'Chiriqui history' Chiriqui

Walter Matherly (74.134.240.207) -

While a resident in Panama in the early sixties I heard that the name "Chiriqui" was initially taken from "Cherokee, " and that a sergeant with anthropological interests, stationed in the Zona de Canal, and of Cherokee Indian ancestry from North Carolina, found he could understand a patois still spoken around David. The sergeant was able to establish a historical connection in a native American diaspora branching off from the Trail of Tears that led a tribe of Cherokees from North Carolina, down Central America to what is now the northernmost state of Panama. This may be pure fictional oral history, but if there's anything to it I'd like to share it with the Native American Studies group here at the University of Illinois. Grateful for any hints.

Comment #1 Old Pana in Okie Land from Tulsa,Ok. (Contact Member) -

That's a new one to me..:) Chiriqui is a Guayme word. It Means Valley of the Moon. Guayme is a trive decendants from the Ngabere trives in South America, trying to escape the bad treatment from the Spanish Conquistadores.

But I like the Cheroqee story,

Regards.

Comment #2 Serenifly from Toronto (Contact Member) -

I must say both of those stories are very interesting. I found something entirely different from either of those online.

• Chiriqui Province (Panama)

Comment #3 Sweetness from Earth, the Universe (Contact Member) -

All these stories are very interesting so I did some google searching myself and came upon this lovely site which has pictures of places in Chiriqui.

It tells a little about the fact that it has a wonderful agricultural region and volcanic mountain ranges with trout filled rivers.

This sounds and looks like a paradise for sure. But I do like the story about the Cherokee it was very cute.

Comment #4 liazon from atlanta, ga, usa (Contact Member) -

can anyone recommend a book (historical fiction or non-fiction) on the indians of Chiriqui (and the indians of Panama in general). Everything i find has half a page on the pre-Spanish days, as if history somehow started when the Spanish came

Comment #5 pale_o (63.176.159.164) -

Sweetness, I did not particularly see the link you were referring to. Next time, remember to include the http://..

These stories are quite interesting. Woe unto them that think that history is boring. Apparently the best place you could find pieces of history would be in India liazon.

My own searches revealed that this province in the Panama is becoming people's choice of travel destination.

Tell us more Walter...

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