Bribri Tour Book

Costa Rica: Bribri Cultural Tour

BRIBRI CULTURE The Bribri are indigenous people living in harmony with nature in the Caribbean coastalareas of southern Costa Rica and northern Panama. The primary activity of the Bribri isagricultural, growing around 120 crops used in food, building and medicine. The Bribri are avery isolated tribe. This isolation has led to a separate language, an extensive bartering systemand a strong self-reliance between the clans. Unfortunately the isolation has also led to poorhealth and education within the tribes as well as an economic struggle to keep their cultureviable for future generations. As a matriarchal society, the women of some clans have turned to tourism to helpstrengthen and bring economic stability to their communities. In 1996, the women of Yorkindeveloped the Indian Association Stibrawpa to help preserve Bribri culture and provide moneyfor the health and education of the clans. Rice, cassava, beans, bananas and cacao are used athome and sold to nearby communities. Each clan member owns a portion of rainforest thatthey share with visitors, allowing them opportunities to learn crafts, sustainable forestmanagement, bow and arrow practice and (for women only) chocolate making. The cacao plantis very sacred in Bribri culture and is believed to have once been a women turned into a tree bythe god Sibu—hence only women are allowed the task of chocolate making which extends tovisitors as well. Currently their ecolodge, Posada Rural, accommodates up to 30 people and issolar powered. Because of ecotourism, the Yorkin clan now has a health clinic, a high school, awater aqueduct and will soon have a community center.

Another clan further north in Uatsi developed their own women’s association aroundthe same time: Amuprowa. Similar to Yorkin, they have brought in tourism to benefit andprotect their way of life. In 2011 they opened the Kabata U Ecolodge allowing tourists to livelike the Bribri. While staying in Uatsi, visitors can partake in cultural practices much like inYorkin as well as taking cooking classes, weaving palm leaves for building materials and learningcultural dances. Though Kabata U only houses up to 6 people a night, the impact fromconscientious ecotourists in the area has been great. Though it has been a long road of getting training for the women and a struggle to gainrespect in their communities as well as ask for help from the outside—the Bribri women areproud of the changes they have achieved. Some of the women initially had to travel into SanJose for business training, they had to get grants from the United Nations DevelopmentProgram and Global Environmental Facility, and (though a matriarchal society) they struggledfor support from their husbands and male family members. Now they see not just a change ineconomic independence, but a joy at sharing cultures with the visitors and a pride that Bribrichildren are once again excited to partake in the community projects—not having to leave foreducation and jobs. On our first night at Posada Rural, we will hear a cultural presentation from the localfamilies and get a chance to discuss the history and way of life of the Yorkin Bribri.

Biodiversity refers to the measure of variety of organisms in an ecosystem. This varietyis the basis for a healthy and “good” life for all creatures. Working on the understanding that allorganisms are connected, the importance of protecting biodiversity becomes a global issue. Theecosystem that we protect could be a pond, an area of rainforest or the entire earth. How does biodiversity help ecosystems stay healthy? Having a variety of organisms insystems that interconnect in symbiotic ways provides a template for resource renewal andprotection. Biodiversity protects water resources, promotes soil formation and protection,helps break down and absorb pollution, helps store and recycle nutrients and stabilizes theclimate. Additionally a diverse area is going to be a source of food, medicine, building suppliesand ornamental beauty. Costa Rica, though only representing 0.03% of Earth’s surface, accounts for 4% of theworld’s species. Much of this is due to the country’s tropical location, two very different coastlines, and mountainous central region. As we travel from the Caribbean coast up into themountain regions of Limon Province, we will get a first-hand view of the biodiversity of thisarea. As we move through different regions and experience new flora and fauna, we will discussthe importance of and interactions between all species. Before leaving the coast, we will take a day trip to the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve northof Puerto Viejo to see biodiversity protection on a community scale. Throughout the entirejourney, you may mark off species that we see on your checklist of common flora and fauna.

The Kekoldi people were once part of the Bribri tribe, but became a separate groupmany years ago. They live on the Caribbean coast of Limon Province and live off the land inspread-apart homes—there is no central village. After depleting their forests of green iguanafrom hunting, they now more fully understand the importance and connection of the iguana tothe forest they call home. The Kekoldi have developed an iguana farming system where theiguana are released back into the forest when they are five years old. Today we will tour thefarm and the Kekoldi land with a local guide who will provide insight into this area and theirway of life.Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve Itinerary  Discussion on local living, medicinal herbs and reforesting projects  Tour of green iguana farm with biodiversity discussion  Nature walk to waterfall—discussion of 17 species of migrating raptors  (optional) More strenuous hike further up to swimming hole Group talking points following Kekoldi Reserve tour: o In what ways does the green iguana interact with other species in the forest? Why do the Kekoldi put them back in the forest rather than using them directly for food? o The Kekoldi are said to live harmoniously with nature. In what ways did we see this in practice? How does that differ from our lives back home? o What other species did we see today that had impact on others? If you lived here, what would you value about the different species we saw today?

Common Animals of o Coati Limon Province o Ctenosaur o Egreto Agouti/Paca o Frogso American Crocodile o Glass Frogo Armadillo o Poison Dart Frogo Basilisk o Rain Frog o Tree Frogo Bato Butterflyo Caiman

o Gecko o Squirrelo Hummingbird Monkeyo Iguana o White Faced (Capuchin)o Jaguar Monkeyo Macaw o Motmoto Monkeys o Howler Monkey o Ocelot o Spider Monkey o Peccary o Pelican o Quetzal

o Roseate Spoonbill o Toado Snakes o Toucan o Bushmaster o Turtles o Coral Snake o Green Turtle o Fer de Lance o Leatherback (terciopelo) Turtleo Sloth o Olive Ridley Turtleo Tamandua o Vultureo Tapir

We will see a vast number of o Coconutplants on our journey. Here arejust a few of the ones that willbe a part of our activities or willbe of special note. o Achiote o Coffee Planto Banana Palm o Papayao Cacao Tree o Pineappleo Cassava

FOOD Traditional Farming That Protects and Supports Biodiversity Historically the Bribri people have acted as stewards to the land. In the Bribri culturethey believe in a god named Sibu. It is Sibu who left the knowledge of the Siwa, this knowledgeis past down through the generations of Bribri. The spiritual teachings of the Siwa are whatgovern the Bribri’s relationship with nature. There is a quote by Lizandro Diaz Diaz from Borgeand Castillo 1997 that captures the essence of the Bribri’s dedication to preserving biodiversity.“In order to protect the earth and all the marvelous things it contains, Sibu leftthe knowledge, our science called Siwa, which is expressed through stories,legends and traditional practices. The Siwa contain spiritual teachings that havegoverned our relationship with nature…. Sibu left us, the Bribri and the Cabecar,as guardians and protectors of the natural diversity. For thousands of years wehave cared for Mother Earth and for the next thousands of years we will continuecaring with the same zeal as our elders…. A profound interrelation betweensociety and nature has existed, thanks to this principle, we can still encounter thegreat natural diversity of Talamanca.” Many Bribri land practices are still influenced by the knowledge of the Siwa. These landuse practices utilize principals of agroforestry, poly-culture and permaculture. In regards to theland, traditional beliefs divide it into two parts the “near” and the ”far”. Bribri believe the nearspace can be modified and shaped by humans while the far space does not belong to humansand therefore may only be used by observing strict rules. In this way the agricultural areas ofthe Bribri act as a buffer to the “far” space, the space they belief must be kept unaltered.

Diversity in Crops: The average Bribri farm can contain between 80-150 of cultivated plant species. Cropdiversity provides the Bribri with food security, meaning “they don’t put all their eggs in onebasket”. By planting a variety they not only support biodiversity, they ensure that the loss ofone crop won’t lead to a total loss. This total loss is one of the many pitfalls to the agriculturalpractice of monocroping. The Bribri people will use different practices to reduce the risk of“total loss” in the event of natural challenges:First, they take care of the soil! By utilizing the help of beneficial insects, pollinators and soilorganisms. This helps the crops to remain productive.Second, as stated before, they set land aside. This frees them from total dependence onagriculture as hunting and gathering can always remain an option.Third, the use of poly-culture, agroforestry and permaculture techniques greatly reduces therisks of overall crop failure. This also provides crops year round.Along with agriculture, families often own some livestock (usually chickens or pigs). This type ofagriculture is known as Agro-Pastoral. This is done on a small scale so not to cause over grazingor erosion.

Today, the Bribri people will supplement traditional farming methods with commercialmethods; growing crops such as bananas, plantains and cacao. These crops are usually grownon more monoculture type farm parcels. The Bribri do this to create more revenue for theirvillages. By supporting ecotourism in this area you are creating job opportunities that will helpthe Bribri fight poverty while maintaining the biodiversity that is so important to their culture.Agroforestry: land use system in which trees or shrubs are grown among or around crops. Itcombines agriculture and forestry to create a more divers, profitable, healthy and sustainableland use system. The cacao tree is the main tree used in agro forestry among the Bribri people.

Permaculture: A practice that works with as opposed to against nature; an agricultural systemthat models nature. It promotes synergistic relationship between plants.Poly-Culture: An agriculture practice that uses many crops in the same space, imitating thediversity of natural ecosystems.Monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop in a given area.*Deforestation in the American Tropics is estimated at between 22,000 and 44,000 square kilometerseach year. Land use change and the expansion of agriculture are main contributors to this loss.

What does food have to do with My Ecological Footprint? The Food choices we make everyday have a huge cumulative impact on our planet.When we buy food, we are supporting the methods in which those foods have been grown orraised. As we hope to demonstrate on this tour, some farming methods have smaller impactsthan others. Through our time spent with the Bribri people we hope to show you theimportance of supporting sustainable organic farmers. Not only do large scale modernagricultural methods cause more harm to the environment they also make it hard for smallscale farmers like the Bribri to make a living from sustainable farming practices. Let us show youfarming techniques that work with the surrounding ecosystems instead of against them.Supporting sustainable and responsible farming is supporting biodiversity.

Volunteer Projects and Learning Opportunities:*Medicine Hike:Experience the “far” area on a guided hike with your bilingual plant expert. Viewthe medicinal plants of the rainforest and learn of their uses in healing andimmune support.* Garden Tour:Take a tour of a Bribri farm. Depending on the season and moon cycle take part inharvesting or planting. All the while being educated on the sustainable farmingpractices being used.* Agroforestry Cacao Tour:Tour the Cacao forest and learn about the biodiversity that is maintained by theuse of agroforestry. Next, you can see the chocolate house where the Bribriwoman will teach you the importance of cacao in their culture as well as informyou on the many medicinal uses it holds. In the end you will get to eat local,organic chocolate.* Cooking Classes:Take part in preparing some traditional Bribri meals with ingredients harvestedstraight from the garden.Please support biodiversity by helping the Bribri people continue their traditional roles as stewards of nature.

WATER Water and Biodiversity go hand in hand. Without adequate amounts of water theworld’s ecosystems experience losses in biodiversity. Biodiversity plays a major role in thewater cycle by helping to regulate both quality and quantity of water through ecosystemservices. In other words, biodiversity and water support and reinforce each other. According tothe 2012 Living Planet Report, the freshwater Living Planet Index declined more than any otherbiome between 1970-2007. This means that freshwater ecosystems have suffered the biggestlosses in biodiversity. This is a scary trend since freshwater is scarce and our demands on it areincreasing every day. We must consider not only the protection of land but also the protectionof water to halt biodiversity loss. Today, human actions have the biggest affects on waterresources and many of our land use practices should to be changed. With population growthand ecosystem degradation on the rise the future of water security is uncertain.

Land Use Many land use practices are having negative impacts on the water quality of rivers,streams, aquifers and coastal marine waters in Costa Rica. Deforestation, ranching andagriculture are three main land uses that are causing sedimentation and pollution in CostaRican waters. The use of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides are common on many large-scale plantations throughout Costa Rica. Rapid urbanization and improper sewage wastemanagement also play a role in the pollution of water sources. Flooding transporting sediment into a nearby river

Water Quality and The Bribri People Many Costa Ricans who live in urban areas have access to clean drinking water andplumbing. The problem for the Bribri people is they live in rural communities and do not alwayshave access to clean or running water. Most Bribri people live next to rivers or streams and aredependent on them as water sources. Rivers provide a source of food and transportation forthe Bribri living in the Yorkin watershed and the health of this river is vital. When these watersources become polluted from erosion or pesticide and sediment run-off from ranches,farmlands and roads it poses health risks to the people, plants and animals that depend on it.Sedimentation, erosion and land use change can also put the Bribri at greater risks fromflooding. While the Bribri people can be responsible for their land use choices they cannotcontrol what happens up stream or river, even though it affects them as well as all the animalsand plants in the ecosystem. Stewards of the River Along with being stewards of the land The Bribri people also act as stewards of thewater. Many Bribri people have partnered with a non-profit group ANAI Costa Rica to help withbiomonitoring in the Yorkin watershed to increase biological knowledge of the TalamancanRivers and streams. It is believed the involvement of locals and volunteers will inspire ideas thatmay lead to the protection and restoration of these rivers. Many of the big changes that willhave to be made to protect and restore Costa Rican watersheds will have to be mandated bythe government in forms of land use restrictions and sewer and waste regulation, but for nowthis is what you can do to help the Bribri protect the rivers and streams they depend on.

ProjectsBiomonitoring tour:Explore the Talamanca’s watersheds by canoe! Explore the biodiversity of the waters in theYorkin watershed with your Bribri tour guide. Learn about the connections of the river, land andthe people who live there.Vetiver and Mani Planting:Help to filter water and control erosion by planting the hardy tall grass named Vetiver along thebanks of the Yorkin River. Plant Mani, a low growing plant with dense roots, to prevent erosion.Learn how run-off and erosion pollute and harm the Yorkin River.

ENERGY Our choices about energy, the kind we use and the extent to which we use it, make ahuge difference in our ecological footprint. We make these choices when we work, cook, heatour homes, commute and vacation. With a tendency towards personal cars, larger homes, airtravel and other first world luxuries, the outcome is usually an excess of greenhouse gasesbeing released into the environment. Though we all live in different societies, we can allexamine options for energy reduction or different sources. If we look at a typical lifestyle of someone living in the United States, we see a picture ofa stand-alone family home, private cars, electricity and heating throughout the home and anassortment of foods and products that have produced lots of emissions in their creation andtransport. If everyone were living at this level, it would take about five Earths to provide for thislifestyle—or almost 30 hectares of land per person. It is imperative that we change thedefinition of typical to live within the means of our one available Earth.

The Bribri culture is at the other end of the energy spectrum. The majority of transportis by foot or canoe, with travel in to San Jose being primarily by public bus. The minimalelectricity available is solar powered, and the resources and jobs are primarily local. Needless tosay, the Bribri’s energy choices and lifestyle result in a footprint which does not requiremultiple Earths to sustain. Though parts of the Bribri lifestyle may not be practical in a moderndeveloped world, we should ponder ways in which we might be inspired to alter our choices.Reducing energy usage in our daily lives and supporting renewable energy research are bothways to help us bring our footprint down to manageable levels. While living in the Bribri communities, we will be enjoying most of our time on hikes orcanoe trips, our electricity and water heat will come from solar power and we will assist invillage crafts and activities by hand. One of our evenings will include learning to weave palmleaves to make thatched roofing. During this activity we will discuss differences in energy usagebetween the cultures: What are the benefits and drawbacks to the low energy lifestyle of theBribri? In what ways can we adjust our lives back home to move towards a more sustainableenergy level? How have we seen energy choices play a role in other factors such as biodiversityand food?

WASTE The area of productive land needed to assimilate waste and to meet consumption needsis referred to as the ecological footprint. When it comes to waste and consumption all species(except humans) are limited by the carrying capacity of their ecosystem, in response theirpopulations will generally not exceed this. Humans, on the other hand, have found ways tobypass living within the limits of their local ecosystems. As a species we have contrived ways inwhich we can import resources from other ecosystems as well as export waste out of them.This has caused societies across the globe to have different sized footprints and brings up issuesregarding equitable distribution of resources. This has also caused our population and resourcedemands to exceed our earth’s total carrying capacity. Today, some populations will be foundliving with the bare minimum while others lead highly consumptive lifestyles. The earth doesnot have enough resources for ALL of its human population to live the average lifestyle of anAmerican; it would take 5 planets for that. When you spend time with the Bribri people we would like you to keep the idea ofenvironmental equity in mind. Many harmful land practices being performed in the SixaolaRiver Basin are performed by multinational corporations and give no real financial benefit tothe indigenous people who live in the basin. Like many societies across the globe, the Bribripeople suffer from the pollution and environmental degradation brought on by unsustainableland practices but reap none of the monetary gain. This is mostly happening in the lower part ofthe basin, but this type of farming is also encroaching into the middle sub-basin as well.Indigenous peoples whom practice small-scale organic farming combined with agroforestrymostly populate the middle and upper sub basin. It is imperative for the health of the basin thatthe Bribri and other indigenous groups continue with these sustainable land practices.

The main waste problem affecting the Bribri is water pollution. Costa Rica has a highwater table and any large amounts of rain will cause run-off into rivers and streams. But, it isnot only pesticides that are polluting the water. Latrines are widely used throughout the basin,and a classic pit latrine is likely to overflow and run-off into nearby bodies of water duringheavy rainfall. In some parts of the Sixaola Basin only about half the population has access topotable water. The only solid waste facility in the Basin is located in a Bribri settlement, butother than that sewage systems and treatments facilities are inexistent in the Basin. The basinis among the poorest areas in the country. Not having access to clean water or basic servicesposes huge health risks to the Bribri and other indigenous peoples living in the Sixaola Basin.Unfortunately, the Bribri people might be last on the list for a new treatment plant. Many ofthe populated areas in Costa Rica still don’t have proper waste treatment facilities. It wasrecently discovered that about a million households in Costa Rica had fecal matter in their tapwater. For now, our main goal is to provide potable water to the Bribri and proper latrines. Inthis way we can help enhance the health of the Bribri people.

Project #1 Compostable LatrinesDue to high water tables a below ground pit latrine is likely to fill with water and flood inregions like Costa Rica. The fecal matter from these latrines can contaminate ground water,nearby streams and rivers, posing great health risks to rural communities. The compost latrineis developed above ground and is more suitable for this regions heavy rain fall. During thisproject we will assist in the construction of a composting latrine at a given site. We will alsolearn about the maintenance and processes needed to make a pathogen-free compost.

Project #2 Potable Drinking WaterHelp to build, maintain or just visit a rainwater catchment system. We need clean water tosurvive. A clean water catchment system gives the Bribri people a chance to have access toclean drinking water even though their water -ways have been polluted.

Notes:

Notes:

Thank you for traveling with One World Travel. Upon your return home, you will receive anemail concluding your trip and providing ways for you to keep in touch with projects and peoplethat you encountered on your journey. Please feel free to provide any feedback or request anyadditional connections or information from us at that time. We sincerely appreciate you joining us in helping our one world be attainable for everyone. Printed on recycled paper.