The villagers of Usdup in Kuna Yala, Panama, have the custom of sitting around a fire when the moon climbs up at night. There, within walking distance from the sea and under mangroves and palm trees, they'll recite Pab'igala, the metaphorical songs that have been passed down by old men for generations to explain the Earth, its uses, and its sacredness in Kuna culture. Some Pab'igala used to say that the islands in the Caribbean are like coconuts that have fallen from the tree and rest firmly...
more »The villagers of Usdup in Kuna Yala, Panama, have the custom of sitting around a fire when the moon climbs up at night. There, within walking distance from the sea and under mangroves and palm trees, they'll recite Pab'igala, the metaphorical songs that have been passed down by old men for generations to explain the Earth, its uses, and its sacredness in Kuna culture. Some Pab'igala used to say that the islands in the Caribbean are like coconuts that have fallen from the tree and rest firmly on the sand; they will never disappear, regardless of the strong winds and the high tides. In recent times, however, Pab'igala are telling stories of doom. After tall waves and heavy storms flooded much of this land last October, destroying the Kunas' subsistence crops, their straw-bale homes and schools, a different Pab'igala asked: "Why are our mothers crying? It is because of the hurricanes and earthquakes. Times are getting dark. Who is causing this?"
This is the question on the mind of many traditional indigenous people who have contributed least to climate change, yet are vulnerable to the worst brunt of the consequences.
"Lately we've seen stronger storms, and even seasonal changes that affect our food production," says Onel Masardule, director of the homegrown Fundación Para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena, or Foundation for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge. "The floods haven't brought us infectious diseases yet but we're afraid that will happen next time, so we're looking for alternatives; and if we're going to have to move, we want to do it in an organized way."
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