Miami has 100s of acres of beautiful Natural Areas which lend themselves to research projects! (Quicktime movie~4 mb). On the same walk, I spotted my first garter snake of the spring! In another 1 mb quicktime movie, a pair of mallard ducks lands in Harkers Run in Bachelor Woods
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Costa Rica, also nicknamed ÒThe Last Country the Gods Made,Ó is often noted for its long history of Òpeace, democracy, stability, and democracyÓ (Miller, 7). Although its early inhabitants paved the way for freedom and independence from Spain, Costa Rica has remained relatively peaceful among its many Hispanic neighbors. In the following sections, I will look at the history of the settlement of Costa Rica, its native inhabitants, and their current independence. I will focus, as well, on one specific indigenous group, the Bribri peoples, and their current way of life.
The History of Costa Rica
As I mentioned above, the recent history of Costa Rica has remained relatively peaceful throughout its days. However, as we will look at throughout this section, it did not begin in this way. Rather, the native peoples of Costa Rica were ravaged by diseases from the Spanish Conquistadores, used as slaves, and subjected to the status of being a Spanish colony.
Native Inhabitants
The earliest inhabitants of Costa Rica, thought to have been nomadic hunters, have been traced back to a time period between 12,000-11,000 B.C. (it differs between texts) (Miller, 24). These native peoples were thought to have descended from groups that crossed Central America and gradually made their way to the rainforest-dominated area of Costa Rica (Colesberry et al., 27). Gradually, the indigenous groups shifted from a Òshore-area lifestyleÓ to an efficient agricultural society, using such methods as the slash-and-burn technique (27). ÒThe indigenous populations were largely agrarian, cultivating cassava, sweet potatoes, corn and beansÓ as their staple crops (Helmuth, xix).
The people often lived in local family groups or tribes, rather than large colonies and settlements in the Central Valley and Pacific area (24). ÒBy A.D. 1, Costa Rican Indians had separated into three regional groups based on the South American forest cultureÓ (Colesberry et al., 27). To the southwest was the Diquis region, to the northwest was the Nicoya area, and those in the remainder of the country were in the Central Highlands and Atlantic Watershed regions (27).
Around 500 C.E., these indigenous groups were constructed in hierarchical social structures, with the cacique or warrior chief at the top (Helmuth, 5). Under the leadership of the cacique were the warriors and the lower classes (Colesberry et al., 27). The family structure, as mentioned above, gave each tribe its certain identity (5).
The structure of these smaller local populations resulted in the lack of massive structures and contributed to considerable warring between the smaller tribes (Miller, 25).
Unlike other civilizations of the time, such as the Mayans in Guatemala and similar areas, the tribes of Costa Rica did not erect large structures or build impressive cities. The explanation for this appears to be that these early tribes lived autonomously in local groups and were not organized together as part of a larger civilizationÉarchaeological remains suggest that the indigenous tribes frequently warred with each other (25).
However, it was the division among the native people of Costa Rica that made it much more difficult for others to dominate them, as I will look at later on with the Spanish Conquistadores (25).
The early indigenous populations became largely commercial as they began to set up trade relations and alliances with other tribes and countries (Helmuth, 5). ÒThe Atlantic Indian groups began trading with others as far south as what is today known as Ecuador, and those on the Pacific with peoples as far north as Mexico, distributing salt, cacao, quetzal feathers, and dyes extracted from shellsÓ (5). Between 800 and 1500 C.E., the Costa Rican indigenous populations supplemented their predominantly agrarian culture with hunting, as well as Ògathering honey, salt, and fruitÓ (5).
Spanish Conquistadores
The first European settlers in the Costa Rica region arrived 1502 with the arrival of Christopher Columbus (on his fourth journey) at Puerto Limon (6). At this time, the indigenous populations peaked at about 400,000 throughout the country (5). The Chorotegas (meaning Òthe people who escapedÓ) were the most developed indigenous group among the many individual tribes (Daling, 6). ÒAccording to the sixteenth-century Spanish explorer, Gonzalo Fernando de Oviedo, the Chorotegas were culturally related to the Aztecs and the Mayans and excelled as potters and farmersÓ (6). However, the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores brought about disease and death for many of these indigenous populations.
ÒDuring his seventeen-day stay Columbus discovered that some of the Indians were wearing articles made of gold, from which the Spaniards assumed that much more gold was to be found further inland, and they accordingly and optimistically, named the region Costa Rica, meaning Ôrich coastÕÓ (6-7). After many explorations and continual efforts to find gold in this new land, the Spanish found no substantial quantity of gold which would help SpainÕs economy (Miller, 26).
However, by 1561, the Spanish had set up settlements in what is now Cartaga in the Central Valley (26). Along with people, the Spanish also brought diseases which destroyed much of the indigenous populations (16). ÒMost of the local population was ravaged and killed by new diseases brought by the Spanish settlers. These included smallpox, typhoid fever, and measlesÓ (26). Many tribes and populations, also, found themselves in enslavement by the Spanish, escaping and dispersing to the Talamaca mountains (26). ÒSome indigenous people survived by fleeing to remote forested areas where they could not be found by the Spanish settlersÓ (26).
As a result of the lack of gold and many indigenous deaths, Costa Rica became unimportant to Spain, often being neglected as one of the Spanish colonies (26). It was called the ÒCinderellaÓ of the Spanish colonies Òfor it was taxed, scolded, ignored, and kept miserably poorÓ (26). Despite the years of mistreatment, Spanish settlers moved into the land and began what is currently known as the Costa Rican population, intermixing with the indigenous peoples (27).
Around the 1820Õs, however, Costa Rica, as well as a handful of other Central American countries, declared themselves free from Spain (Helmuth, 9). On September 15, 1821, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala declared themselves free from both the Spanish and Mexican rule (9).
However, Costa RicaÕs independence from Spain lead to the invasion of individuals, such as William Walker from the United States, (funded by Cornelius Vanderbilt), to allow for an east-west canal along the boarder of Nicaragua and Costa Rica (10). With the gradual defeat of the U.S. forces, attributed mainly to the leadership of Juan Santamaria, the Costa Rican population found itself united (11). ÒThe ousting of a foreign invader caused the Costa Rican citizens to rally around the common goal of national defense. Their victory consolidated patriotic sentiment among Costa Ricans and created in them a sense of national identityÓ (11). San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, was named in honor of Juan Santamaria (11).
Interrelations since Independence
As recent as 1977, the Indians of Costa Rica were given the right to live on their native lands by the establishment of reserves. The establishment of these reserves Ògave the natives the right to stay in self-governed communities, but at the same time the government withheld the land titlesÓ (Infocostarica). CONAI is the official institution in which the affairs of the reservations are dealt with and maintained, although it is not seen as very efficient and not very effective (Infocostarica). In 1994, the first indigenous bank was created in the Talamanca area, which significantly aided the farmers in monetary transactions and loans since it was hard to obtain them from any other sources (Infocostarica).
ÒApart from financial and political limitations, part of the Indian population on reserves suffers great social problems. Alcoholism and more recently, drug-use, have become another predicament for these groupsÓ (Infocostarica). However, although there are many struggles that the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica face, (as I will describe a little further in my discussion on the Bribri), the future is growing brighter, with more and more rights being given to Costa RicaÕs native descendants (Infocostarica). ÒFurthermore, some Indian groups like the Bribris have insisted in preserving their culture and in teaching their native language and customs alongside with the official educational programÓ (Infocostarica).
Brَibri Today
The Bribri Indians still live in the southern region of Costa Rica in the Talamanca Mountains where they were dispersed hundreds of years before (Helmuth, 5). ÒThe largest categoryÑcalled the Talamanca after the cordillera to which they were forcibly removed to in which they found refugeÑcomprises 8,000 to 10,000 Indians in Costa RicaÓ (the total indigenous population number is much larger currently, being 30,000, composing 1% of the Costa Rican population according to Miller, 53) (Nelson, 92). This term, Talamanca, covers two groups of Indians: the Cabecare and the Bribri (92). However, these groups, though having similarities, consider themselves quite distinct populations (92).
The Bribri have allowed their culture to continually flourish throughout the generations, maintaining their religion, agricultural practices, and even their respect and coexistence with nature. They continue to use and teach the Bribri language, as well, which further aids in maintaining the connection to the past generations.
Religion
ÒNo comprehensive study of indigenous religions traditions is available to dateÓ (Helmuth, 44). Interest in this area, however, has grown tremendously (44). ÒThe most extensive studies of ongoing native religious traditions that can be found todayÑdue in part to the relatively large size of and access to their communitiesÑcenter on the Bribri Indians in the Talamanca regionÓ (Helmuth, 44).
According to the Bribri religion, scholars have learned that their world is composed of eight levels, also known as Òhouses,Ó in which the souls of men, created by Sibo, could reside (44). Sula, the creator of souls, is composed of two males and two females, which sculpt each man and woman and bathe them in colored waters to give them the desired attributes (44). When the individual died, their souls (there was more than one soul in an individual) was sent to a particular house which represented the individualÕs behavior before death (45). ÒThe Bribri adherence to a strict code of behaviorÑcondemning specific acts such as cruelty to animals, stinginess, and incestÑis the basis for determining the soulÕs destinationÓ (45).
Sustainability
As mentioned above, the Bribri continue to remain in the Talamanca mountain range on what is known as the Talamanca reservation (Arnason). ÒApproximately 5200 Bribri people have maintained an indigenous culture that's different from the rest of the countryÓ (Arnason). They remain extremely isolated from the rest of the surrounding inhabitants, resulting in an elaborate bartering system, in which women mainly participate (Arnason). But the isolation of the Bribri tribes and families has caused them to remain very poor and uneducated, as well as having little health care (Arnason).
However, Òthis isolation has made the Bribri a relatively self-sufficient society where there are enough crops grown and livestock raised to sustain themÓ (Arnason). The participate in unique practices such as iguana farming, in which they raise these unique animals until they are of five years of age, and then release them into the rainforest (Arnason). These animals are important to the forest and have been depleted due to hunting practices (Arnason).
Here is one account of the way of life and overwhelming views of the nature of
the Bribri Indians:
We are being welcomed by Lucas, a very sympathetic and spirited Bribri. He is proud of his people and of the legacy their ancestors left them and very much determined to pass it on to their offspring and to anyone who is interested. First Lucas shows us the iguana farm. A typical example of how the Bribri respect nature. They used to eat iguanas. When the number of iguanas diminished rapidly and extinction was to be feared they not only decided not to have them for supper
anymore, they also started a breeding farm for iguanas. Successfully so, for at this moment 1200 iguanas per year are being released into nature again and the Bribri changed their diet into chicken. In the reservation the Indians live off what nature has to offer (Hovinga).
Agriculture
Agriculture is still one of the greatest activities for the Bribri peoples, dating all the way back to the first inhabitants of the Costa Rican soils (Aranson). The Bribri use around 120 wild and domestic crops per hectare for materials, food, and medicine, as well as trading (agroecology.org). ÒBribri bio-diverse farms are sustainable perennial polyculture systems that mimic natural rainforest architectureÓ (agroecology.org). Bribri farmers use the Ònatural nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships between plants, insects, birds, bats, and other animalsÓ to create pest control, rejuvenate the soil with more nutrients, Òand produce relay harvests throughout the yearÓ (agroecology.org).
Conclusion
As I have reviewed a brief history of the Costa RicaÕs native inhabitants and nomadic beginnings, as well as the struggles that they have faced, I am reminded of the similar hardships the Native American Indians faced in North America. Ravaged by the disease the Òwhite manÓ brought into the country, years of being forced out of their native lands, and even the reservations that ÒholdÓ what little land they have left reflect the lives of those on the Costa Rican landscapes.
It was by manÕs greed that these individuals faced these various atrocities and, where once a thriving community of people resided, there stands only a reflection of the land these people and their ancestors once knew. However, in Costa Rica, many of the rights are being restored to the native peoples, restoring their culture piece by piece. The Bribri, and many other indigenous groups, have allowed their culture to thrive amongst the destruction and separation. This is the key to their survival as a people of the past.
Bibliography
Arnason, Lyle. ÒThe Bribri People.Ó Mnsu.edu. Retrieved 15 May 06. Agroecology Research Group. (1999).ÒCommunity Development with the Bribri of Costa Colesberry, and Brass McLean. (1993). Costa Rica: The Last Country the Gods Daling, Tjabel. (1998). Costa Rica: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture. New Helmuth, Chalene. (2000). Culture and Customs of Costa Rica. Connecticut: Greenwood Hovinga, Paul. ÒThe Bribri Indians.Ó Insidecostarica.com 02 Mar 03. Retrieved ÒIndigenous People.Ó Infocostarica.com. 2000-2006. Retrieved 15 May 06. Miller, Debra A. (2005). Costa Rica: Modern Nations of the World. Michigan: Lucent Nelson, Harold D. (Ed). (1983). Costa Rica: A Country Study. Washington D.C.:United
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