Wounaan Spirit Ship

Spirit Boat of Wounaan origin, an ethnic group located between the Chocó and Valle del Cauca departments in Colombia. Handmade from balsa wood and adorned with natural black and red dyes. These boats represent the protection of the spirit and are often used to ward off misfortune, illness, and death. They must be made by a spiritual leader known as a Jaibaná, who designs and builds the boat, carving the crew members, called páchaidáma, inside. These can be people or animals, and are chosen by the Jaibaná during their training, so each boat has a unique design and a different meaning.