ALPROMISU (Alliance for the Promotion of the Miskitu and Sumo Peoples)—Founded in 1974 by Wycliffe Diego, this was one of the first Miskitu resistance groups and was eventually reorganized as Misurasata.

ARDE (Democratic Revolutionary Alliance)—This contra group was founded by disgruntled FSLN members in 1982.

COSTENOS--Inhanbitant who live on the Atlantic Coast which include the Miskitu, Rama, Sumu and Creoles

ERN (Army of the Nicaraguan Resistance)—Formed in 1987, this group formed a central command for contra organizations.  This organization maintained contacts with the Miskitu organization as represented by Yatama.

FDN (Nicaraguan Democratic Force)—Founded in 1982, this organization soon grew to be the largest contra group that eventually developed a base among the peasantry.

FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front)—Popularly known as the Sandinistas, this Marxist organization was founded in 1961.  They came to power in the 1979 overthrow of Somoza.

KISAN (United Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Nicaragua)—This resistance organization was founded by Wycliffe Diego in 1985.  It was one forerunner to the development of Yatama.

MISURA—Founded in 1983 by Steadman Fagoth when he broke with Misurasata.  This organization allied itself with the FDN.

MISURASATA (Miskitu, Sumo, Rama, Sandinista All Together)—This organization was founded with the aid of the Sandinista government as a successor to Alpromisu in 1979.  It’s leadership eventually fractured, but the remnants led the Miskitu resistance to the FSLN.

RN (Nicaraguan Resistance)—Formed in 1987, this umbrella group consolidated the resistance elements in Nicaragua and oversees the ERN.

SOMOZA, ANASTASIO—US-educated and supported military dictator of Nicaragua overthrown by the Sandinistas.

YATAMA—Formed in 1987, this umbrella indigenous organization was formed from the merger of KISAN, MISURA and MISURASATA.