The Arson of a Museum: Ethnography of historical experience and plant fiber use in northern Coclé Province, Panama

Ethnobotany Research and Applications

Volume 14, 28 October 2015, Pages 259-288

Open Access

  (Article)

Müller-Schwarze, N.K. 

 

Southern Food and Beverage Museum, New Orleans, LA, United States 

View references (87)

Abstract

The use of tree cambium to make cucua dance outfits attracted the attention of international plant and culture conservationists. Scholarly narratives, media interpretations, and publications for the tourism market about cucua often reiterate racialized colonial categories as the origin point for a history construed as Panamanian. Implementation of conservation programs, like the construction of a museum and cultural center, ignored existing social structures among dancers. Arsonists allegedly destroyed the museum. This article presents data collected in anthropological participant observation methodologies and describes why conservation programs were rejected through the ethnography of historical experience that shows how people make sense of the past. Local explanations of plant uses that include power accessed through the ruptures of social structures during liminal times, such as Spanish colonialism, are real and not just symbolic. This article places cucua plant use in cultural context with other plant fibers used in northern Coclé for baskets, all called “weaving.” © 2015, University of Hawaii at Manoa. All rights reserved.

ISSN: 15473465Source Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.17348/era.14.0.259-288Document Type: Article

Publisher: University of Hawaii at Manoa

References (87)

View in search results format

• Page
 
• • Export |
  • Print |
  • E-mail |
  • Create bibliography

• 
  1

  Aguilar, J.M.
  La población indígena del istmo de Panama
  (1963) Revista Cultural Lotería, 94, pp. 73-95.
  

  •  
• 
  2

  Ariel Rodriguez, O.
  Los cucuás, el alma de San Miguel Centro
  (2003) La Prensa Domingo Nacionales June, 8, p. 8A.
  

  •  
• 
  3

  Araúz, C.A.
  Provisiones y mercados en el Panamá decimonónico
  (2002) La Prensa, Ellas October, 4, p. 69,72.
  

  •  
• 
  4

  (1996) Corpus Christi en La Villa de Los Santos 1996. In Conoce Nuestros Costumbres y Tradicciones. Pamphlet
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  5

  Bernstein, B.
  (2003) The Language of Native American Baskets: From the weavers' view. Cited 3 times.
  National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  6

  Beytia Muñoz, A.
  Nuestra decima y nuestra copla. Pp. 65-68 in Revista Cultural Lotería
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  7

  Biesanz, J., Biesanz, M.
  (1955) The People of Panama
  Columbia University Press, New York, New York, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  8

  Blanc, J.
  (2005) The creative process, p. 9.
  World Dance Alliance Channels Winter
  

  •  
• 
  9

  Brubaker, R.
  (2004) Ethnicity Without Groups. Cited 786 times.
  Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and London, England
  

  •  
• 
  10

  Camargo Ríos, M.
  (2002) Producción y Comercio en la Sociedad Rural de Penonomé Durante los Primeros Cincuenta Años de la República
  Universidad de Panamá: Colección del Centenario, Panama City, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  11

  Carles, R.D.
  (1947) La Tierra de Los Cholos
  Star and Herald Press, Panama City, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  12

  Carles, R.D.
  (1966) Victoriano Lorenzo: El guerrillero de la Tierra de los Cholos
  Panama. Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  13

  Casimir de Brizuela, G.
  Etnografía antigua de Panamá: Visión del hombre y del mundo
  (1971) Revista Cultural Lotería, 192, pp. 35-44.
  

  •  
• 
  14

  Castillero Calvo, A.
  (1967) Estructuras Sociales y Económicas de Veraguas Desde sus Orígenes Históricos, Siglos XVI y XVII. Cited 3 times.
  Editora Panamá, Panama City, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  15

  Cesar, A.R.
  Origén de la cutarra
  (2003) La Prensa June, 8, p. 22.
  

  •  
• 
  16

  Clifford, J.
  (1997) Routes: Travel and translation in the late twentieth century. Cited 2100 times.
  Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  17

  Conte Guardia, A.M.
  (1963) El Proceso de Aculturacion del "Cholo Penonomeño"
  University thesis, Department of Philosophy, Letters, and Education, University of Panama, Panama City, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  18

  Conte Porras, J.
  (1963) Untitled. Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  19

  Conte Porras, J.
  (1997) Meditaciones en Torno a Victoriano Lorenzo
  Impreandes S.A., Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
  

  •  
• 
  20

  Conte Porras, J.
  (1998) Panameños Ilustres
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  21

  Conte Porras, J.
  (1999) De los pueblos de Indios en la Jurisdicción de Natá en los siglos XVII y XVIII
  Epocas Segunda Era. March. Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  22

  Conte Porras, J.
  Á propósito del Penonomeño y su lenguaje secreto
  (2001) El Universal June, 3, p. 10.
  

  •  
• 
  23

  Conte Porras, J.
  (2003) Los cholos de Coclé de Tomas D. Arias, p. 9.
  Epocas Segunda Era July
  

  •  
• 
  24

  Conte Porras, J.
  Nuestro Cholo Coclesano: Dentro de la identidad del ser Panameño
  Crónicas del Istmo, El Universal. Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  25

  Conzemius, E.
  (1932) Ethnographical Survey of the Miskito and Sumu Indians of Honduras and Nicaragua. Cited 29 times.
  Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 106. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  26

  Cooke, R., Ranere, A.J.
  (1992) The origin of wealth and hierarchy in the Central Region of Panama (12,000-2,000 BP), with observations on its relevance to the history and phylogeny of Chibchan-speaking polities in Panama and elsewhere. Pp. 243-316 in Wealth and Hierarchy in the Intermediate Area. Symposium at Dumbarton Oaks, 10-11 October 1987
  Edited by F.W. Lange. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C., U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  27

  Cooper, J.M.
  (1949) Traps. Pp. 265-176 in Handbook of South American Indians, Volume 5
  Edited by J.H. Steward. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  28

  Cordero Pérez, D.
  Colorantes Vegetales en la Artesania Panameña
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Republic of Panama
  

  •  
• 
  29

  Davis, W.
  (1996) One River: Explorations and discoveries in the Amazon rain forest. Cited 37 times.
  Simon and Schuster, New York, New York, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  30

  Durán, P.E.
  Penonomé ó "Be Nu Nomé"?
  (2003) Revista Cultural Lotería, 448, pp. 76-83.
  

  •  
• 
  31

  Espino, B.
  Artesano y artesanía
  (2003) La Prensa June, 8, p. 16.
  

  •  
• 
  32

  Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, G.
  Historia General y Natural de las Indias. Cited 124 times.
  Archived material, Latin American Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  33

  Figueroa Navarro, A.
  (1982) Dominio y Sociedad en el Panama Colombiano (1821-1903): Escrutinio sociológico
  Editorial Universitaria, Panama City, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  34

  Foucault, M.
  (1972) The Archaeology of Knowledge & the Discourse on Language. Cited 2161 times.
  Pantheon Books, New York, New York, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  35

  Graciela Joly, L.
  (1981) One is None and Two is One: Development from above and below in north-central Panamá
  PhD Dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  36

  Heckadon-Moreno, S.
  Estudios botanicos y etnograficos de Henri Pittier en la Costa Arriba de Colón, 1911
  (1996) Epocas Segunda Era, 11 (9), pp. 2-3.
  

  •  
• 
  37

  Hill, R.M., Monaghan, J.
  (1987) Continuities in Highland Maya Social Organization: Ethnohistory in Sacapulas, Guatemala. Cited 43 times.
  University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  38

  Honko, L.

  Traditions in the construction of cultural identity and strategies of ethnic survival
  (1995) European Review, 3 (2), pp. 131-146. Cited 4 times.
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  39

  Howe, J.
  (1974) Village Political Organization Among the San Blas Cuna. Cited 6 times.
  PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
  http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI7502740
  

  •  
• 
  40

  Indigenous Art from Panamá
  (2010) Wounaan and Emberá Baskets
  Accessed 10 September 2014
  www.panart.com/bask_info2.htm
  

  •  
• 
  41

  Jaen Arosemena, D.A.
  La danza de 'Los Montezumas' se presento en el Programa Conmemorativo del Centenario de Cocle
  (2003) La Prensa, Festividades del Centenario September, 11, pp. 109-111.
  

  •  
• 
  42

  Jarava-González, A.
  Un espectaculo por el amor al arte
  (2002) La Prensa, Ellas November, 22, pp. 42-43.
  

  •  
• 
  43

  Josez, F.G.
  Artesanía de los cucuas. La Prensa, Bienes y Raíces
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé
  

  •  
• 
  44

  La Prensa
  (1985) Enciclopedia de la cultura Panamenya para niños y jovenes. Serie Nuestras Bellas Artes, Vol. 29. La Prensa, Suplemento Educativo Cultural October
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  45

  La Prensa
  Dirección general de artesanías nacionales, artesanías representativas de cada provincia
  (2003) La Prensa June, 8, p. 19.
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  46

  La Prensa
  (2005) En busca de la identidad del Panameño. La Prensa, Pulso de la Nacion May 16
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  47

  Levinsohn, R.
  Rural Kwazulu basketry
  (1980) African Arts, 14 (1), pp. 52-88. Cited 3 times.
  

  •  
• 
  48

  Lincoln, K.M.
  (2004) The Use and Potential of the Pita Plant, Aechmea magdalenae (André) André ex Baker, in a Ngöbe Village: A case study of Chalite, Bocas Del Toro, Panama
  M.A. Thesis, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  49

  Lothrop, S.K.
  (1937) Coclé: An archaeological study of central Panama. Part I: Historical background, excavations at Sitio Conte, artifacts and ornaments. Cited 11 times.
  The Peabody Museum, Harvard University Memoirs, Volume VII, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  50

  Lothrop, S.K.
  Aboriginal Navigation Off the West Coast of South America
  Archived material, Latin American Library Archives, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  51

  Mamdani, M.
  (1996) Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the legacy of colonialism. Cited 2057 times.
  Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  52

  Mason, O.T.
  (1988) American Indian Basketry. Cited 4 times.
  (1904).. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  53

  Miranda de Cabal, B.
  (1974) Un Pueblo Visto á Traves de su Lenguaje. Cited 2 times.
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  54

  Morales, B.
  (2013) The Dance of the Devils (La Danza de los Diablos)
  Accessed 12 March 2014
  http://home.earthlink.net/~bettymorales/danza.htm
  

  •  
• 
  55

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.
  The Cultural Context of Preserving the Coclé Cucua Dance
  (2006) World Dance Alliance Global Assembly
  Toronto, Canada, 18 July 2006
  

  •  
• 
  56

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.

  Antes and hoy día: Plant knowledge and categorization as adaptations to life in Panama in the twenty-first century
  (2006) Economic Botany, 60 (4), pp. 321-334. Cited 21 times.
  doi: 10.1663/0013-0001(2006)60[321:AAHDPK]2.0.CO;2
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  57

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.
  (2008) When the Rivers Run Backwards: Field studies and statistical analyses of campesino identity in northern Coclé Province, Republic of Panama, in the face of the Panama Canal expansion
  PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A
  http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16313coll12/id/3610
  

  •  
• 
  58

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.
  Museums and meaningmaking: Historical narratives, baby dolls and teaching voodoo in New Orleans
  (2013) Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals, 9 (4), pp. 353-378.
  

  •  
• 
  59

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.
  (2015) The Blood of Victoriano Lorenzo: An ethnography of the cholos of northern Coclé province, Panama
  McFarland Press, Jefferson, North Carolina, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  60

  Museo de Penonomé
  (1995) Seminario Taller: Tintes naturales. Instituto Nacional de Cultura
  Penonomé, Coclé. Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  61

  Personaje: Diana Julia Chiarí de Gruber
  (2003) Dirección General de Artesanias Nacionales. La Prensa June, 8, p. 3.
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  62

  "Los cucuas" danzan por las calles y plazas de Penonomé, conmemorando el centenario de Coclé
  (2003) Festividades del Centenario September, 11, pp. 112-113.
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  63

  Nordenskiöld, E.
  The Choco Indians of Columbia and Panama
  (1927) Discovery, 8, pp. 347-350. Cited 2 times.
  

  •  
• 
  64

  O'Neale, L.M.
  (1963) Yurok-Karok Basket Weavers. Cited 8 times.
  (1932).. University of California Press, Berkeley, California, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  65

  Quezada, R.
  Tala indiscriminada amenaza baile de cucuá
  (2002) La Prensa September, 29, p. 7a.
  

  •  
• 
  66

  Quezada, R.
  (2003) Impulsan proyecto forestal
  La Prensa August 31
  

  •  
• 
  67

  Quezada, R.
  (2003) Construirán casa del diablo cucuá
  La Prensa July 24
  

  •  
• 
  68

  Quezada, R.
  (2003) La danza de los diablos cucua
  La Prensa June 8
  

  •  
• 
  69

  Quiros, G.R.
  (1981) Historia de la Educación en Penonomé
  Archived material, Lotería de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  70

  Racero, A.
  Los congos de Colón, tradición viva
  (2005) La Prensa, Nacionales January, 30, p. 9A.
  

  •  
• 
  71

  Rivera Rodríguez, L.
  Los cucuas de San Miguel: Diablos que habitan en las montañas
  (2009) Panamá Rumbos (17) July, 12, p. 36.
  

  •  
• 
  72

  Rodríguez, O.
  Celebran los 417 años de fundación de Penonomé
  (1998) La Prensa, Nacionales May, 3, p. 7A.
  

  •  
• 
  73

  Romel Rosas
  (1998) La danza de los cucuas: Una tradición al borde del olvido
  La Estrella de Panamá July 3
  

  •  
• 
  74

  Rommen, T., Nettl, B., Capwell, C., Wong, I.K.F., Turino, T., Bohlman, P.V., Dueck, B.
  (2012) Excursions in World Music. Sixth Edition
  (2001).. Pearson, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A
  

  •  
• 
  75

  Romoli, K.
  (1987) Los de la Lengua Cueva: Los grupos indígenas del Istmo Oriental en la época de la conquista Española. Cited 12 times.
  Instituto Colombiano de Antropología, Instituto Colombiano de Cultura, Bogotá, Colombia
  

  •  
• 
  76

  Rosas, E., Ureña, C.
  (1988) La danza de los cucuas: Una tradición al borde del olvido
  Coclé. El Tucán Revista Turistica Panama
  

  •  
• 
  77

  Suárez, O.J.
  (1997) La Región de los Llanos de Chirú: Un estudio de historia rural Panameña
  Caja de Ahorros, Panamá
  

  •  
• 
  78

  Tejeira, G.B.
  Diablicos Cucuas. Archive 8
  Archived material, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia Archive, Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
  

  •  
• 
  79

  Tenorio, L.
  Una tradición singular: Corpus Christi en Chilibre
  (1996) La Prensa June, 9, p. 6A.
  

  •  
• 
  80

  Torres de Araúz, R.
  (1992) Natá Prehispanico
  Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Panamá
  

  •  

  Müller-Schwarze, N.K.; Southern Food and Beverage Museum, United States
© Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.