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Did you know there are The Indigenous Games in Costa Rica? When Tribal Elders recognized that many of their young indigenous members had a poor perception of their future and had few or no goals, a solution was sought. It was from that exploration that the Asociación De Mujeres Indígenas Del Territorio Cabécar Talamanca gave birth to The Ancestral Sports And Games Of The Indigenous Peoples of Costa Rica, aka the “Indigenous Games.” In Spanish, that’s “juegos deportivos y recreativos indígenas costarricenses.”
An Annual Event
Begun in 2018, the Indigenous Games were instantly successful with the youth. The annual event quickly grew in popularity, and in 2019, over 150 participants came from tribes across Costa Rica and Panama. Unfortunately, COVID-19 came along, and the 2021 – 2123 festivities had to be canceled for health reasons.
Happily, in 2024, the Kábata Könana organization has resumed the Indigenous Games, which will take place on April 26th, 27th, and 28th at the Gavilán Canta community in the Cabécar Talamanca territory.
8 Tribes
There are eight tribes of indigenous peoples in Costa Rica: Bribri, Cabécar, Ngöbe, Maleku, Brunca,
Naso Broran, Huetár, and Chorotega. According to UNICEF data, the total indigenous population, 63,876 people, comprises about 1.7% of the nation’s population. Forty-eight percent (48%) of this population lives within the limits of the 24 indigenous territories or nations, and 52% lives outside of them. Most of these communities preserve their language, customs, traditions, art, and spirituality, constituting these peoples’ intangible heritage.
According to investigators who have visited most of these territories, the groups have also continued the traditions of competing in many native sporting events. These competitions include bow and arrow accuracy (with variants of shooting at fixed or moving targets), contests with spears and blowguns, races (with weights), speed races, and long-distance running. There are also competitions with wood picking, the well-known sport of rope-pull, and river swimming events.
18 Sports and Competitions
The Games are an unparalleled event greatly anticipated by participants and spectators alike. Exciting contests will be held in eighteen different indigenous sports and competitions, among them Bow and arrow (moving target and distance), Javelin and Cerbaraba throw, Log load racing, Jala de mecate, Wood sink, open-water swim, Leaf knitting competition, and many more dynamic and ancestral games. Competitors from more than 20 tribes will vie for prizes over two-plus days.
These Games are a one-of-a-kind experience available only in Costa Rica. Expats living here have the unique opportunity to participate in something they will never forget and, in the process, contribute to the positive future of a special culture.
More Information
For inquiries or more information for groups needing a formal invitation, contact 8877-0228 or write an email to juegosindigenaskabata@gmail.com
For information on how to spend a night or two at an indigenous Bed and Breakfast, email Martha Rollins at martha_rollins@yahoo.com or call her on WhatsApp at 8407-7127
ARCR proudly supports this important event and accepts donations from our members on its behalf. There are four ways in which donations can be made; call the office at 4052-4052 for details.
Published by permission of the ARCR.
