Balu Wala, or the Kuna ‘Good Life’: How One Indigenous Tribe is Passing on its Traditions [1]

Ruxandra Guidi [2], Mongabay [3]
Waking Times [4]

Balancing the old world and the new, the Kuna people keep their heritage intact

Jesús Smith is sitting at his old wooden desk facing the entrance to his house. He’s hunched over, shirtless, and wearing his chunky reading glasses while writing copious notes by hand — a favorite pastime. When he sees the profile of one of his students, Julio, walking past his doorway, he yells, “Hey! I’ll see you in class tomorrow!”

At 85 years old, Don Jesús is finally realizing one of his lifelong dreams: to formally teach Kuna, also known as Guna*, traditions to the next generation of boys and girls. Every week, he illustrates and jots down definitions of dozens of artifacts, plants, and customs that have bee...