~CHIRA ISLAND FACTS~

~ History ~

..History During the pre-Colombian period the territory was part of the indigenous provinces then called Chorotegas, and other part called The "Cabecars" which extended all the way to Lake Nicaragua. The region was inhabited by several tribes, one of whose chiefs was Nicoa (from which comes the name Nicoya). The region was discovered by Gil Gonzalez Davila in 1523. He was warmly welcomed by Chief Nicoa, who gave him gifts of gold and other valuables. Nicoya is one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica and it is an indigenous word meaning land with water on both sides¨. Around 1544 the Parish Church of Nicoya was built, the oldest one founded by Spaniards in Costa Rica. When the Spaniards came, they didn't encounter the great native empires that they did in Mexico or in Peru. Instead, they found several tribes that were fragmentary and culturally diverse. Since Costa Rica is a land bridge between North and South America, its tribes displayed traits from either area, and sometimes from both regions.

The Cabecars

Mrs. Brigida Matarrita is 98 years old and she is a living recorder. She can tell you stories about Chira Island and also will confirm many of the legends people tell today. It was an honor to meet this beautiful Cabecar Lady.

Mrs Brigida Matarrita & Lorena Gamboa

" I am a pure Chirena... I was born in this Island 98 years ago, and my grandparents were living here for many years. My grandparents told me stories about Chira and I repeat them to everybody. I have no children... but I have raised many"

Chira Island has a Cabecar and Chorotega indigene background. The Cabecar Indians, the largest indigenous group present in Costa Rica, retains many of its traditional customs and beliefs. In contrast to many other indigenous groups, the Cabecar do not live in villages, but prefer small family units scattered throughout this isolated region that includes the Pacuare zone. Centuries ago, the original Indian tribes were splintered by Spanish conquistadors and forced to retreat into the vast tracts of the interior mountains. Costa Rica has eight indigenous groups living in twenty-four reserves. Each of these communities is distinguished by a unique cultural background and native tongue. The largest and most advanced of Costa Rica's indigenous people, the Chorotegas (which translates to "fleeing people") migrated around A.D. 500 from Southern Mexico into the Nicoya Peninsula to escape slavery. Their customs, language and calendar were largely influenced by more advanced cultures of Mexico and Guatemala. They were also influenced by the Mayans in their written language and use of a calendar, while their spoken language, Nahua, is distinctly Aztec in origin.

Translating the Bible to "Cabecar"

Around 15 years ago we had the opportunity of meeting "The Jones" Brothers. Their mission was to translate the Bible to the original indian language Cabecar. Our First Recording Studio were adquired for them in order to build one in the Cabecar Zone and finish their translations. The River of God ministry (all regions) arose as the second-generation ministry of the family of Aziel and Marian Jones, who began Bible Translation work among the Cabécar in the 1950s. The original missionary translators (Aziel and Marian Jones) did not realize how much bondage and confusion using the name Sibu was causing the people and the churches. Although they asked the question in a prayer letter very early in their translation work (1958) of whether or not this name was appropriate, they didn't realize the full consequences that the choice of this name would have in the coming years. They completed and published the New Testament in 1993 with this name still in use. Then, about 1998, in connection with the ongoing mission work of the Jones's sons Timothy, Philip, and David, God made it clear both to individual Christians and to churches that use of this demonic name was a cause for stumbling and a hindrance to the growth of the Kingdom of God among the Cabécar. At that time, they renounced use of the name Sibu, and began using the generic name Säkéklä for the God of the Bible. The sons are currently revising the entire New Testament on this basis, and are proceeding to translate the Old Testament for the people as well.

Juan 3:16 in Cabecar and Spanish

Slow:

Normal:

Säkekläwa kajiskawa shkal bäi si. Jenekika ite iyaba eklabä patkate kajiska, yite ijebä biketsa jewa bena ka weikanachakläwa kuna, ata jewa senaklä jekjeye.

HCSB John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

LBA Juan 3:16 Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que dio a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que cree en Él, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.

...The Chorotegas

The Chorotegas excelled at farming, growing abundant harvests of corn, as well as cotton, beans, fruits and cacao. The Chorotegas originally introduced the latter to Costa Rica, and they used its seeds as currency. The land was communally owned and harvests were divided according to need. This assured that even those unable to maintain crops, such as widows or the elderly, were provided for.
The cities of the Chorotegas often featured central plazas with a marketplace and religious center. As many as 20,000 people may have populated a single city, and entire clans lived in longhouses constructed of wood with thatched-roofs. 
Ceramic art was a very important facet of Chorotegas culture and was primarily practiced by women. Ceramic objects were customarily painted in black and red, then decorated with serpents, crocodiles, monkeys and jaguars. 
The Chorotegas maintained an organized military which fought to protect their territory and generate a source of slaves.
Sacrificing slaves for religious purposes was fairly common, and virgins were often sacrificed by throwing them into the craters of volcanoes. In addition, as a purification rite, the sacrifice human was often eaten.

... Other Indigenes in Costa Rica

BIBRIS
CABECARES
GUAYMIES
GUATUSOS O MALEKUS
BORUCAS O BRUNCAS
TERRABAS
HUETARES
CHOROTEGAS
MISKITOS Y SUMOS
TERIBES

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