It was recognized by around 3,200 Indians and by the government of Costa Rica that since 1867 had declared the kings of Talamanca as political leaders of the area.

He was the maternal nephew of Santiago Mayas, had three sisters and also had three wives named Oleria, Leonor Almengor and Aurelia Cuéllar, since polygamy was common among the Bribris at the time.

In 1882, the Swedish traveler Carl Bovallius described Saldaña as a young and well-developed Indian of 1.80 m. He dressed in a simple way, but he differed from the others by wearing his gold insignia and the chieftain's baton.

[2] He opposed the banana exploitation of the United Fruit Company (UFCO) on their land, as well as the intervention of whites in indigenous education and culture.

[1] Antonio Saldaña died on January 3, 1910, with his nephew José, who was to succeed him, thus putting an end to the Bribri dynasty.