Aulina Ismare Opua: Wounaan Cacica (Elected 2022)
Meet the Maker · Panama, 2022
Aulina Ismare Opua
Cacica Wounaan, elected April 2022. One of the few women in Panama to hold a national Indigenous leadership position.
Aulina Ismare Opua, Cacica Wounaan.
In April 2022, Aulina Ismare Opua was elected Cacica Wounaan, the national chief of the Wounaan people in Panama. She is one of the few women in Panama to hold a national Indigenous leadership position.
A national chief, a Wounaan first
Aulina's election marks a milestone for Wounaan governance and for women's leadership in Indigenous Panama. Her role centers on representing the Wounaan in national matters, advocating for territory and rights, and building bridges between traditional governance and the wider Panamanian state.
— Jen
Frequently asked questions about Aulina Ismare Opua
Who is Aulina Ismare Opua?
Aulina Ismare Opua is the elected Cacica Wounaan, the national chief of the Wounaan people in Panama, since April 2022. She is one of the few women in Panama to hold a national Indigenous leadership position.
