Caribbean Natives; changes from Independance

Tim Fry HOA Period 3

● Main Groups included the Caquetios, Caribs, Macorix, and the Arawak peoples, such as the Igneri and Taínos; while they inhabited both the Greater and Lesser Antilles, most inhabited land farther south (some even into mainland Brazil).

● Before European contact, there were approximately 750,000 natives in the Caribbean; within 10 years, disease and fighting with Europeans led to an almost 90% decrease in population.

● Many of the original Ethnic groups, while still living on genetically, have culturally died out (with no active groups existing, such as the case with the Taino).

Background- Native Peoples

● While many Spanish colonies were freed by the founding of the Mexican Empire by Agustín de Iturbide, British colonial territories in the Caribbean didn’t gain independence until the late 1900’s.

● Many Native groups who were antagonized and often exiled out of colonial lands, began to restore themselves culturally and regionally after their forced diaspora. The Garifuna, for example, chose to reestablish themselves on the island of St. Vincent.

● Natives began to gain more active roles in society and became more widely recognized, in contrast to how they had been under colonial rule. These groups blended their own culture with the new modern environment, and helped contribute to the development of their new countries.

Changes from Independence

● A 2003 mitochondrial DNA study determined that the 62% of people in Puerto Rico, for example, have direct maternal ancestry to Taíno/Arawakan ancestors; even today, many features and traits remain from various “extinct” native groups in the general population.

● Natives enjoy equal rights and protection under their governments; however, in certain areas, there are still class differences and negative public view on peoples of native descent. This causes occasional conflict and tension, and is still an issue being worked out today.

Modern Times

Modern Garifuna Men

"Aruba - History and Heritage." Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.<http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/aruba-history-and-heritage-18803757/?no-ist=>

"Title: The History of the Caribby-Islands." WDL RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.<http://www.wdl.org/en/item/252/>

"The Tainos." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.<http://books.google.com/books?id=sgjsDvFiNuUC&pg=PA40&dq=%22Island+Carib%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kXB-U5T7OZLQsQSIjIHYCA&ved=0CFwQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Island%20Carib%22&f=false>>

"History of the Caribbean." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Caribbean>

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