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Culture Festival gathers together more than 200 indigenous

A look at the way of life, their beliefs, dances, food and the beauty of the reserves are present at the First Indigenous Festival of the province of Limón, which gathered yesterday and today, more than 200 persons.

The activity takes place at the Joint Social Aid Institute (IMAS) in Limon.

Inhabitants of six indigenous territories in the Caribbean and officials from various government institutions are involved in the activity

Indigenous groups as cabecares, bribris, kekoldis, telires, nairi awaris and tairí cabécares are assisting to the festival. Between them there were also traditional doctors, handmaids, community leaders, housewives and children.

Sindy Torres from the regional bureau of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and organizer of the festival explained the purpose of the activity.

"What we seek is to generate an impact on the non-indigenous population and to understand that these groups have a particular lifestyle that makes them different, and therefore, they should provide a different treatment," she said.

Yesterday they made many presentations of drama, dance, exhibitions of photographs and videos of the indigenous areas, as well as presentation of musical groups and different parades.

The festival continues today with forums on the projection of these people, among other activities.

Jose Morales, a ¨sukia¨ (indigenous doctor), who lives in a Cabecar territory, in Talamanca was a very important assistant.

Morales recalled that he learned from his father and an uncle the art of the natural medicine, since he was a child. Today, with 69 years, he has the basic understanding that let him heal many diseases.

Everything that Morales use to cure are stems and roots which he collects in the mountains where he lives.