TY - JOUR

T1 - Seeds used in handicraft manufactured by an Embera-Katio indigenous population displaced by violence in Colombia

AU - Frausin Bustamante, Gina

AU - Trujillo, Edwin

AU - Correa, Marco

AU - H. Gonzalez, Victor

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - The sale of handicrafts embellished with seeds is an important source of incomefor a displaced indigenous Emberá-Katío group that lives in the city of Florencia(Departamento of Caquetá, Colombia). We provide a list of the 34 plant species (23 genera in 10 families) used in handicrafts, as well as information on where and how the are obtained. Seeds of native legumes (family Fabaceae) are the main material used. Most manufactured items have seeds of Ormosia nobilis (Fabaceae), Canna edulis (Cannaceae), and Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae). About half of the plant species used by the Emberá-Katío are perennial trees. Except for the seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi (Poaceae) and Ormosia sp., which are obtained from other local indigenous groups such as the Koreguajes and Uitotos, all seeds are collected from small patches of secondary forest near or within the city. Because most plants used are native and widely distributed in the Neotropical region, we suggest that, despite cultural transformation, at least some cultural knowledge about native plants is still maintained, and we speculate that other Emberá groups might use the same or similarplant species. We also provide the Spanish and Emberá names of the plants used in the handicrafts.

AB - The sale of handicrafts embellished with seeds is an important source of incomefor a displaced indigenous Emberá-Katío group that lives in the city of Florencia(Departamento of Caquetá, Colombia). We provide a list of the 34 plant species (23 genera in 10 families) used in handicrafts, as well as information on where and how the are obtained. Seeds of native legumes (family Fabaceae) are the main material used. Most manufactured items have seeds of Ormosia nobilis (Fabaceae), Canna edulis (Cannaceae), and Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae). About half of the plant species used by the Emberá-Katío are perennial trees. Except for the seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi (Poaceae) and Ormosia sp., which are obtained from other local indigenous groups such as the Koreguajes and Uitotos, all seeds are collected from small patches of secondary forest near or within the city. Because most plants used are native and widely distributed in the Neotropical region, we suggest that, despite cultural transformation, at least some cultural knowledge about native plants is still maintained, and we speculate that other Emberá groups might use the same or similarplant species. We also provide the Spanish and Emberá names of the plants used in the handicrafts.

KW - Amazonia

KW - ethnobotany

KW - Fabaceae

M3 - Journal article

VL - 30

SP - 315

EP - 323

JO - Caldasia

JF - Caldasia

SN - 0366-5232

IS - 2

ER -