Are We Still the Brothers of the Trees? Perceptions and Reality Of

Introduction Since their brief but powerful revolution against a repressive government in 1925, and the creation of PEMASKY, the first protected Are we still the brothers of the trees? land area in the world to be officially formed by an indigenous group, the Guna of Panama have gained international fame in the anthropological world for their strong will and vibrant tradition. Following the revolution, the Guna people were eventually granted a Perceptions and Reality of Environmental Conservation in the Comarca, or ‘autonomous’ territory. Guna people living in the Comarca mostly govern themselves with little intervention from the Panamanian state. The Comarca itself consists of 365 islands and about 7513 sq. kilometers of coastal land including part of a Guna Indigenous Group mountain range, virgin rainforest, and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Caribbean. Considered the “brothers of the trees” by their own religious teaching, the Guna have always expressed an intimate relationship with and understanding of the mother earth, or “Nana,” a caring, but punishing figure who created all that we presently experience as natural, including the Guna people. Additionally, Guna tradition gives importance to a figure of spiritual protection known as a “Galu” which often guards important natural features. However, like in most once-isolated parts of the world, the group has experienced the effects of the outside world more heavily in recent years than before, especially since the construction of a road into the Comarca in 1970 . Tourists now visit the region in greater numbers and packaged products are regularly imported into the Comarca, which lacks the infrastructure to manage inorganic waste. The Guna people are also facing a mass emigration from the territory as youth and their families search for better jobs and education in other parts of Panama and the world. Today, more Guna live in Panama City alone (40,620 according to the 2010 census) than in all of the Comarca (30,308). In order to examine current perceptions in communities that are more intimately affected by the outside world, the majority of interviews in this study were conducted in the sub-urban Guna community of Abia Yala, which is located at a half hour bus ride from the Panamanian capital. The first half of the study was conducted in the Comarca, mostly in the island community of Gardi Sugdub. Gardi Sugdub is the closest island to the port and road, and is heavily visited by tourists. A large portion of the community has television, and they are one of the few communities to enjoy both solar powered electricity and a generator. Study Goal Observe current perceptions of the importance of environmental conservation and how it relates to Guna tradition in two communities that are intimately affected by the outside world, Gardi Sugdub and the surrounding sector of Gardi and the suburban community of Abia Yala (El Cristal), Arraijan in the province of Panama Oeste. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews in conversational format, ethnographic observation, and extensive literature review. Over the Bailey Anderson; School For International Training, Panama course of 17 days, 12 adults were interviewed in Gardi Sugdub and nearby communities and 20 in Abia Yala. The average age of participants in the Gardi Sugdub region was 55.5 and in Abia Yala, 38.5. Interviews were conducted in Spanish and Dulegaya with the “The New Gardi” community members look at the location they are clearing for construction of a new, mainland community as sea level rise threatens they’re island home help of a translator. Results The Area in which Flooding this study took El Galu place is in red, Human showing that less waste than 40% of the Overfishing population has disposal Two months since Garbage pick up in Abia Yala Boat used to pick up recycling in surrounding access to potable communities: Gardi Sugdub Environmental water. During my stay with the issues today (as community, we The importance Conclusions seen by the took an hour boat of environmental ride to the Interview participants in both communities almost unanimously agreed communities) mainland every 4 conservation Lack of days to fill barrels that environmental conservation was important to them traditionally and Coral Potable with river water Mining for washing as well Religious religiously. However, while most people saw garbage as a major point of water Relationship as consumption Duty with Nana concern, other less visibly obvious issues were rarely mentioned. People Map showing the percentage of the population with access to potable living outside of the Comarca seemed less likely to take actions to solve water in the Guna Yala Comarca in 2000. Trash problems in their communities because they believed that the Panamanian government would eventually step in, despite decades of inaction on the government’s part. Interviewed members of the People in both communities unanimously agreed that garbage is the main environmental issue Similarly no projects exist to combat other major environmental health concerns such as lack community in Abia Yala were entirely Protestant or Catholic and many felt that they face today. In the sector of Gardi, several communities have begun to work together of potable water and insufficient human waste disposal. In Abia Yala, only 2 interviewees little connection to Guna religion outside of its cultural value. On the on a recycling and garbage cleanup project known as “Basura Cero.” While not perfect, some of mentioned an effort to clean garbage in the community, which has no regular trash pick up. other hand, the community studied in the Comarca actively tried to the project’s accomplishments have already made major impacts on the community. The Community members believed that the regular abundance of garbage in the streets was the correct visible environmental problems in their community. This community of Gardi also believed that many of their problems come from tourism, which they cause of illness throughout the community but largely believed that the government was difference may be due to a deeper expressed connection with their are trying to combat by initiating an avitourism program which trains Guna youth to guide bird responsible for its cleanup. Many houses in the community also have no consistent source of religious roots and a strong distrust of the Panamanian government. watching tours based on religious tradition and mysticism. The community is also in the potable water or reliable human waste disposal systems. These issues were addressed Some differences in answers between the communities may be attributed process of constructing a new village on the mainland due to increased flooding of the island in individually by participants families, or not at all. In Gardi, all but 2 interview participants to the differences in age and education of the interviewed community recent years. While this initiative is progressive, it carries environmental risk, such as the clear- knew the spiritual meaning of “Galu,” while in Abia Yala, only the 8 of the older interview members. cutting of 500 ha of rainforest which, surprisingly, no interview participant believed to be of participants were familiar with the term. concern. References Questions? Arenas, C. (2014). Los principios de península en acción: Cambio climático y desplazamiento en la región autónoma de Gunayala, Informe de misión. Displacement Solutions; Castillo Díaz, B. (2005). La Contact: [email protected] autonomía indígena en Kuna Yala frente al impacto de la globalización: Un análisis de los retos del autogobierno indígena pp. 1-305.; Chapin, M. (2000). Defending Kuna Yala. Shifting Power: Decentralization and Biodiversity Conservation. Pp. 1-35.; Government of Panama, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo, Censos Nacionales 2010.; Mauri, M. (2004). El Mar kuna. Representación y uso de los recursos Acknowledgements marinos en Kuna Yala (Panamá). Revista de Recercai Formacio en Anthropologia. Pp. 1-24.; Quintero, B. (2013). La emigración en Panamá. El Ministerio de Salud. Pp. 1-10 PDF.; Wagua, Aiban. (2011). En Thanks to Francisco Herrera, Alison Dagang, Julio, the Lopez family in Gardi Sugdub, defensa de la vida y su armonía: Elementos de la espiritualidad Guna. Textos del Babigala. Secunda edición, ampliada. Proyecto EBI Guna. Fondo Mixto Hispano Panameño. Panamá. The Roldan Family in Abia Yala, and all of my interview participants for help without which this would not have been possible, and to William Doolittle for design tips. Guide book for the Gardi Bird Project “New land” built from mined coral Flooding of communities is becoming more common due to sea level rise.

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