Caquetío

The Caquetío were an indigenous Arawakan-speaking people who inhabited the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao in the southern Caribbean Sea. Their name is believed to derive from the word "Caquetio," meaning "man of the sea." Historically, they were known for their skilled seafaring abilities, navigating the waters of the Caribbean in canoes.

Archaeological evidence suggests the Caquetío people arrived in the ABC islands around 1000 AD, likely migrating from the South American mainland. They were primarily hunter-gatherers and fishers, supplementing their diet with cultivated crops like maize and cassava. Their society was organized into clans, and they had a rich spiritual and ceremonial life, evident in the cave paintings and petroglyphs found on the islands.

The arrival of Europeans in the 16th century had a devastating impact on the Caquetío. Disease, forced labor, and conflict led to a drastic decline in their population. Many were enslaved and transported to other islands or the mainland. Despite this, some descendants of the Caquetío people are believed to have integrated into the populations of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, contributing to their unique cultural heritage. Their legacy is preserved in the archaeological sites and the oral traditions of the region.