The village World ARC visited today is located on the Chagres River, the main tributary to the Gatun Lake & Panama Canal. It is so remote that it can only be accessed by boat.
The Embera people are an indigenous group from Panama and Columbia and many still live in a traditional way in villages deep in the Panamanian rainforest.
The Emberá tribe originates from the Darien region in Panamá and the Choco region of Colombia. They have lived in this area for centuries, long before there were countries called Panamá and Colombia and before the first Spanish explorer set foot in the new world. Nobody knows if the Emberá have always been in this region or migrated from elsewhere. There are rumors that they have ancestors in Brazil and that they possibly came originally from Polynesia. The truth is we simply don't and may never know.
Participants were taken to the village in long dugout canoes piloted by young Embera men.
After arriving on the shores of the village, crews were greeted with traditional music played on handmade flutes and drums. The Embera people are warm, friendly and all wear their traditional dress which for men is a small cloth and for the women a coloured skirt. All the materials are bright and colourful and both men and women wear necklaces, sashes and flowers, and they are decorated with tattoos on the thighs, upper body and arms.
In the village World ARC were welcomed by the village chief who took pride in explaining some of the Embera culture and aspects of village life. Participants then enjoyed a traditional lunch of fried river fish and plantain, all served in a bowl made from banana leaf. Watermelon and ananas were served for dessert.
Following lunch, crews had the opportunity to watch some celebration dances, have free time to interact with the Embera people and to take photos.
