Indigenous Spirituality: The Enduring Presence

Though often overlooked, Indigenous spiritual practices persist, sometimes hidden within other traditions:

"Every fisherman who pours rum into the sea before launching, every farmer who plants by moon phases, every healer who knows which tree to ask permission before taking bark—they're practicing Indigenous spirituality whether they know it or not," observes Kalinago elder Margaret Fontaine.

Water Ceremonies

Rivers and springs remain sacred across traditions: - Catholic pilgrimages to healing springs - Hindu rituals at river mouths - Vodou ceremonies at waterfalls - Indigenous water blessings

"Water remembers," teaches Fontaine. "It carried our ancestors—Indigenous canoes, slave ships, Indian migrants. All our traditions honor water because water holds our stories."

Plant Medicine

Indigenous plant knowledge influences all Caribbean healing traditions: - Over 300 medicinal plants used across traditions - Similar preparation methods despite different spiritual frameworks - Shared respect for plant spirits

"A Catholic might call it God's pharmacy, a Hindu sees divine energy, a quimboiseur recognizes spirit allies, but we all use the same plants," notes ethnobotanist Dr. Lionel Germosén-Robineau.