Wounaan Indians

Deep inside the jungle of the Darien Rainforest in Panama you will find yourself surrounded by very kind and generous people. These people are better known as the Wounaan Indians, which are one of the two groups of the Choco Indians that migrated from a region, with the same name, in Colombia in the times when Panama was part of that country.

The most interesting characteristic that distinguishes this group of Indians from the rest is the ability to weave intricate baskets. As a daily activity you can see Wounaan Indian women, and even the youngest girls weaving baskets in their free time. The art of the Wounaan Basketry combines nature and their native culture. These women weave the Chunga Palm with other plants and vines, bark and leaves. The more refined decorative baskets are created from palm materials of the Nahual bush and the Chunga tree and usually have many colors. There are baskets that are simple and utilitarian and which might be used to carry heavy loads or small animals or fish, and some others that are used for agricultural purposes such as carrying seeds or harvesting crops.

Now the Indians create smaller versions of these beautiful baskets so others can own them and they can purchase much needed items for their tribe.