The word Siuna comes from the sumus (mayangna) "suhni" which translates as: "wet, wet."
Municipality was created on August 22, 1969 by the Legislative Power, with head in the town of Siuna, and elevated to city rank on that same date under the same decree of law approved on October 07, 1969.
Siuna, together with Bonanza and Rosita, make up the "Mining Triangle", constituting municipalities whose geopolitical origins have been linked to mining activity and the exploitation of the timber resources of the tropical forest. They also share a history of indigenous cultural origins, aborigines of the Caribbean coast.
Saddlery
The population of Siuna is homogeneous, in addition to its aboriginal ethnic groups and mainly the Mayangna, it is made up of mestizo emigrants from the Pacific, this being one of the anthropological aspects of the greatest patrimonial wealth of this territory, which makes it a multi-ethnic and multicultural people . They are located in the Sikilta indigenous territory.
Siuna, finds its beginnings as a town with the small-scale exploitation of mining started by José Aramburó in 1896, an activity that had already started in 1870, in a sector of the Pis-Pis River, Bonanza. By 1908, gold mining was relaxed on the banks of the Suniwas River, processed in an artisanal way and taken to La Luz Siuna and Los Angeles Mining Company, of which Philander Knox, Secretary of State of the United States, was a shareholder.
These companies withdrew after the attack on April 15, 1928, carried out by forces of the Defense Army of National Sovereignty under the command of General Manuel María Girón Ruano and re-established themselves until after the assassination of General Augusto C. Sandino, returning with the dictatorship of Somoza (1934-1979).
In Siuna, the Sikilta indigenous territory is located, which in the Mayangna language means "We are children of the Sun". Their ancestral languages Tuahka, Panamahka, Yuskuh and especially Ulwa (Misumalpa), prevail in most of the toponyms and are spoken in the Sumo-Mayangna communities of the territory.
Sikilta Community: belonging to the Bosawás biosphere reserve, currently its territory is known as Sauni-bas, it is the second indigenous Mayagna territory existing in our country.
In this community you will know the great historical wealth of its inhabitants who still preserve all their customs. Also in the area there are areas with archaeological evidence such as petroglyphs and fossils, you can also take tours to observe its natural treasure since here there are primary forests, virgin rivers and a diversity of flora and fauna. You can reach the community on the river in a canoe.
In the Mayangna territories ancestral artistic manifestations are kept alive such as:
Karking Ubuna Dances (Anteater Dance)
Muku Ubuna (Dance of the toad) Wakrih Ubuna (Dance of the white-faced monkey)
Siwi Ubuna (Dance of the mountain pig)
Kusma Yalbin (Vulture Dance)
Tiwi Ubuna (Swallow Dance)
Ahal Ubuna (Dance of the Men)
Dance group of the municipality
On special occasions, ancestral festivals, women's clothing is very striking; they wear dresses of many colors and adorned with flowers in their hair; They style necklaces and bracelets of red, yellow and black seeds.
The men dress on specific occasions: tuno suit and complement their attire with arrows, machetes, spears, tiger fangs, hawk claws, snail shells, among other objects typical of their material culture.
The musical instruments are made with natural materials and local resources: the rod (flute) is made of bamboo; the sumah (maraca) made from the fruit of a liana; the pantang (bass drum) of bamboo and leather, the willuk baih is the crab claw.
Traditional trades
Despite the mestizo incursions, the Mayangnan communities have maintained a controlled hunting and fishing system in the jungles and protect the sources of rivers. They also collect seasonal fruits and wild honey. In the areas of sustainable agriculture they raise cattle and smaller species, and cultivate: cassava, quequisque, sweet potatoes, yams, bananas, coconut, pijibay, breadfruit, cocoa, rice, beans and corn.
The Mayangna people still preserve their ancestral knowledge, knowledge and practices, such as magic, carrying out many daily activities: cutting, sowing, fishing and attracting animals to hunt them and cure diseases of their people.
Another site of historical and cultural interest
Cerro Potosí Artisanal Mining Collective: Here you will learn about the gold extraction process, you can practice it yourself sharing the experience with the artisans who will teach you how to do it and will tell you the history of the place.
You can also see the lagoon that was formed by large-scale mining in the municipality at the beginning of its foundation.
It is located 800 meters in the northern part of the Landing Strip in the urban area behind the Parish College.
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