Naso people facts for kids
Location of Naso people
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,005 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Costa Rica,  Panama |
|
| Languages | |
| Teribe, Spanish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Boruca, Bribri |
The Naso or Teribe people are an indigenous people of Panama and Costa Rica. They mostly live in northwest Panama in the Bocas del Toro Province and Naso Tjër Di Comarca. There are about 3,500 people in the Naso tribe. It is one of the few Native American indigenous groups that still has a monarchy, meaning they are led by a king or queen.
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Naso History and Traditions
The Naso people, also known as Teribe or Térraba, have lived for a long time in the mountain jungles of western Bocas del Toro. They have always felt a strong connection to the lands along the river they call Tjër Di. In their language, 'Di' means 'water', and 'Tjër' is their special "Grand-Mother." She was believed to have been given secrets about plant medicine by God.
Until just a few generations ago, the Naso people lived very independently. They were spread out in their family groups and homes. Because they were far from most of the world, the Naso kept their culture strong through their families.
About the Térraba People
The Térraba, or Teribe, are an indigenous group in the Puntarenas region of southern Costa Rica. They have a rich and interesting culture. They live on about 34.7 square miles (9,000 hectares) of land along the Térraba River. The Térraba have lived off this land for over 500 years. The river, also called Grande de Térraba, is the largest river in Costa Rica. In their native language, "Diquís" means "great water." Many Térraba people live along this important river.
The Térraba were known as a strong people. Their history goes back to the Chiriquí civilization that was powerful in Costa Rica before Europeans arrived. The Térraba have a deep spiritual connection to their land, especially to water. When Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500s, they found Costa Rica to be a difficult country. It had few resources they wanted to take. There were also not many indigenous people to use for labor compared to other places.
The Spanish brought Catholicism and diseases like smallpox. Many tribes could not survive these changes. Even with Spanish influence, the Térraba have kept their culture, traditions, and language. They have a long oral history, which means they pass down stories and knowledge by speaking, to make sure it is remembered for future generations.
Language of the Naso
The traditional Naso language, called Teribe, is now spoken by only a few people in the Costa Rican community. However, there are efforts to bring it back. The Teribe people in Panama, who share the same culture and history, are helping.
The Panamanian community has kept their native language alive very well. They have sent a teacher to Costa Rica to help the smaller community learn the language again.
Historians are not sure why or how these native tribes visited Cocos Island. However, some old writings and archaeological finds suggest that tribes visited the island long ago. This shows that native people traveled far across the waters.
Important Dates in Naso History
1610 The Térraba people joined with other indigenous groups in a rebellion. They destroyed a Spanish settlement called Santiago of Salamanca. At Cocos Island, explorers found "certain idols made of stone." This shows that native tribes visited the island before or at the start of the colonial era. Similar findings on the Galapagos Islands confirm that South American Indians also visited those distant islands.
Before 1697, there is not much detailed information about the Térraba. At that time, they numbered between 500 and 2000 people. They were known as hard workers. Their main enemies were the Changuenes, who lived on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. By 1708-1709, the Térrabas also lived on the coast at Diquis, which was later called “Grande de Térraba.” They became very devoted Christians.
1710 Missionaries and Spanish soldiers moved some of the Térraba people to southwestern Costa Rica. This was near Boruca and the Térraba River. The town of San Francisco de Térraba was founded in 1689. Its name was later shortened to Térraba.
1761 Northern indigenous groups attacked San Francisco de Térraba. They burned the town, killed the men, and captured the women. This happened a day after an attack on Cabagra, another local indigenous group. After this terrible event, only about 300 Térraba people were left.
1845-1848 After a church was burned, Catholic priests decided to make the Térraba territory smaller to protect the people. A few years later, new priests arrived but brought smallpox. This disease caused many people to die.
1956-1977 New laws were made to create and protect indigenous territories. These laws gave the Térraba the right to their traditional land and its resources. They also gained some power to govern themselves.
1970s Costa Rica started encouraging people to cut down forests to create farmland. Much of the Térraba’s forest was lost during this time.
1982 Under a new mining law, the Térraba lost the right to own the minerals found beneath the soil on their own land.
1999 Costa Rica recognized indigenous languages in its constitution. This was an important step for protecting native languages.
2002 Indigenous communities began protesting against the Diquís Hydroelectric Project. This project was also known as the Boruca Hydroelectric Project.
2004 The official ownership of the territory was changed and made smaller without asking the Térraba people. This split their land into different parts.
2007 Workers for the Diquís project moved into the region and started building. They did not talk to the Térraba community first.
2009 On October 6, more than 150 Térraba people and others marched along the inter-American highway. They wanted their right to be part of decisions about their lands to be respected. They marched over 8 miles (13 kilometers) to the town of Buenos Aires. Workers from the electricity company filmed and shouted at them, leading to a conflict that needed police help.
2011 The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) removed their equipment and stopped work in Térraba territory. This was a victory for the community.
Naso Economy
The Naso people in Bocas del Toro, Panama, are mostly farmers who grow food for themselves. They also earn money by selling crops like cocoa, oranges, and plantains. They sell animals like pigs and chickens, and lumber from trees. They also make handicrafts. They take these goods to the nearby city of Changuinola by raft or dugout canoe.
Even though the Naso are somewhat isolated, most of them speak both Naso and Spanish. They wear modern clothes, and many have become evangelical Protestant Christians. The Naso in Costa Rica have received financial help from the United Nations. This money has helped them build places for tourists to stay, like hostels and cabins, and improve walking trails.
Naso Lands
The Naso people’s ancestral territory is very important for science, making electricity from water (hydroelectric power), and eco-tourism. Because of this, many groups from Panama and other countries are interested in their land. In the 1980s, the Government of Panama made large parts of the region into protected areas. These include the Palo Seco National Forest and La Amistad International Park.
In 2005, three big projects were planned that would change how the land was used. These included a new law to recognize Naso land rights, a project funded by the World Bank to help indigenous communities develop sustainably, and a hydroelectric project by a Colombian company.
In Costa Rica, the Térraba lands are threatened by the Diquís Dam project. If built, this dam would flood 10 percent of their land, including important sacred places. It would also force about 600 indigenous Naso people living there to move.
Naso Politics and Leadership
The Naso tribe is led by a king. Traditionally, the next king would be the current king's brother, then the oldest son of a previous king. However, since the 1980s, the adult population votes for their leader. If people are unhappy with the current king (or sometimes a queen, like Queen Rufina), another royal family member can ask for a public vote to try and become the new leader.
In 2004, King Tito was removed from power. This happened after he approved a hydroelectric plan for the Bonyic River, which runs through Naso territory. He was removed during a public uprising in the capital, Siey Llik, and had to leave. His uncle is now seen as the King by most of the tribe. However, the Panamanian Government has not yet officially recognized this change.
List of Naso Kings
- Bass Lee Santana
- Santiago Santana
- Santiago Santana (son)
- Chalee Santana
- Francisco Santana
- Lázaro Santana - (? - 1973)
- Simeón Santana - (1973–1979)
- Manuel Aguilar - (1979 - April 25, 1982)
- Rufina Santana - (April 25, 1982 - July 30, 1988)
- César Santana - (July 30, 1988 - May 31, 1998)
- Tito Santana - (May 31, 1998- )
- Valentín Santana - (May 30, 2004- )
Naso Culture
The Térraba people describe their community as matriarchal. This means that women, especially mothers, have a very important role in their families and society. They are proud of their rich agriculture and their independence.
Most Naso people in Panama speak their native language, though most also know Spanish. Very few Naso tribes follow Roman Catholicism. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is very important to them. Their traditional God is Sibö, who they believe is the supreme God and creator. Most Naso live in wooden houses built on stilts, with roofs made of thatch or metal.
In Costa Rica, only a few native speakers remain, mostly older people. However, some fluent speakers have moved to Costa Rica from Panama through marriage between the groups. Since 2012, the community in Costa Rica has brought in a teacher from Panama to help teach the language in their village schools.
See also
In Spanish: Naso para niños
