Chi Chi Parties

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The kuna tribes celebrate special occasions by having Chi chi Parties that usually last about three days. The women of the community prepare for the celebration by brewing beer from bananas. They strongly encourage everyone in the community to participate; if one chooses not to, then they are heavily fined.

Culture

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These Indians Have a strong knit tribal society. They remain close to their families, and when a woman gets married the man moves in with her familiy.
The grandmother is the head of the household thus displaying a matriarchal society. Daughters are valued in the Kuna family because they will eventually bring added manpower to the familiy. Through out the centuries, the Kuna have hept their indigenous way of life, although some outside influence has slowly filtered its way through.

The " Golden Children" and Religion

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Many of the elder Kuna believed that they were God's chosen people and because of that they would automatically go to heaven. The late Kuna worshiped a sun god. They would roll themselves in gold dust, and when they stood in the sun, their bodies glowed. This was where the name "Golden Children" was derived. Most of the younger generations, however, do not hold this belief.













The Kuna believe in a God that created the world, but is now far away. They think that groups of evil spirits roam the earth and are able to enter people bodies causing sickness and diseases. Witch doctors are prevalent throughout the communities. When a person is sick, the witch doctor chants and gives the patient homemade medicine. If the person dies, then the community may have a smoke out. They build a large fire to smoke the evil spirits away from the island. When this practice is being performed, no Americans or anyone other than Kuna are allowed on the island. They believe outsiders may carry more evil spirits in.

The Kuna chief is regarded much like an Old Testamaent prophet that speaks for God. He tells people what they must do in order to please the LORD, so he will not send horrible things against them. Many Kuna still have not heard the clear message of Jesus Christ.