Embera

The Embera, also spelled Emberá, are an indigenous people living in Panama and Colombia. They form part of the Emberá–Wounaan ethnolinguistic group and speak Emberá languages, including Emberá and Emberá-Katio, with many speakers bilingual in Spanish. In Colombia they are primarily in the Chocó and neighboring departments; in Panama they are concentrated in the Darién Province and along river valleys.

Their communities are organized in village clusters, with leadership typically by a community chief and elders, and decisions often made through communal councils. Their traditional economy centers on fishing, farming of plantains and manioc, hunting, and, in recent decades, crafts and ecotourism. Beadwork, weaving, and wood carving are notable crafts; colorful dress and adornments are commonly worn in ceremonies and daily life.

Religious and ceremonial life traditionally emphasizes a connection to nature and ancestral spirits; healing and other rites are performed by religious specialists within the community. Since contact with Europeans, the Embera have maintained a blend of Indigenous and Catholic practices, and many communities now practice bilingual education and use of Spanish.

Today the Embera face challenges common to Indigenous groups in the region, including land rights disputes, environmental pressures, and the impacts of regional conflict and development. Various communities participate in cultural tourism and advocacy for language and land rights, while striving to preserve their languages and traditions.