Tales & Traditions

Deep in the Darién rainforest of Panama, the Wounaan village of Majé moves at a slower rhythm. Cooking fires burn outside family homes while women weave baskets that can take months or even years to complete.

Ginguimia sisters. Master weavers. Yesterday I stepped off the paved road and into the rhythm of another way of living. Just outside Panama City, in a village reached by winding turns and slower time, I spent the day with the...

Travel Day. I arrived in Panama and the pace already feels different. The city is busy. Loud But the real shift happens once we leave it behind. To reach the weaving communities of first Chepo, then Maje, we travel by...

The rainforest is beautiful, but it’s also hot, damp, and unpredictable. Some nights are long. Some mornings start very early. Rest makes all the difference.

When I’m rested, I’m present. When I’m present, I can really listen. And that’s the most important part of these trips.

Not every trip brings back big boxes, but every trip brings back stories. Several years ago, Ed returned from Panama with fewer baskets but plenty of moments: boys wrestling a chicken, men on horseback, a green window in the sun. And of course woven works in progress already promised to our collection. 

Eight years ago, we were deep in Panama—twins in tow, meeting weavers, and watching new art take shape. The best moment? Our kids running off with the weavers’ children—proof that joy doesn’t need translation.

in 2012, a tiny aunt with big spirit pulled me into a Wounaan dance—and I’ve been learning from her ever since. Dionila Mejia is joy in motion.

In the Wounaan canoe ceremony Haai Hi Jeujem, a flower-adorned canoe becomes a sacred vessel—carrying prayers to God and words to ancestors. It’s a journey inward, guided by tradition.

A Historic Moment for Women in Indigenous Leadership In a traditional ceremony held in the Wounaan community of Puerto Lara, Aulina Ismare Opua was inaugurated as the new Cacica Wounaan (National Chief)—a milestone for the Wounaan people and for Indigenous...

A crabbing trip in Maje turned into a lesson in Wounaan resourcefulness—from spearfishing on the river to smoked fish at sunrise. It’s the kind of memory that stays with you.

In a village where even the dogs stay outside, one animal lives indoors: a flightless parrot named Lovejoy. He climbs the walls, shares our meals, and watches the sunset from the roof—quietly becoming one of my favorite parts of the day.

The Embera people of Panama live along the rivers of the Darién, where tradition flows through daily life. From genip dye body art to silver coin necklaces passed down through generations, their culture is rooted in rhythm, craft, and deep connection to the land

While waiting for the tide, we forage clams, watch kids chase river crabs, and witness daily life in a Wounaan village—where food and craft are shared across generations.

Traveling to the Wounaan village of Maje means a six-hour boat ride through the Darién rainforest. From river tides to fuel planning, even the journey is part of the story.

On long days spent in the village—walking under the sun, talking, weaving—something sweet and fresh is always welcome. A few of our favorite local treats? Sugar cane and oranges. Here in the Darién, the oranges don’t look like you’d expect....