The Indigenous People Of St. Vincent

The Caribs—also known as Kalinago (their self-name)—are one of the most resilient and misunderstood Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. Here’s a structured overview of their origins, culture, and historical impact:

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1. Origins and Identity

    •    Name: Kalinago is the name they call themselves. “Carib” is the European exonym.

    •    Homeland: They originally occupied much of the Lesser Antilles—from Dominica and Saint Vincent to Grenada and parts of Trinidad.

    •    Hairouna: Saint Vincent was sacred to the Kalinago; they called it Hairouna, “Land of the Blessed.”

    •    Mixed Descent: Many Kalinago in Saint Vincent intermarried with shipwrecked or marooned aboriginal groups, creating the Garifuna “Black” Caribs a distinct group with shared language and customs.

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2. Language

    •    The Kalinago spoke a language related to Arawakan, heavily influenced by contact with other Caribbean nations.

    •    Though they maintained a distinct Cariban identity, linguistically they were more Arawakan—suggesting a cultural, not purely ethnic, designation.

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3. Society and Culture

    •    Cassava Cultivation: Like other Arawakan peoples, the Kalinago based their agriculture around cassava.

    •    Warrior Culture: The Kalinago were renowned for their naval skill, bravery, and use of canoes (some large enough for 50 men).

    •    Tattooing and Body Paint: They painted themselves with red roucou (achiote), which led Europeans to call them “Red Caribs.”

    •    Social Roles: Women often handled agriculture and domestic life; men were warriors, sailors, and community protectors.

    •    Council System: They maintained tribal autonomy but held inter-island councils—especially in times of threat.

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4. Spiritual Beliefs

    •    The Kalinago had a rich cosmology, honoring nature spirits and ancestral powers.

    •    They believed in a balance between spirit and land, and their rituals often involved offerings at sacred trees, rivers, and mountains.

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5. Resistance to Colonization

    •    From Columbus’ time through the 1700s, the Kalinago fiercely resisted colonization.

    •    Saint Vincent was one of the last strongholds of Kalinago resistance. They welcomed escaped slaves and defied both Spanish and British invaders.

    •    The British ultimately exiled many Black Caribs to Roatán (Honduras) in 1797 after the Second Carib War.

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6. Modern Survival

    •    Dominica is home to the last officially recognized Kalinago Territory in the Caribbean.

    •    Kalinago people continue to revive their language, craft traditions (basket weaving, canoe-making), and oral histories.

    •    The Garifuna, their Afro-Indigenous descendants, thrive in Central America (Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua) and have been declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

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7. Key Symbols

    •    Conch Shell: Used to gather councils or alert communities.

    •    Kalina Drums: Used in rituals, storytelling, and healing ceremonies.

    •    Roucou (Bixa orellana): Sacred red plant used for protection, medicine, and identity.