In this Northern Region, specifically in the canton of Guatuso, there is a unique ethnic group, made up of three communities: El Sol, Tonjibe and Margarita.
In order to further strengthen the ties of unity between these three settlements, the Maleku Cultural Festival is organized every year during the month of October.
For this 2023 it is scheduled for Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21.
At the Festival, different competitions typical of its tradition will be held, such as shooting with a bow and arrow, fishing with a spear, pulling water in gourds and carrying firewood on the head, according to Alfredo Acosta Blanco, one of the members. from the commission that organizes the activity to The Region.
“First there is an exhibition of crafts, there are typical foods, such as grilled fish in leaves, there is chicha, there are different types of activities in which the visitor can come and enjoy,” Acosta explained.
The Maleku Cultural Festival is an effort that, from the very identity of its communities, aims to make visible the existence of people who have their own traditions and language; who want to share their worldview, their own organization and their knowledge, which means that the organization is done by the members of the communities themselves, to guarantee that the values of their ethnic group are preserved.
For dissemination aspects and other support, they have the collaboration of institutions such as public universities and the Ministry of Culture.
The craft exhibition will be another important part of the Festival. Courtesy.
Two days of meeting, ancestral expressions and love of life
The Festival will be held in the community of El Sol because it rotates, year after year, between the same settlements.
The opening is scheduled to begin on October 20 at 2:00 pm
In the light of a bright bonfire, songs, dances and other manifestations of talent will be shared, especially from other indigenous groups in the country.
“It will be an inclusive night, in which diverse cultural expressions will have a place,” according to statements by Aida Elizondo Marín, who is also part of the organizing commission.
For Saturday the 22nd, the Festival will revolve around purely its own traditions, such as bow and arrow shooting, the exhibition and sale of crafts and the tasting of its own food and drinks, among others.
Promotion of cultural tourism.
Among the residents there are many initiatives for the production of native crafts, the preparation of traditional food and the organization of spaces to share a series of traditions with people who visit them.
The tourist offer offered by the Malekus is not taken into account in the tourism promotion policies, affirms this indigenous community, because the importance is not given to cultural tourism, which, together with rural, ecological and adventure tourism, is becomes an option that can be integrated into the packages offered to visitors.
They point out that, when itineraries are proposed for tourists, for example, emphasis is placed on the Tenorio volcano and the Celeste River, forgetting that from the point of view of history this is an ancestral area, which was part of their territory of which time have been displaced.
This is the concern that, from the organization of this activity, is expressed to the authorities that manage tourism promotion policies, such as the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the different tourism chambers present in the region.
“Río celeste is an ancestral site of the Maleku culture, the entire territory, which is Guatuso, there are ancestral sites, unfortunately we are outside the territory, but if we would like it if we talk about Río celeste that we also talk about our culture,” Acosta pointed out.
A detail in this sense is how for this and other festivals it has not been possible to have a basic material to build ranches and that is typical of its tradition, such as La Suita, a palm that is woven to make its roof because it is the only which prevents the filtration of water and sun rays.
This palm, explains Alfredo Acosta, is only available in the mountains near the Tenorio volcano and to extract it, they do not have permits from MINAE and SINAC, which are the entities in charge of the administration of what exists in that territory because it is the Park. Tenorio Volcano National.
His ancestors – Alfredo considers – did have access to that material; Not now, because it is no longer considered part of the Malekus’ territory.
How to get to the Maleku Festival?
To live a weekend full of traditions full of flavor of life and friendship, it is easy to get to the El Sol palenque.
It is located on the central highway that goes from Ciudad Quesada to Guatuso. About 5 kilometers before reaching San Rafael, the head of that canton, signs will be located that will indicate the place where the Maleku Cultural Festival will take place.
It is a nice adventure for children and adults, because it will be a true fair for the family.
This ethnic group only lives in Guatuso. Its territory was defined by Law 6172, of November 16, 1977, in which the three communities are located.
The priest, Vianney Solís Soto, collaborated with this information.
2023-09-28 18:52:36
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