Embera Indians August 30, 2014

We were going to go to an Embera village last weekend with about 20 other people, but the Embera ended up having their tribal election on that day. It's a good thing that President Carmack called to make sure everything was a go. He was planning on giving the chief a Book of Mormon. He had met with a bishop a couple of weeks ago who had mentioned his cousin was a chief. He wasn't able to go today, so I made arrangements with a woman from the church who has helped other missionary couples get out to visit an Embera village. We ended up with 3 missionary couples (Bjornasons, Massaros and us), the Vandor family of four (from Sweden) and 4 painters who were here from the States to paint inside the temple. 

The painters had a rental so they drove to La Cabima, a town just past the end of the metro line. The Massaros lived closer so they took a taxi, and the rest of us went by metro to Los Andes (the end of the metro line), and then caught a taxi. When we arrived Sonya, the lady who contacted the Embera, asked us where our transportation was. I responded that we are temple missionaries and don't have transportation. She ran down the sidewalk and within minutes was able to get a ride for the ten of us who didn't have transportation. It cost us $2 each for the ride to the river where we met our Embera guides. 

This is Sonya who helped us organize the trip. The person at the front of the boat is Donald, one of our Embera guides. Counting Sonya and the two guides there were 17 people in our boat. I think it coul have held maybe 3 more people. It was quite large!

The traditional mode of transportation for the Embera were hollowed out tree canoes. They are still made with hollowed out trees, but they now have Suzuki outboard motors. 

They were times when Donald had to use the pole to push us over shallow parts of the river. They haven't had the usual rainfall this year, which is kind of scary because the canal needs rain to produce the necessary water to work the locks. 

We passed this boat going in the opposite direction. These boys were playing while their dad drove the boat. The Embera dress in western style clothing when they go into town, as their traditional clothing does not meet with approval outside of their area. 

We passed by this Embera village on our way to a waterfall. 

The path leading to the waterfall crossed a stream several times and we had to crawl over a very large rock! It was a fun hike! We even saw an iridescent blue butterfly. 

This is the waterfall. Neither Jim nor I went beyond this point because the path was completely covered in mud and uneven rocks. 

Here I am with Donald and a guide from another group that was booked with another boat. We are standing on top of the giant rock we had to climb over to get to the path again. When I climbed down my left foot was level with my shoulder while my right foot searched for the bottom of the stream. I was amazed I could stretch that far!

This is the village we visited. We were just bringing the boat around to the landing. 

Another view of the village!

As we walked up from the landing the men played instruments as a way of greeting us. None of the Embera wear shoes. Donald told me you get used to it and don't notice rocks, etc. the men wear a loincloth under and draped over a beautiful hand-beaded covering. 

The women sang a song of greeting from the other side of the stairs leading up to the village. The women wear a lava lava type of skirt and a beaded halter style top. The bead work is done by the women and is beautiful!

This little girl was climbing up these poles. 

The women did a couple of dances. One was called a bird dance, but they didn't explain anything about the dances. I think the women look very Polynesian. 

This was a couple dance, but as you can see the children are included. The dancing reminded us very much of Pow Wow dancing that the NA natives do. 

These little kids were sitting under the table in the middle of the community hut. At one time there were three of them, but I had trouble getting their picture because it was during one of the dances. 

This is what they gave us to eat...tilapia fried plantains. The tilapia was delicious! I think the Embera know Colonel Saunders secret spice blend. Seriously, it had wonderful spices!

This is another picture with Donald. He asked us our names and we told him while we're missionaries we're called Elder & Hermana Mathieson. This started a conversation about Christ. He said his wife goes to a church because she believes in Jesus. I told him we believe in the Bible, but we also have a special book called the Book of Mormon, which has the history of his people. I hope he remembers about this conversation when the mission president goes and leaves a Book of Mormon there. 

We look quite bedraggled because we were wet up to mid thigh from our hike to the waterfall and it was probably 30 C, but felt more like 37. We loved the feeling of family and community while we were there. 

This is our group getting back into the boat for the return trip. 

Apparently, the government pays the Embera to maintain their traditional way of life and to maintain the rain forests on the eastern side of the canal. 

These Mom's were down at the river's edge bathing their kids. 

This is a basket I bought from an Embera woman. They weave it from palm fibres that they have dyed with natural things like flowers, plants, a hard wood and black mud. They also weave bowls. The weave is so tight that it can hold water. They charge $1 for each day of labour. This basket cost $25. 

This papagayo was carved out of a nut and then painted with natural colours. I've watched a man doing this at the artesian market. It's amazing how detailed some are! I just fell in love with this one! It's larger than most, so the man who carved it had to have used more than one nut. 

We were tired and dirty when we got home, but it was a great day!