500 years ago, when the Spanish came to the Americas the Kuna were living in what is now Colombia. Due to conflict with the Spanish, and later with other indigenous groups, they moved into the Darien and then to the coast, populating the islands for the first time in the 1800’s.

In Kuna Yala there are 49 villages, 42 of which are on islands with 7 on the main land. Kuna traditionally sleep in hammocks in grass huts. The walls are made of cane sticks lashed to posts with a fibrous plant, and a roof of palm leaves.

A side from the islands the Kuna territory (comarca) stretches deep into the jungle. In traditional areas on a typical day they would get up before dawn and row their wooden dugout canoe (cayuco) to the mainland to tend to their crops for the morning, coming back around midday, and maybe going for a fish in the afternoon.

Traditional Kuna cuisine is very simple. The most common dish “Tule masi” (literally meaning Kuna food) is a soup whose main ingredients are plantain and fish. It’s also very common for them to smoke fish as a way to preserve it.

In Kuna Yala, each community has its own political organization, led by a Saila, pronounced (“sai-lah”). The Saila is traditionally both the political and spiritual leader of the community; he memorizes songs which relate the sacred history of the people, and in turn transmits them to the people.

Decisions are made in meetings held in the Onmaked Nega, or Ibeorgun Nega (Congress House or Casa de Congreso), a structure which likewise serves both political and spiritual purposes. It is in the Onmaked Nega that the Saila sings the history, legends and laws of the Kuna, as well as administering the day-to-day political and social affairs.

The Saila is usually accompanied by one or more voceros who function as interpreters and counselors for the Saila. Because the songs and oral history of the Kuna are in a higher linguistic register with specialized vocabulary, the Saila’s recitation will frequently be followed by an explanation and interpretation from one of the voceros in everyday Kuna language. The region as a whole is governed by the Kuna General Congress, which is led by three Saila Dummagan (“Great Sailas”).

For centuries the Kuna battled against colonists trying to enslave them or stamp out their culture. This battle was finally won after the Kuna revolution of 1925 when they attacked Panamanian military stationed in Kuna Yala during the festivities of Carnaval. A panamanian retaliation was stopped by US warships with representatives from all over the world. A treaty was made and Kuna were given full rights to live in peace under their own laws in the Comarca of Kuna Yala.