The Embera Tribe Of Panama

The Embera are an indigenous people living in Panama, in the Chagres National Park. To reach their village on the banks of the Chagres River, we took a forty-five minute ride in dug-out canoes fitted with outboard motors. Stuffing fourteen people in a canoe and keeping them balanced, turned out better than I thought. Sitting in the front I did get fairly soaked during the trip however.

We were greeted at the village by the men playing traditional wood flutes and drums as we clamored out of the canoes and up the river bank to the smiling faces this Embera clan. After we all were settled in the meeting hut, drinks and a traditional meal were served.

After the meal, the village chief gave us an interpreted welcome, followed by more music, dancing and singing. Smiles and laughing all around as some of our group were pulled up to dance with them. What followed was much like a conga-line we are all familiar with at weddings and spring break. Lots of laughs!

 The families of the clan all displayed hand-made and dyed fabrics, woven baskets, wood carvings of animals and flowers. All of their wares were fantastic in their design, colors and form! The proceeds of the sales go to pay for uniforms that are required for the children to attend government mandated schools, and the outboard motors to get them there. We were told that for most of the tribe, the schools and tourists like us are the only contact with the outside world they have. Otherwise, the tribe live like their ancestors did, totally self-sufficient and deriving all their needs from the river and tropical forest.

After saying our goodbyes, we scrambled back into the canoes for the ride back to where our bus was parked. I was lost in thought during that ride, pondering the vast differences between the modern world and the Embera culture, which has remained largely unchanged for untold generations.