountains, vowing to fight the Spaniards unto death. He fulfilled his vow. Urracá was so feared by the Spaniards that they avoided combat with his forces. When Urracá died in 1531, he was still a free man. The Ngäbe lived in two large groups: those of

4225-576: Was taken. In the territory of the Ngöbe, the Barro Blanco project is planned on the Tabasara River . Many townships along the riverbanks will be flooded, adversely affecting an estimated 5000 Ngöbe farmers. The Barro Blanco project is financed by European banks from Germany ( German Investment Corporation , DEG) and the Netherlands ( Netherlands Development Finance Company , FMO) and counts toward

#311688