KUNAERNE KÆMPER - MED MYTE OG METAFOR

Resumé

Vibeke Tuxen: The Kunas Struggle - with

Myth and Metaphor

The author is working with the kuna people

on a demarcation project and observes how

the kuna use their myths and metaphors in

practice to analyse the presence of

foreigners, whom experience has taught

them not to trust, but on whom they also

depend for their territory. The myth of

Duiren who taught the Kunas to resist and

fight for their culture but who also depended

on the help of other people, is put forward by

a chief in his chanting, analysing the present

situation. Kuna myths form a total of

interrelated stories, which on the one hand

form the mind of the Kuna chief in his

analysis, and on the other hand certain parts,

or myths, are being picked out to show the

angle that the chief wishes to put forward to

his people. Personal names can be changed

and molas can be sold. Myths, names, and

molas are three ways in which the Kuna

relate themselves to the outer world and still

maintain their own way of living. Through

all three, foreign aspects can be expressed,

let in, and let out again.