The dam that brought down a king

King Tito Santana of the Naso tribe was deposed four years ago and thrown into exile over his support for the hydroelectric dam project. He and his supporters from the tribe now live in this new settlement in El Silencio, near Changuinola Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

King Tito Santana. Of his uncle and rival Valentin, who has been declared king of the tribe by his supporters, he says: 'He has a smaller ceremonial spear, much smaller than this one. It's tiny.' Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Valentin Santana, assumed by some to be the king of the Naso. He opposes the dam project, which has won him support from many members of the tribe Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Valentin Santana. The Panamanian government, keen to see the dam project go ahead, does not recognise him as king Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

The site of the $50m hydroelectric dam project that has divided the Naso tribe Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

The now disused former palace of the exiled King Tito Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

The now disused former palace of the exiled King Tito Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Naso families at the Bonyic river, used by the tribe for transport, irrigating crops and fishing, as well as bathing and playing Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

A Naso family rows across the Bonyic river Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Naso children play in the river Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Naso is one of the last tribal kingdoms in the Americas Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Some of the Naso tribespeople who have remained in their settlement of Seiyik after King Tito left Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Some of the Naso tribespeople who followed King Tito to his new home in El Silencio, near Changuinola Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

A craftsman works on wood carvings in El Silencio Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Naso tribespeople in El Silencio. They support King Tito, agreeing that the hydroelectric dam would bring benefits such a school, clinic, water pumps and land purchases Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Naso tribes people in El Silencio. King Tito believes that embracing technology is the way to defend the Naso's heritage Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

A Naso child in El Silencio Photograph: David Levene/Guardian