Panama Wounaan Indigenous - Fishing Handline

Wounaan Indigenous - Fishing Handline

This Wounaan Fishing Handline is a style of fishing handline used by Wounaan fisherman in the Wounaan Indigenous villages of Panama.

The handline is a common and practical tool used by Wounaan for catching fish on the rivers in the Darien Region of Panama that borders Colombia. These rivers are wide, muddy, and have low visibility in the water. Wounaan fishermen will typically use live bait or raw chicken to draw the fish to their tight lines or basket traps in these rivers.

This Fishing handline is carved from local Teak wood, which is also a common tree in Eastern Panama and sustainable source of wood for the Wounaan. The fish design used represents fish they catch with the handlines, but also a common fish design used by the same artisans in the crafts they design and culture of the Wounaan.

This fishing handline allows the artisan to combine both their artistic skills with passion and unique style of fishing. The Wounaan’s ability to fish, hunt, and forage off the land still remains a very important part of their survival and culture.