Bribri
Discover the fascinating world of Bribri story culture. Here you will find a wide variety of information about this indigenous group originally from Costa Rica and Panama. From their history and traditions to their art and worldview, immerse yourself in the universe of the Bribris with us.
Discover the fascinating history of the Bribri: an indigenous people who fight to preserve their traditions and spirituality
The Bribris are an indigenous community that lives in the Talamanca area of Costa Rica, in the Caribbean region. Since the time of the Spanish conquest, the Bribris have struggled to maintain their traditions and culture. During the colonial era, the Bribris resisted the Spanish invasion and maintained their lands and customs.
In the 19th century, with the arrival of the railway, the Bribris were affected by the loss of their lands and the exploitation of their natural resources. However, despite these adversities, the Bribris continued to fight for their survival and the preservation of their culture.
Today, the Bribris have a rich history and culture, with an oral tradition going back hundreds of years. Spirituality is a fundamental part of Bribri life, and many of their traditions are related to nature and the environment. The Bribris believe in the existence of supernatural beings, such as goblins, who inhabit the forest and who are respected and revered by the community.
One of the ways to get to know the Bribri culture is through its art and crafts. The Bribris are experts in creating handmade objects, such as baskets, weaving and ceramic objects, which reflect their rich cultural tradition.
For tourists visiting Costa Rica, meeting the Bribris is a unique and unforgettable experience. Through tours and tourist activities, visitors can learn about Bribri history and culture, as well as experience first-hand their traditions and customs. The Bribris are a resilient and unique community in the world, and their history and culture are a fundamental part of Costa Rica's cultural richness.
"Let's unite to preserve the valuable stories and traditions of the Bribris grandmothers, donating today to support our project for the recovery and dissemination of indigenous stories"
Indigenous stories by Bribri grandmothers
Bribri stories and experiences transmission project.
Time before the arrival of Columbus in America... After the 'third wave', the 'second wave', the 'first wave' of feminism... Before the Catholic Church and the strongly patriarchal patterns of the populations of European settlers descended on Latin America... Before people often unknowingly attributed the origins of 'feminism' to white women in the Western world, the Bribri Peoples of modern Costa Rica lived through a matriarchal legacy and tradition which continues continuously, to this day.
Doña Natalia Gabb, one of the Bribri grandmothers who continues to maintain her roots and the legacy of her ancestors, lives in the community of Amubri, Costa Rica, and is currently the promoter of the project of narrations of the indigenous stories to the new generations. When asked about the Bribri matriarchal way of life and what it represents for the rest of the world, and especially for the new generations in the Bribri population to follow this traditional way of life, he recounted:
“We are the essence of a superior being, we have to teach what we know about life and how we got to where we are because SIBÖ {God} entrusted him to us with pride, with dignity. We must strive to build valuable ways of being for society. The energy of Mother Earth is the force that grows in our spirit and with the wisdom of our ancestors and our own, we will be able to endure in a world of constant change”
The main purpose of the project is to promote ancestral knowledge in indigenous families, which was constituted as a starting point for an accessible and safe process inviting to share the taste for maintaining the culture, feelings of pleasure, expression of positive relationships; also promote family experiences that will survive throughout life.
Who are the Bribris?
"We are a people with ancestral wisdom, which existed long before the Spanish colony in Costa Rica; for many times we have experienced different events that as clans from corn we have overcome; this is knowledge inherited through our history from our grandmothers. and mothers, We are a Matriarchal People."
The belief of this culture is centered in its heart, which is the language , since with it families pass their legacies from generation to generation, in addition to this it brings many beliefs that make up what they are, we will start with spirituality and the different stories of our connection to it.
Ueshke Ueshke.
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Creation of the Ú -sure
History of the universal creation.
Before the creation of humanity, when darkness was still everything in the cosmos, there was a spiritual Being that for us Bribris is the Creator spirit, he comes from a place called Sibö Okmo (Dimension of the Creator); he manifested as the light in the darkness.
Grandma tells that Sibö created another spirit that would become his main assistant for the plans he had to design and create the universe and life in it; Surá was the name of this one.
Sibö also created different spirits to help him shape the universe, in the stories they are known as our older brothers; These beings are found in the essences of animals and plants.
More (soon)......
Donation for indigenous development projects in the common areas of Talamanca
Bribri festival
The objective of this Project that began eight years ago through Ditsöwö ú-LODGE through Danilo Layan. The objective is to seek the union of two peoples that are the Bribris and the Cabecares, by reactivating an almost extinct tradition, such as the Jala de la Piedra "Ák Kuè".
The Stone Jala consists of transferring a stone from the interior of the mountain to a specific site in the community, normally the transfers are made from the Bribri native farms to the destination to which the ceremony is dedicated that year. The clan of families as far as the stone reaches, will say that the stone has various representations, one represents the metaphor of 'Pa Blu', a historical Bribri character. In addition, the stone will serve as an instrument to grind its grains such as coffee, corn or cocoa.
From the vision of Justo Abelino Torres Layan, bikakla and Awá (spiritual leader in charge of guiding the ceremony and spirits through sacred songs) of the Bribri indigenous community of Talamanca, the ceremony represents celebrating Pablo Presbere's struggle and preserving his culture. “It is a tradition with a deep spiritual meaning that teaches that teamwork works, both here and in our private lives.”
Mishka! Mishka!
"Ak Kue"
The stone jala (Ák - Kuè) is an event where the Bribri - Cabécar community remembers when they were nomads and carried the stone (kewa kuwe) where corn and cocoa are ground. This was the work tool that Sibö (God) inherited, which also helps to unite the community.
"We are not responsible for emotions, but we are responsible for what we do with them"
Donation for indigenous development projects in the common areas of Talamanca