4 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Embera Tribe

1. 4 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Embera Tribe The Emberas existed long before the Spanish conquistadors plundered the New World and before countries like Panama or Columbia were formed. Not much is known about the history of the Embera tribe. We list five facts that you probably didn’t know about them. The Emberas Were Largely Ignored Until 1975: The Embera tribe has been assigned a comarca indigena, or indigenous territory, by the government of Panama. This is similar to reservations for Native Americans in the USA, however with a few notable differences. For one, the Embera were not forcefully assimilated. Children were not forced into boarding schools or punished for speaking their language. The Panama government left them largely to their own. This allowed the Embera people to keep their language, cultural practices, traditions, and lifestyle intact. In fact, until 1975, they were not even counted as citizens on the census. As Dave Dunlop of the Maritime Explorer says, the recent history of the Embera Tribe started with a movement to have their rights recognized by the Panamanian government. The Embera People are Excellent Basket Weavers: People from Embera Waounan are very famous for their craft. They are believed to be the original basket weavers and wood carvers in the Cemaco and Sambu region. It is said that the Canasta or the basket woven from the local chunga fiber is tight enough to hold water! It could take anywhere up to six months to weave a basket and it sells for over a thousand dollars in the international market. If you’ve visited an Embera village, you’ll find smaller versions of these baskets being sold for tourists. The Embera Tribe Today Largely Survives on Tourism: Unlike what the Spanish conquistadors would like us to believe, the Emberas are a friendly tribe. They were removed from their semi-nomadic lives as hunter-gatherers and fishermen and now rely largely on tourism. Since hunting and a lot of other activities are now banned, men and women entertain guests by showcasing their arts, culture, and food. As a tourist to an Embera village, you’ll be welcomed with a traditional dance performed by women who dance to a beat provided by the men. The Food of the Embera Tribe is Unique: Much like the history of the Embera tribe, their food is also unique. Hunting, fishing, and foraging were common for the locals until hunting was banned because of deforestation. Fish from the rivers of Darien form a major source of protein for these people. If you are visiting an

2. Embera village, you are likely to be greeted with a modified version of fish and chips – fried tilapia and plantains. Fruits, tubers, pineapple are also popular. Many tour operators are offering tourists an authentic experience of the Embera tribe. Remember, though, to pick someone who engages in responsible tourism. Resource Box: The Author loves researching the indigenous tribes of South America and especially loves to explore the history of the Embera tribe.