Valle de Agua

Protecting Our Ancestral Lands from Encroachment

Our Ngäbe communities in the province of Bocas del Toro are actively defending their land against encroachment by non-Indigenous settlers. The islands of the Bocas del Toro archipelago are a major tourist destination, and since the early 2000s, we have experienced numerous land conflicts stemming from the surge in tourism and the development of resorts. On the mainland, our communities face threats from individuals who are illegally seizing our land, particularly in Valle de Agua, the community of our sub-coordinator, Olinda Castrellón.

We are a people with a way of living, but that way of living has been hindered many times. But we are still here. We are still fighting, struggling, and shaping what remains.

— Olinda