Online Learning

Join us for a variety of online events that showcase the people, lands, communities, history, culture, politics and traditions of the Bribri and Cabécar peoples of Costa Rica.

Intro to Bribri & Cabécar History, Cosmovision & Cacao

For centuries, the Talamanca mountains have held us in protection. We are among the only indigenous peoples in the Americas whose lands were never colonized. This is no accident. It is the result of a deliberate path, walked by our ancestors and carried forward by us, to guard what is sacred: our language, our clan system, our relationship with the land, our relationship with spirit, and the cosmovision that holds it all together.

We have kept this world intact by knowing when to close. Among our elders, there is a growing sense that the time has come to begin to share — not to everyone, but to those who carry a genuine desire in their heart to learn. This six-week journey provides an opportunity to lay the foundation required to delve deeper into our philosophy and spiritual worlds.

Syllabus

This course is intended to be an introduction to important concepts that are essential to understanding the Bribri & Cabécar world view, and will be divided into three sections: history, cosmovision and cacao.

History

The first two classes will focus on the history of Talamanca before contact with colonizing forces and provide a basic understanding of the territories in Talamanca and Bribri & Cabécar societal structures. We will then discuss the important history of protecting our lands, the invasion of the Banana companies, the fight against Costa Rican oil companies, and the current political and territorial challenges facing our people.

Cosmovision

In the second two classes, we will discuss our matralineal and matriarchal structure, clan system, and the views and beliefs that shape Bribri & Cabécar societies. We will discuss our philosophical and spiritual beliefs related to balance between humans, nature, and spirit and how our beliefs align with other indigenous beliefs globally.

Cacao

In the final two classes we will begin to delve into the realms of cacao and the role that cacao plays in Bribri & Cabécar culture. We will discuss the different uses of cacao ceremonially and socially and the roles and responsibilities of the TsiruTami, the sacred keeper of cacao in Bribri & Cabécar spirituality. We will discuss the production of cacao and the physical and spiritual benefits of drinking cacao.

Details

Small Group Program - maximum of six people per group

Cost: 75,000 Colones (payable by SINPE or Paypal)

Classes: 6 two hour classes - 1 class per week for 6 weeks

Structure: 1.5 hours of lecture & 30 minutes for questions/discussion via Zoom

Time: 4pm PT / 5pm CT / 7pm ET

2026 Schedule

English Dates:

Cohort 1: Wednesday September 16th - Wednesday October 21st
Cohort 2: Tuesday October 27th - Tuesday December 1st

Spanish Dates :

Cohort 1: Tuesday September 15th - Wednesday October 22nd
Cohort 2: Wednesday October 28th - Wednesday - December 2nd

Registration: please submit your interest via the contact page in joining one of the cohort dates above. Registration will be confirmed once full payment has been received. Registration is non-refundable, but can be transferred to a future cohort within 6 months of your original registration.

Classes will be delivered in the traditional oral teaching format without notes or slides, recordings of the classes will be shared for students to refer back to.

Instructor: Gamaliel Molina

Gamita is the founder and visionary of the Se Siwá project and has dedicated his life to supporting his community and preserving and protecting the traditional ways of the Bribri & Cabécar peoples of Talamanca, Costa Rica. Gama is from the Bleliwak clan and was raised within both the Bribri & Cabécar traditions. He is passionate about sharing his culture with those who hold a genuine interest in their heart to experience and learn about their ways. He is a passionate educator and story teller.