The Boruca who are also known as the Brunca or the Brunka are a tribe of indigenous people living in Costa Rica. The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those peoples. They are often also referred to as Native Americans.
The tribe has about 2,000 members, most of whom live on a reservation in the Puntarenas Province in southwestern Costa Rica. They live on the Reserva Boruca or the neighboring indigenous reserve of Rey Curré.
The Reserva Boruca-Terraba was among the first indigenous reserves established in Costa Rica in 1956. The lands currently on the reservations were named baldíos (common lands) by the General Law of Common Lands, passed by the national government in 1939, making them the inalienable and exclusive property of the indigenous people. The subsequent law of the Institute of Lands and Colonization passed in 1961, transferred the baldíos to state ownership. The Indigenous Law of Costa Rica, passed in 1977, laid out the fundamental rights of the indigenous peoples. This law defined "indigenous", established that the reserves would be self-governing, and set limitations on land use within the reserves.
The ancestors of the modern Boruca made up a group of chiefdoms that ruled most of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, from Quepos to what is now the Panamanian border, including the Osa Peninsula. The Boruca are a tribe of the Talamanca Indians of southern Costa Rica and Panama. The tribe is a composite group, made up of the group that identified as Boruca before the Spanish colonization, as well as many neighbors and former enemies, including the Coto, Turrucaca, Borucac, Quepos, and the Abubaes.
The Boruca have an indigenous language, also known also as Boruca or Brunka. It is a member of the family of Chibchan languages. Nevertheless, this indigenous language too is a product of the colonial period, and is actually a mixture of the speech of the several peoples that make up the modern-day Boruca. The Boruca language is nearly extinct, having only six elderly terminal speakers surviving, who speak the language fluently. Younger members of the community generally understand the language, but do not speak it. There exist 30 to 35 non-fluent speakers. It is also notable that the language is taught to the children who attend the local school. The main language in Boruca is Spanish. It is the native language and the only one spoken by the vast majority of the population.
Like their ancestors the Boruca are known for their art and craftwork, especially weaving
and their distinctive painted balsa wood masks, which have become popular decorative items among Costa Ricans and tourists. These masks are important elements in the Borucas' annual Danza de los Diablitos ceremony, celebrated every winter since at least early colonial times.
The population of the Reserva Indígena Boruca subsists mainly on small-scale agriculture and the profits reaped from the sale of indigenous crafts. They are best known for masks made for the "Fiesta de los Diablitos" (or "Danza de los Diablitos"). The masks, depicting stylized devil faces, are worn by the men of Boruca during the fiesta. The masks are usually made of balsa wood or sometimes cedar, and may be painted or left natural. Women weave utilizing pre-Colombian back-strap looms. Woven items and other crafts, such as decorated gourds, are also sold.
Regarding politics: According to Doris Stone, as of 1949, "most traces of political organization [had] disappeared" (Stone 1949: 23). The main authority in the town at that time was the police officer, who was appointed by the government of Costa Rica. His power, however, was dependent to some degree on a council of elders, consisting of the four to six oldest men in the town. This council had the authority to approve or disapprove the appointment of the officer. The council was at one point "all-powerful" (Stone 1949: 24), and was currently at the top of a minimized cargo system. The council chose men to fill the two mayordomo positions, and two women to cook for the church. The mayordomos had certain responsibilities during fiestas and visits from the priest, and were appointed yearly.
There are also many interesting links found for more information on the history of the Boruca:
Wikipedia - http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Boruca
World culture encylopedia : http://www.everyculture.com/Middle-America-Caribbean/Boruca-Bribri-and-Cab-car.html
http://www.interconnection.org/ietsay/reycurre_en.html - we believe the hydroelectric project has been relocated.
And one book has been written a long time ago, referenced above:
Stone, Doris (1968). The Boruca of Costa Rica, Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University ; v.26 no.2, Kraus Reprint, ISBN: F1545.2.B6S7
…More history as related to me personally is to be added later….