Emberá-Wounaan Governorate Launches Contest for Official Comarca Flag

The Emberá-Wounaan Governorate in Panama has initiated a historic contest to design the region's first official flag. This move seeks to foster a sense of identity and unity by involving the diverse communities within the comarca in creating a symbol that represents their rich cultural and historical heritage.

The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Education, is open to all communities within the region. Designs will undergo a pre-selection process, resulting in 41 proposals, one from each area. These will then be presented to the General Emberá-Wounaan Congress, the comarca's highest decision-making body, for final selection and ratification.

Governor Raquela Carpio highlighted the significance of the contest, noting that the comarca will reach its 43rd anniversary in November without an official flag. She emphasized that the process respects indigenous traditions and decision-making mechanisms, ensuring broad participation. "What we don't want is to bypass the way we choose and make decisions, which is in the General Congress, the highest authority of expression and decision," Carpio stated.

The project aims to strengthen the comarca's identity and provide an emblem that will represent future generations of the Emberá-Wounaan people. This endeavor underscores a commitment to cultural preservation and self-determination.

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What we don't want is to bypass the way we choose and make decisions, which is in the General Congress, the highest authority of expression and decision.