Embera Indian Vilage

Embera Indian Village Tours

We ventured into the deep rain forest, one hour by road and 20 minuets by dugout canoe with a 60 horsepower outboard. There were two Embera Indians aboard, one to drive and one to bail. It seams the canoes leak. The Embera are an indigenous Indian culture that has lived in the rain forest for all of their memories. The area this family group lives in has been declared a National Preserve. The Panamanian Government retrained them to live under the new rules of the preserve which does not allow them to hunt. They still collect the plants to make the color dies for their crafts, which are items they use in every day life. We had a class on how they produce the dies and color the palm leafs. Darlene even got a Embera traditional tattoo. It will fade away in seven to ten days. The men, woman and children are all adorn with many tattoos. They also carve hard woods, mahogany, rock wood and rose wood into magnificent sculptors.

When we first arrived I was some what apprehensive as the men were dressed in loin cloths and the woman in colorful wrap around skirts. . We were put at ease after arriving at their village. They were genuine and sincere with amazing crafts to sell. We had dinner of talapia and fried plantain. The fried plantain looked more like chips but was tasty. The fish was half of a whole fish. The children were most interesting as the girls gathered around some of the younger woman in the tour to admire their painted toe nails and toe rings. The boys seamed oblivious to our arrival as they continued to play until the food was served. We brought watermelons and pineapples which was a treat for the children. There is an on site school that goes through sixth grade. Some go to Panama City and live in missions to further there education. I have to admire there commitment to family. One young man I was talking to tried to went to collage and became a tour guide, but missed his family, went back to the tribe, and now has wife and two kids. His comment was I miss my family. How many times have your heard some express a desire to live the simple life.

After dinner we were treated to some ritual dances and then asked to join in for the last farewell dance. It was actually mandatory, as it would have been rude not to dance. I was politely coaxed by two young girls that giggled as we paraded around the community lodge. The music was from instruments the men make for trees, bamboo, and an occasional dear that they kill. A bamboo flute, two different size drums, maracas, and a turtle shell shaped for it sound. It did sounded great.