COMMENTARY — Helping the Kuna Yala help themselves

Vancouver-based Western Keltic Mines (WKM) recently acquired five concessions in the Comarca de San Blas region of Panama, where a United Nations exploration program in the late 1960s revealed potential for porphyry-related and epithermal gold mineralization.

WKM’s goal there is to explore for copper and gold in a harmonious way with the Kuna Yala Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the San Blas region.

The Kuna have successfully protected their culture from outside influence by isolating themselves from the rest of the world. Dependent largely on fishing and gathering, the Kuna diet consists of coconuts, fish, rice and plantains.

Living conditions in the region are poor, as the island is without running water and electricity.

In addition, health care is minimal, and traditional practices take precedence over Western-style medicine. A typical child in the region receives only 350 calories per day and, as a result, malnourishment is common.

Realizing that change is inevitable, many of the young Kuna have embraced change, in the hope that progress will follow. However, the shock of being exposed to radically different cultures and economics without preparation has taken its toll, and the Kuna are now approaching other cultures with some caution.

WKM has recognized that one of the most important economic connections between San Blas and the outside world is molas — elaborately designed and painstakingly executed cloth panels that are used to adorn the blouses of the Kuna women. Mola designs include flowers, geometric figures and mazes, presented in a combination of bright colors.

WKM has purchased some of these cloth panels and imported them into Canada, to distributors, retailers and individuals in the form of greeting cards, books, markers, round patches and molas of all sizes. The profits from these sales are then returned to the San Blas region, where the money is used to supply books and medical supplies.

WKM has been working to bring benefits to the Kuna, and has been gaining their trust and respect. As a result, the Kuna have joined negotiations for access rights to the land.

WKM believes its relationship with the Kuna Yala Indians is mutually beneficial, and that it is helping ease the Kuna’s transition into the modern world.

— From “The Quarterly,” the newsletter of Western Keltic Mines.