The Kuna are among the last of the indigenous people of Central America who survived conquest by the Spaniards. When the Europeans arrived, there were about 60 tribes in the region which constitute Panama today. When the Spanish rule ended in 1821, there were only three left, the Kuna being one of them.
The clothing of the Kuna women with their magnificent colours and fine embroidery is famous and the wearing of traditional clothing creates identity. Sewing their own cloth is also a tradition that mothers pass on to their daughters.
This Mola which was handmade using a reverse appliqué technique, represents life in a traditional Kuna community where the men do their work and the women do theirs. The mola shows two women husking rice while a husband goes fishing in his small canoe. One woman is cooking chichi, made from maize. Another is drinking chichi with two men. In the bottom corner, a man plays a flute, and a woman plays maracas (rattle) - instruments that often accompany traditional dances. Down the side are three maracas of round pumpkins. The middle maraca shows the flag of the Kuna revolution in 1925. The red represents the blood of the Kuna that was spilt in the fight. The yellow stands for harmony, and the peace that reigns in the region since the Kuna victory. | 
