Who Are the Guna?
The Guna (formerly spelled Kuna) are an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia, numbering approximately 80,000. Most live in the Guna Yala (San Blas) archipelago of 365 islands off Panama's Caribbean coast, making them one of the few indigenous groups to govern an island territory. They are renowned for their elaborate mola textile art and for achieving one of the highest degrees of indigenous autonomy in the Americas.
The Guna successfully resisted Spanish colonization, maintained independence through centuries of pressure, and in 1925 led a revolution that forced Panama to recognize their autonomous territory. Today, Guna Yala operates as a comarca (indigenous territory) with its own government, laws, and customs, though it remains part of Panama.
The Mola Art Tradition
Molas are intricately layered textile panels created through reverse appliqué, where multiple layers of fabric are cut away to reveal colors beneath. Originally part of women's traditional blouses, molas have become internationally recognized works of art collected by museums worldwide. The complex geometric and figurative designs can take weeks or months to complete.
Traditional mola designs draw from Guna cosmology, depicting spirits, animals, plants, and abstract patterns with cultural significance. Modern molas also incorporate contemporary imagery while maintaining traditional techniques. The mola industry generates substantial income for Guna women, who control the production and sale of their work.
The Guna Revolution of 1925
In February 1925, the Guna led an armed uprising against Panamanian police who were suppressing their culture. Panamanian officials had banned traditional dress, the Guna language in schools, and indigenous ceremonies. Under leader Nele Kantule, the Guna declared independence, raised their own flag, and fought back.
With mediation from the United States, Panama negotiated a peace treaty recognizing Guna autonomy. The 1925 Revolution is commemorated annually and represents one of the most successful indigenous resistance movements in Latin American history. It established the framework for the autonomous comarca system that protects Guna lands today.
Island Life and Governance
Most Guna live on small, densely populated islands, some with over 1,000 residents on a few acres. Traditional houses are made from cane and palm thatch. Each island community holds daily evening congresses where matters are discussed democratically in the onmaked nega (congress house) under the guidance of sailas (chiefs).
The General Guna Congress is the supreme governing body, establishing laws for all of Guna Yala. Non-Guna cannot own land in the comarca, and tourism is carefully controlled. Visitors must pay fees, and taking photographs of Guna people without permission (and additional payment) is prohibited.
Climate Change Challenges
The Guna face an existential threat from climate change. Rising sea levels and intensifying storms are eroding their low-lying islands, some of which sit barely a meter above water. Several communities have already begun relocating to the mainland, becoming among the world's first climate refugees.
The community of Gardi Sugdub made international news as one of the first communities to formally relocate due to sea level rise. The Guna are working to preserve their culture while adapting to climate realities, raising global awareness about the immediate impacts of climate change on island peoples.
References
- Howe, J. (1998). "A People Who Would Not Kneel: Panama, the United States, and the San Blas Kuna"
- Perrin, M. (1999). "Magnificent Molas: The Art of the Kuna Indians"
- Chapin, M. (1991). "The Quiet Revolution of the Kuna"
- Tice, K.E. (1995). "Kuna Crafts, Gender, and the Global Economy"