Small Things on the Beach
Tales & Traditions · Puerto Coquira, Panama
Small Things on the Beach
Crabs, clams, and a slow waiting. A companion piece from the beach at Puerto Coquira, while the tide rises toward Majé.
Baby crabs on the beach, while we wait for the tide.
While waiting for the tide near Majé, there's plenty of time to look around. That's often when you notice the small, beautiful things.
Crabs in footprints, clams under sand
Tiny shore crabs dart in and out of footprints in the sand. Children gently coax them into their hands, watch for a moment, and let them scuttle away again. Underneath the surface are small clams, easy to gather by hand and soak overnight. By the next day they're part of a warm, simple soup.
"Nothing is wasted."
— Jen, RFB Woven ArtFood in the village is often shared this way. Families specialize, some in fish, others in yucca or oysters, and the harvest moves from one household to another. Weaving moves the same way: chunga palm, natural dyes, and coil techniques are passed between families like food.
By the time the tide turns, the soup is in someone's pot, the crabs are back under the sand, and the boat is ready to move upriver.
— Jen
Frequently asked questions
What can you forage on the beach near Majé?
On the beach at Puerto Coquira, where the boats to Majé wait for the tide, the easiest gathers are tiny shore crabs and small clams buried just under the sand. The clams get soaked overnight and become a simple soup the next day. It's the kind of food that turns a wait into a meal.
Where is Puerto Coquira and why does it matter for Wounaan basket sourcing?
Puerto Coquira is a fishing village a few hours east of Panama City. It's the launch point for the six-hour boat trip upriver to Majé, the Wounaan village in the Darién where many of RFB Woven Art's master weavers live and work. Sourcing trips for Wounaan basketry usually pass through Puerto Coquira, often with a long wait for the tide.
