We speak Natore the language of the Ngobe. Some of us speak a little Spanish, very very few can write in Spanish.
We have songs, Jegui, mostly for fiestas. There are seven or so dances: Snakes, Frogs, Shells, Butterflies and some more. Not everyone knows how to dance them all.
Please call us Ngobe. Indigenous is OK. We don't like to be called Indio.
Our dress is the Nagua. It was designed by the Spaniards. They did not want us to dress or look the same as they did. There are lots of colors and patterns and on special days there are versions in blue and white.
Some of us celebrate marriage, others don't bother with a ceremony. Marriage is called Ya Cobaira. We ask permission of our parents but it is our choice and there is no dowry or payments involved.
Men make the decisions, like where we will go to pick coffee but we share responsibility to educate our children and when the women are very busy with children the men have to cook.
We eat mainly vegetables. We have a special onion type vegetable that only grows in the Comarca and is very special. We like drinks made of maize and yucca. There is no milk in our diet and very few eggs.