The First Peoples

Long before Columbus mistakenly named these islands the "Indies," before African drums echoed across plantations, before Indian indentured workers brought curry and sitar music, the Caribbean was home to sophisticated Indigenous civilizations. The Arawak (Taíno), Kalinago (Carib), and other peoples had lived on these islands for over 7,000 years, developing complex societies, agricultural systems, and spiritual practices perfectly adapted to the island environment.

"We are often spoken of in the past tense," says Irvince Auguiste, Chief of the Kalinago Territory in Dominica. "But we are not history—we are contemporary people with ancient roots. Our challenge is maintaining our traditions while participating in the modern world."