Native American Nations in Central America (Part XVII)

Central America includes the countries of Belize, Costa, Rica, El Salvadore, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Belize

Mestizos are the Metis known elsewhere - Europeans mixed in with indigenous peoples. They make up about half of the population of Belize. The Maya make up another 7%. The Garifuna migrated to Belize in the 1800s from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and mixed with African, Carib Indians, and the Arawak tribe to make up another 5%. Thus, Indigenous peoples comprise a little over 60% of the residents of Belize.

Guatemala

Many of the indigenous peoples of Guatemala are all form the Mayans. Other groups are Xinca and Garífuna. Mayan comprise 40% of the population.

Honduras

About 90% of Honduran populations are Mestizo. Another 7% are members of 7 recognized indigenous groups called The Confederation of Autochthonous Peoples of Honduras (CONPAH), including

• The Grafuna;
• The Ch'orti', Mayans in the northwest close to Guatemala;
• The Garifuna speaking a Carib language along the entire Caribbean coastline and the Bay Islands;
• The Pech or Paya in a small area in the Olancho department;
• The Tolupan (Jicaque, Xicaque, or Tol), in the Department of Yoro and in Montaña de la Flor and the Department of Yoro;
• The Lenca in the Valle and Choluteca departments;
• The Miskito on the northeast coast along Nicaragua's border.

El Salvador

El Salvador is 89 % Mestizo and 10 % Amerindian. The original peoples were Pipil and Lenca.

Nicaragua

The Miskito Native Central Americans live from Cape Cameron Rio Grande, Nicaragua, along the Miskito Coast.

Their language is Miskito, but they speak Miskito creole English, Spanish, Rama, and others languages. Miskitos intermarried with slaves.

There community was ruled by a king that shared his power with a a governor, a general, and an admiral.

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Costa Rica

About 94% of the country is Mestizo and 1% Amerindian.

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Panama

The Kuna Indians of Panama are famous for colorful dresses, including the mola.

The mola a reverse appliqué made of layers of fabric stitched to reveal different colors in blouse panels.

Kuna Poetry

Nocturnal by Irik Limnio

Night,

The twelve spirits of the earth say

That you didn't cry on the day they birthed you

In their home you roamed in the protuberances of the brilliant stars.

They say you walked secretly

And you melted into the pale plants which appeared before your gaze.

Night,

The woman who gave birth to you says that the clouds

Arranged themselves in your glory just for the lament

And humans complain to you that they have had a terrifying dream.

Night, it seems to me that you undulate, pitted with the little eyes of the cherubs who shine continually.

I think you are a Nocturnal like the one I have in the depths of my being.

Other Pages in the Native Americans Series

• Native Americans Part I
• Native Americans Part II
• Native Americans Part III
• Native Americans Part IV
• Native Americans Part V
• Native Americans Part VI
• Native Americans Part VII
• Native Americans Part VIII
• Native Americans Part IX
• Native Americans Part X
• Native Americans Part XI
• Native Americans Part XII
• Native Americans Part XIII
• Native Americans Part XIV
• Native Americans Part XV
• Native Americans Part XVI
• National Pow Wow of the United States
• Native Americans in Western Novels