Kuna (people)
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Kuna or Cuna is the name of an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia. The spelling Kuna is currently preferred. In the Kuna language, the name is Dule or Tule, meaning "people." The name of the language in Kuna is Dulegaya, meaning "people's language."
The Kuna are often mistakenly identified as being related to the extinct Cueva people.
The Kuna live in three politically autonomous comarcas or reservations in Panama, and in a few small villages in Colombia. There are also communities of Kuna people in Panama City, Colón, and other cities. The greatest number of Kuna people live on small islands in the comarca of Kuna Yala. The other two Kuna comarcas in Panama are Kuna de Madugandi and Kuna de Wargandi.
In Kuna Yala, each community has its own political organization, led by a sahila. Decisions are made in meetings held in the Onmaket Nega (Congress House). Today there are 49 communities in Kuna Yala. The region as a whole is governed by the Kuna General Congress, which is led by three Sahila Dummagan. See also Kuna Yala.
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Economy
The economy of Kuna Yala is based on agriculture and fishing, with a long tradition of international trade. Plantains, coconuts, and fish form the core of the Kuna diet, supplemented with imported foods, a few domestic animals, and wild game. Coconuts, called ogob in the Kuna language, and lobsters are the most important export products, and migrant labor and the sale of molas provide other sources of income. Most imported goods originate from Colombian ships and are sold in retail stores owned by Kuna people. Tourism is an important part of the economy in the Carti region, and abandoned goods from the drug trade provide occasional windfalls.
The Kuna are famous for their molas, a colorful textile art form made with the techniques of applique and reverse applique. Mola panels are used to make the blouses of the Kuna women's national dress, which is worn daily by many Kuna women. Mola means "clothing" in the Kuna language. The Kuna word for a mola blouse is dulemola, "Kuna people's clothing."
Language
The Kuna language is a Native American language of the Chibchan family spoken by 50,000 to 70,000 people. Kuna is the primary language of daily life in the comarcas, and the majority of Kuna children speak the language. Spanish is also widely used, especially in education and written documents. Although it is relatively viable, Kuna is considered an endangered language.
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