Bribri People: Overview

General Information

• Indigenous people in eastern Costa Rica and northern Panama.
• Population: Estimates vary; around 12,200 in 2000, official numbers suggest 11,500 in Costa Rica, and 1,000 in Panama.
• Language: Bribri language, Spanish, and Bribri Sign Language.
• Related ethnic groups: Boruca and Cabécar.

Geography and Demographics

• Predominantly in Talamanca region, living in mountains and Caribbean coastal areas.
• Economy: Centered on cacao, bananas, plantains, beans, rice, corn.
• Many Bribri have limited access to electricity, education, and healthcare.

History

Colonial and Independence Periods

• Name "Bribri" means "strong."
• Earliest accounts by Spanish colonial officials and Franciscan missionaries.
• Conquered neighboring Cabécar and established the Kingdom of Talamanca.
• Geographic isolation and resistance maintained their language and culture.
• Suffered depopulation from diseases and conflicts.

Kingdom of Talamanca

• 19th-century: Organized under Bribri nobility with recognized kings.
• Antonio Saldaña, one of the last kings, resisted cultural assimilation.
• United Fruit Company exploited Bribri lands post Saldaña’s death, leading to displacement.

Modern Era

• Indigenous Territories established in Costa Rica in 1977.
• Ongoing legal and land rights struggles in both Costa Rica and Panama.
• Recent efforts for land recognition and activism for land recovery.

Culture and Spirituality

Social Structure

• Matrilineal clan system: Women inherit land and prepare sacred cacao drinks.
• Men’s roles: Shaman (awa), ceremonial roles.

Spiritual Practices

• Cacao: Significant cultural and spiritual value.
• Shaman (Awa): Integral for illness healing, combining herbal and spiritual practices.

Cosmology

• Conical houses: Symbolic universe representation.
• King vulture: Spiritual significance as a link between worlds.

Agriculture and Economy

• Main activity: Agriculture with extensive bartering system.
• Some communities involved in unique practices like iguana farming.
• Economic integration varies; some youth influenced by digital culture.

Non-Profit Involvement

• El Puente: Educational and self-sufficiency support.
• Surf For Life: Volunteer projects benefiting Bribri communities.
• Tropical Adventures Foundation: Sustainable income and cultural preservation.
• Project Talamanca: Medical and dental care support.

Notable People

• Benjamín Mayorga, football player.
• Guillermo Rodriguez Romero, Costa Rica's first Indigenous ambassador.
• Antonio Saldaña, historical Bribri leader.

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These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the Bribri people's history, culture, and current social and political environment.