An Embera Village in Panama

(Article Text)
by Tim May

These photos were taken on a small ship cruise to Costa Rica and Panama. The size of the ship allowed us to visit small private beaches and some Indigenous peoples villages. On the Pacific coast of Panama we visited an Embera village in the Darien Jungle. Our naturalists from the ship took us on a tour of the village and then some of the village women and children performed dances for us. Then they sold crafts and painted us with jagua juice which they use to paint the designs on their bodies. The people were open and warm and seemed comfortable with us there. I was interested in their culture and how elements of the outside world are in their world such as; digital watches, electricity, and watches.

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We help the Indians
I just want to confirm that us operators are managed by Indians, they demand fees, they have commission, the have Panamanian Corporations, business structure created by NGO's and Panamanian bank accounts as well as brochures. We try to help them, not taking advantage of them but work as a team and also try to make living and better future for our kids.

The foreign wave of People reallocating from the US, EUROPE and CANADA are boosting our economy (never did in 70 years) to a point were both Indians and us Panamanians are having a rough time with the bills, food and with oil prices.

An American has a minimum wage of $5.85 per hour while in Panama is only about $1.20 , Oil prices and food are the same as the US now days and Panamanians are suffering the consequence just like the Indians so we work together!
— Panama Private Tours, May 9, 2008

The photographs are beautiful. Some people had to learn traditional ways to work in this community, creating a cultural revival. Many play basketball, wear blue jeans & baseball hats, watch tv and live like other Panamanians when tourist are not present. Indigenous people run NGO's, are getting training in marketing / tourism, and some have college educations. Some of what you see is their current circumstances and some is performance. Go with the knowledge they are not "primitive," they are people trying to make a decent future for their children. It is much like visiting Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, USA, except the Indigenous live in the village rather than commute like they do at Williamsburg. Many are taken advantage of by tour operators low-balling them on "per tourist" fees. Direct reservations with them will provide more $ to them. Please buy their goods while there. Other indigenous people of Panama are the Nogbe, Naso and Kuna.
— Clara, May 18, 2006

Tim,

Your pictures of both the village as well as all of your Costa Rica/Panama cruise are outstanding!!

We just returned from the January 2005 Cruise West cruise and had an equally wonderful time.

We have cruised with Cruise West before and feel they are the finest "adventure cruise" line there is!! "Up Close and Personal" is their objective and they achieve it in spades!!

Maybe we'll meet sometime on the Bering Sea adventure!!

Jim
— Jim Buell, January 28, 2005

Playa de Muerto, Darien, Panama
Tim: FYI

The village name, etc:

Playa de Muerto c/o Gisela Olmedo

Ministero de Salud

Garachine, Darien

Republic of Panama

"Please Forward"

My wife & I have visited the villiage for the 6th time. Enjoyed your great shots of our friends.

Any photos sent should be laminated in plastic as the dampness of the coastal environment destroys them rather quickly otherwise.

This is a great spot for a 1 or 2 week visit for the adventerous traveler. The water is clean and there are NO MOSQUITOS, which means no malaria, dengue, or yellow fever.

Dick & Gloria
— Dick Getty, May 3, 2004

Great photos. I am considering a trip myself in the not to distant future. Your pics are inspirational.
— Stephen Janko, March 20, 2004

Thanks so much for the pictures of the Embera Indian Village. My family of 18 will be visiting the Village next week. We can't wait!!
— Anita Rose, February 7, 2004

JASON Project Coordinator
Tim, on behalf of NASA Ames Education and the JASON Project, thank you for letting us use your wonderful Embera photos in the 2004 JASON City, Rainforests at the Crossroads (in Panama) event.
— Will Shaw, January 23, 2004

Tears Of Joy
Your portraits make me cry, they're so beautiful.
— Jane Lapham, January 2, 2004

i love you!
— Miss isipi, December 11, 2003

flipiyt jig
— bill ding, December 11, 2003

This shot is especially endearing to me, with not only the affectionate brotherhood quality of the children, but also their expressions and the fact that they seem oblivious to your camera lens. Children's candid shots are so hard since when they discover you, they start "acting" !
— Carol, October 28, 2003

Answers
Thank you for your comments and quetions - The photo was easy to take. The entire village was open to our visit and almost everyone was gracious about pictures. I have thought about sending my pictures to the village but do not know how to get it to them, or if it would be a good idea.
— Tim May, September 19, 2003

Lovely photo, the mother and child in panama. Was it easy to take it? The mother is posing for this phot. Did you send it to her afterwards?
— Marianne Crone, September 10, 2003

My family is from Panama yet I have not yet set foot in this beautiful country, although I hope to one day soon. In the meantime, photos such as yours help me to experience some of the rich culture that Panama has to offer. Thank you for sharing with us!
— Qiy, August 23, 2003

such wonderful shots! I am so fortunate to have viewed them. they are all stunning and I am slightly struck with awe. Contenment is absolutely beautiful. You are a truly talented photographer - thank you.
— katie, August 22, 2003

Congratualation Tim.. nice article.Cheers!
— STAN., August 19, 2003

Very interesting experience. From this pictures a sense of innocence and tranquillity emerges: I love the more abstract shots but I think that is the homogeneity of the entire article that makes the difference.
— Andrea Rasetti, August 19, 2003

With great interest I view your wonderful pictures, taken as an observer who documented villagers daily life. Your (pictures) portfolio is full of well composed images and it is obvious that you have became a "digital camera addict" like my self. Thank you for your kind comments under my "Sailing at Glenmore" album. Regards, Rafal
— Rafal K Komierowski, July 17, 2003

Tim, your photographs are a striking interlude in the world in which we exist on a day to day basis. The landscapes are exquisite and the stories that the portraits tell are immense, from the rich colors to the anachronistic adornments. Thank you for sharing them.
— Gena, June 18, 2003

The pics are all incredible. You have a knack for finding and recording what most of the world doesn't pay attention to. The beauty. Thanks for sharing. Don't never......
— Jackie, June 16, 2003

Thanks, Tim, for the lovely, insightful pictures. You have captured the inner beauty of these Embera people who live in a world quite different from ours and yet we share our humanness. To me, that was one of the highlights of this cruise. However, I missed seeing silver jewelery on the Indians. Where did the silver come from? How fortunate we were to visit their village.
— Eunice and Phil Seltenrich, June 9, 2003

Thank you very much to send me these pictures they are lovely, great collection... i hope you will remember so well the rest of the trip and the crew.
— Margrit, June 1, 2003

Thank you so much, since we had our camera stolen in San Jose and we took no pictures, we really enjoyed these, you did a great job, just as we remember it. Thanks, Ralph and Donna Huston
— Donna Huston, May 31, 2003

Your images are really lovely. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Looks like National Geographic material to me. (all those years of being with children and establishing relationships of trust shows in your work.) Rosemary
— Rosemary Swope, May 22, 2003

I guess you are really enjoying this retirement bit. really good , clear photos. Who did the narratives, you or your wife? Cuzzin Robbie
— Rob Webb, May 22, 2003

Hi Tim, Your picturs are terrific. Such clarity and what a great eye for capturing the moment. Keep up the good work and enjoy your retirement. that's what it's all about. Jan fom Santa Fe wkshop.
— Jan Mueller, May 22, 2003

thank you
Thank you both for your kind comments. Innocence is a perfect phrase for how I felt about this village. Saying that, I realize that people are people and their lives are no doubt as complicated in their way as ours are to us. But it was the innocent openness to strangers that I responded to.
— Tim May, May 19, 2003

Wow
A beautiful collection of "people shots", giving me a wonderful impression of life in a tiny village in Panama.
— monique jansen, May 19, 2003

Hi, Tim:

Amazing that both of us should post our pictures from opposite sides of the world on the very same evening. You have made some very intimate images here. It is obvious that you were very welcome and your picture making was appreciated. These people are quite innocent. They have yet to be corrupted by the commercial aspects of tourism. Like you, I prefer the more subtle, symbolic and abstract images you made such as "contrast", "feet" and "babe in arms". But all of them speak to me of an innocence that becoming a rarity these days.
— Phil Douglis, May 17, 2003