NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY
I was pondering what to write about for my October blog and decided to update my prior piece on National Indigenous People’s Day posted in 2022. Proclaimed in the United States as a national holiday in 1992, Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, honors the cultures and histories of the Native American people. That seemed simple enough.
However, I soon discovered these days there is no such things as a simple update. First, I discovered that in many locations, this day is celebrated in May. Oops! However, the official day is still in October. Then, when reviewing the content and photographs, it dawned on me that they didn’t include anything about Hawaiians.
My bad! They are Americans, too. So, of course, I started researching and, holy moly, things got complicated in a heartbeat. I immediately ran onto a post by hawaiiankingdom.org (February 26, 2016) stating that “Natives of the Hawaiian Islands are not Indigenous People. They’re Aboriginal.”
Oh, boy! As usual, these discussions nearly always have their roots in the way human beings express ideas in language, both spoken and written.
THE DREADED SEMANTICS
First, no one seems to agree completely on anything, including definitions. I was immediately entangled in the nuances between the words “aboriginal,” “native”, “indigenous”, “local”, and even "endemic." Some sources see them as synonyms and some define them as separate things. Who do you believe?
https://search.yahoo.com/ AI Definition
● Indigenous: refers to the original inhabitants of a region, encompassing various groups
worldwide.
● Aboriginal: specifically pertains to the first peoples of Australia and their descendants.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
● Indigenous: of, relating to, or descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a place
and especially of a place that was colonized.
● Aboriginal: 1) being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region; 2) of or
relating o the people who have been in a region from the earliest time.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
● Indigenous: used to refer to the people who originally lived in a place rather than people
who moved there from somewhere else, or to things that relate to these people.
● Aboriginal: a member of a race of people who were the first people to live in a country,
before any colonists arrived.
Are you confused yet? Here’s my take on things, although no one asked.
HUMAN BEINGS CATEGORIZE EVERYTHING
Life would be simpler if humans were not compelled by their brain structure to classify everything in subsets, which includes other humans. However, there is plenty of research which provides evidence that human brains are hardwired to group things.
Classification comes naturally to us because the human brain has a propensity to recognize patterns and similarities. “When you look at a set of items, your brain instinctively notices their similarities. These patterns allow you to mentally categorize them and make quicker, more informed decisions,” undoubtedly necessary for early—and modern--survival.
https://lis.academy (2024)
That is likely because humans can only hold a few pieces of information in short-term (active) memory. Some years ago, Harvard Professor and author George Miller claimed that humans have a hard time retaining more than seven to nine digits in short-term memory. More contemporary science has lowered that number to three or four pieces of information the working memory can pay attention to and manipulate at one time.
The human brain has evolved to recognize patterns, perhaps more than any other single function. Our brain looks for shortcuts to process logic, remember facts, and make judgments, but pattern recognition is its deep core capability and the fundamental basis for intelligence, language, creative thought and innovation. The combination of the pattern and the simplicity makes it easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to pass on to others. https://www.melissahughes.rocks
ALL HUMAN BEINGS CAME FROM SOMEWHERE
All of us, and our ancestors and progenitors, were born somewhere, some sooner, some later. It seems to boil down to a competition about who got there first.
If one accepts the word indigenous, in the common jargon of taxonomy, to mean “originating or occurring naturally in a particular place,” whereas aboriginal means “inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times,” also referring to human migration as “first to arrive in a region,” then who is aboriginal vs. indigenous boils down to the time in history.
The North America Timeline
All dates are estimated by professionals and they vary, but one can approach it based on thousands of years vs. hundreds of years.
● Around 20,000 to 14,000 BCE: People migrated from Siberia (Asia) to Alaska (North America) over the Bering Land Bridge. ▼ Image Source: Animalia-life.club
I was pondering what to write about for my October blog and decided to update my prior piece on National Indigenous People’s Day posted in 2022. Proclaimed in the United States as a national holiday in 1992, Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, honors the cultures and histories of the Native American people. That seemed simple enough.
However, I soon discovered these days there is no such things as a simple update. First, I discovered that in many locations, this day is celebrated in May. Oops! However, the official day is still in October. Then, when reviewing the content and photographs, it dawned on me that they didn’t include anything about Hawaiians.
My bad! They are Americans, too. So, of course, I started researching and, holy moly, things got complicated in a heartbeat. I immediately ran onto a post by hawaiiankingdom.org (February 26, 2016) stating that “Natives of the Hawaiian Islands are not Indigenous People. They’re Aboriginal.”
Oh, boy! As usual, these discussions nearly always have their roots in the way human beings express ideas in language, both spoken and written.
THE DREADED SEMANTICS
First, no one seems to agree completely on anything, including definitions. I was immediately entangled in the nuances between the words “aboriginal,” “native”, “indigenous”, “local”, and even "endemic." Some sources see them as synonyms and some define them as separate things. Who do you believe?
https://search.yahoo.com/ AI Definition
● Indigenous: refers to the original inhabitants of a region, encompassing various groups
worldwide.
● Aboriginal: specifically pertains to the first peoples of Australia and their descendants.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
● Indigenous: of, relating to, or descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a place
and especially of a place that was colonized.
● Aboriginal: 1) being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region; 2) of or
relating o the people who have been in a region from the earliest time.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
● Indigenous: used to refer to the people who originally lived in a place rather than people
who moved there from somewhere else, or to things that relate to these people.
● Aboriginal: a member of a race of people who were the first people to live in a country,
before any colonists arrived.
Are you confused yet? Here’s my take on things, although no one asked.
HUMAN BEINGS CATEGORIZE EVERYTHING
Life would be simpler if humans were not compelled by their brain structure to classify everything in subsets, which includes other humans. However, there is plenty of research which provides evidence that human brains are hardwired to group things.
Classification comes naturally to us because the human brain has a propensity to recognize patterns and similarities. “When you look at a set of items, your brain instinctively notices their similarities. These patterns allow you to mentally categorize them and make quicker, more informed decisions,” undoubtedly necessary for early—and modern--survival.
https://lis.academy (2024)
That is likely because humans can only hold a few pieces of information in short-term (active) memory. Some years ago, Harvard Professor and author George Miller claimed that humans have a hard time retaining more than seven to nine digits in short-term memory. More contemporary science has lowered that number to three or four pieces of information the working memory can pay attention to and manipulate at one time.
The human brain has evolved to recognize patterns, perhaps more than any other single function. Our brain looks for shortcuts to process logic, remember facts, and make judgments, but pattern recognition is its deep core capability and the fundamental basis for intelligence, language, creative thought and innovation. The combination of the pattern and the simplicity makes it easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to pass on to others. https://www.melissahughes.rocks
ALL HUMAN BEINGS CAME FROM SOMEWHERE
All of us, and our ancestors and progenitors, were born somewhere, some sooner, some later. It seems to boil down to a competition about who got there first.
If one accepts the word indigenous, in the common jargon of taxonomy, to mean “originating or occurring naturally in a particular place,” whereas aboriginal means “inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times,” also referring to human migration as “first to arrive in a region,” then who is aboriginal vs. indigenous boils down to the time in history.
The North America Timeline
All dates are estimated by professionals and they vary, but one can approach it based on thousands of years vs. hundreds of years.
● Around 20,000 to 14,000 BCE: People migrated from Siberia (Asia) to Alaska (North America) over the Bering Land Bridge. ▼ Image Source: Animalia-life.club
New evidence found in Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico, including tools made from a type of limestone not originating from the cave itself, suggests that humans first arrived in North America possibly as far back as 28,000 BCE, but occupation did not become widespread until the very end of the last ice age, around 12,700 to 10,900 BCE.
Either way, migrations from Asia started thousands of years ago and spread slowly south- and eastward over the North American continent. These early migrations took thousands of years, but by around 10,000 years ago diverse cultures began to emerge, adapting to various environments. As agriculture developed around 3,000 years ago populations increased and spread even further.
In fact, by the time European adventurers arrived in the 15th century, scholars estimate that more than 50 million people inhabited in the Americas. Of these, some 10 million lived in the area that would become the United States.
● Around 1000 AD: Leif Erikson is believed to have landed in North America, and
established a settlement called Vinland, likely located in present-day Newfoundland,
Canada.
● October 12, 1492: Christopher Columbus landed on an island, known now as San
Salvador, in the Bahamas.
And The Winner Is… ?
Wait a minute!
What about all the other “Indigenous-Aboriginal-Native-Original” Peoples who are American citizens? Doesn’t our National Day honor them as well?
State of Hawaii
Whether or not the inhabitants of the original inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands were are considered indigenous, aboriginal, or native, they inhabited the location long before Captain James Cook landed in Waimea, in January 1778. He is credited for being the first European to discover the islands, and named them the Sandwich Islands after the fourth Earl of Sandwich.
The State consists of 137 islands, of which eight are considered major. The Hawaiian Island archipelago extends some 1,500 miles from the southernmost island of Hawaii to the northernmost Kure Atoll.
Either way, migrations from Asia started thousands of years ago and spread slowly south- and eastward over the North American continent. These early migrations took thousands of years, but by around 10,000 years ago diverse cultures began to emerge, adapting to various environments. As agriculture developed around 3,000 years ago populations increased and spread even further.
In fact, by the time European adventurers arrived in the 15th century, scholars estimate that more than 50 million people inhabited in the Americas. Of these, some 10 million lived in the area that would become the United States.
● Around 1000 AD: Leif Erikson is believed to have landed in North America, and
established a settlement called Vinland, likely located in present-day Newfoundland,
Canada.
● October 12, 1492: Christopher Columbus landed on an island, known now as San
Salvador, in the Bahamas.
And The Winner Is… ?
Wait a minute!
What about all the other “Indigenous-Aboriginal-Native-Original” Peoples who are American citizens? Doesn’t our National Day honor them as well?
State of Hawaii
Whether or not the inhabitants of the original inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands were are considered indigenous, aboriginal, or native, they inhabited the location long before Captain James Cook landed in Waimea, in January 1778. He is credited for being the first European to discover the islands, and named them the Sandwich Islands after the fourth Earl of Sandwich.
The State consists of 137 islands, of which eight are considered major. The Hawaiian Island archipelago extends some 1,500 miles from the southernmost island of Hawaii to the northernmost Kure Atoll.
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▲ Image Source: ufwkk5.quioneroudle.com/ Image Source: https://getwallpapers.com/
Humans are estimated to have first inhabited the archipelago between 124 and 1120 AD. The original settlers of are believed to be Marquesans and other Polynesians who sailed 3,000 miles in canoes to the Hawaiian Island chain in the middle of the great ocean, with nothing but the stars, the trade winds, and their navigational skills to guide them. They initially inhabited Kaua’i.
◄ Man In Ti Leaf Cape And Malo, Holding A Paddle And Standing by Canoe.
Image Credit: Pacific Magazine 1923; Ad For The Honolulu Aquarium “An Hawaiian Fisherman Of The Olden Days.” Image Source: royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history
The Polynesian’s worshipped a plethora of gods and goddesses and honored their ancestors through various rituals and ceremonies. Their close connection to the land and sea is still evident in Hawaiian culture today.
The original name of the Hawaiian Islands is believed to be “Hawaiʻi”. This name is said to have been derived from the Polynesian navigator Hawaiʻiloa, who is credited with discovering the islands. According to legend, he named the largest island after himself. www.hawaiistar.com/name-hawaiian-islands/
The Tahitians, who came after the Marquesans, were more powerful and eventually forced many of the Marquesans to flee to neighboring islands.
The first settlers from Polynesia only brought with them the most important plants and foods, many of which are still abundant today in Hawaiian culture and diet. The Royal Coconut Coast was the most desirable place to live, even in the early days. Fresh water was always available and the land was perfect for growing taro, yams, and bananas. The coconut trees grew in plenty and served as a source of food and for utensils and fiber
Image Credit: Pacific Magazine 1923; Ad For The Honolulu Aquarium “An Hawaiian Fisherman Of The Olden Days.” Image Source: royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history
The Polynesian’s worshipped a plethora of gods and goddesses and honored their ancestors through various rituals and ceremonies. Their close connection to the land and sea is still evident in Hawaiian culture today.
The original name of the Hawaiian Islands is believed to be “Hawaiʻi”. This name is said to have been derived from the Polynesian navigator Hawaiʻiloa, who is credited with discovering the islands. According to legend, he named the largest island after himself. www.hawaiistar.com/name-hawaiian-islands/
The Tahitians, who came after the Marquesans, were more powerful and eventually forced many of the Marquesans to flee to neighboring islands.
The first settlers from Polynesia only brought with them the most important plants and foods, many of which are still abundant today in Hawaiian culture and diet. The Royal Coconut Coast was the most desirable place to live, even in the early days. Fresh water was always available and the land was perfect for growing taro, yams, and bananas. The coconut trees grew in plenty and served as a source of food and for utensils and fiber
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▲ Hawaiian Hula dancers -- Image Source: stocksy.com ▲ King Kamehame -- Image Source: covingtontravel.com
Unincorporated Territory of Guam
Guam, the southernmost island of the Mariana Archipelago, is the largest of the Mariana Islands and the largest island (210 sq. miles) in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, and individuals born on Guam are considered citizens of the United States. ballotpedia.org/Citizenship_status
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The first inhabitants were the Chamorros, who migrated around 3,500 years ago from Southeast Asia, and are related to the Austronesian peoples of the Malay Archipelago, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Polynesia. The language is not classified as a Micronesian or Polynesian language, and possibly constitutes an independent branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. The settlers lived in small villages and practiced agriculture, fishing, and hunting.
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit and claim the island in March 1521. Guam was fully colonized by Spain in 1668, leading to significant cultural and religious influences that shaped the island's identity. Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Guam to the U.S. effective April 11, 1899.
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit and claim the island in March 1521. Guam was fully colonized by Spain in 1668, leading to significant cultural and religious influences that shaped the island's identity. Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Guam to the U.S. effective April 11, 1899.
 |  |  ▲ Image Source: blog.polynesianpride.co/guam |
▲ Chamorro Dancers -- Image Credit: Marilyn Sourgose posted to Flickr as PICT0102
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
Recent decades have witnessed a cultural revival of Chamorro language and traditions. The island celebrates Guam Liberation Day, the Chamorro Cultural Festival, and the Guam Micronesia Island Fair showcasing local arts, crafts, traditional dances, such as the "Sasa" and "Chamorrita”, and cuisine, like red rice and kelaguen (grilled or cooked meat, often chicken or beef and mixed with fresh ingredients like lemon juice, onions, and chili peppers.) Today, Chamorro culture remains a vital part of Guam and the Mariana Islands' identity.
Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The southernmost island of the archipelago is Guam, a separate territory. Individuals born in the Northern Marianas are considered citizens of the United States.
Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The southernmost island of the archipelago is Guam, a separate territory. Individuals born in the Northern Marianas are considered citizens of the United States.
 |  ▲ Image source: www.artofit.org/ ◄ Image source: www.bing.com/images/s |
The early history of the islands is essentially the same as that of Guam, with the original inhabitants being the Chamorros.
A characteristic of the Chamorros was the use of a plain, unslipped pottery style. They also developed an ingenious architectural style characterized by parallel rows of upright limestone pillars several feet tall, each topped with hemispheric capstones, called halege, as supports for structures. These structures, called latte, may have served as houses and canoe sheds. Lattes were often found in pairs, supporting a wooden platform above.
A characteristic of the Chamorros was the use of a plain, unslipped pottery style. They also developed an ingenious architectural style characterized by parallel rows of upright limestone pillars several feet tall, each topped with hemispheric capstones, called halege, as supports for structures. These structures, called latte, may have served as houses and canoe sheds. Lattes were often found in pairs, supporting a wooden platform above.
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▲ Source of Images: www.amusingplanet.com ▲
The effects of the early explorers and those who followed them to the islands were mixed. Stone and shell tools were replaced with ironware and European cloth was introduced, but the traders also brought infectious diseases, including influenza, smallpox, leprosy, venereal diseases, and tuberculosis, which severely depleted the indigenous population.
Over the centuries, the Northern Marianas was controlled by Spain, Germany, and Japan. After WWII, the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship. britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands
Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States, and individuals born in Puerto Rico are considered citizens of the United States.
Over the centuries, the Northern Marianas was controlled by Spain, Germany, and Japan. After WWII, the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship. britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands
Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States, and individuals born in Puerto Rico are considered citizens of the United States.
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▲ Image Source: images.search.yahoo.com ▲ Image Source: www.wallpaperaccess.com
The first known occupants of Puerto Rico were the Taínos, an offshoot of the Arawak Native Americans, who arrived on the island (from South America) around 800 AD, close to a thousand years before the arrival of the Spanish. This people is sometimes referred by others to as Island Arawaks or Antillean Arawaks. The Taíno referred to Puerto Rico as "Borikén," meaning "Land of the Brave."They had a complex social structure, with a hierarchy of chiefs, sub-chiefs, commoners, and (according to some sources) slaves. A substantial number of Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans have Indigenous mitochondrial DNA, which may suggest Taíno descent through the direct female line, especially in Puerto Rico. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno
The Taínos were also skilled artisans, creating beautiful pottery, jewelry, and woven textiles. Their culture believed in many gods and spirits, and practiced a form of ancestor worship. Like many other indigenous cultures, they believed in the power of nature and the importance of balance and harmony in the world.
Each Taino village had a chieftain, known as a “Cacique, who was both the political and spiritual leader of the community. The culture engaged in a complex system of divination, using methods such as reading the lines on a turtle’s back or interpreting dreams, and were skilled in storytelling. Their myths and legends have been preserved through oral tradition.
The Taínos were also skilled artisans, creating beautiful pottery, jewelry, and woven textiles. Their culture believed in many gods and spirits, and practiced a form of ancestor worship. Like many other indigenous cultures, they believed in the power of nature and the importance of balance and harmony in the world.
Each Taino village had a chieftain, known as a “Cacique, who was both the political and spiritual leader of the community. The culture engaged in a complex system of divination, using methods such as reading the lines on a turtle’s back or interpreting dreams, and were skilled in storytelling. Their myths and legends have been preserved through oral tradition.
Experts do not agree on whether or not the Taínos were skilled in agriculture. They did domesticate local crops such as pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn and beans, but “…developed farming methods that required very little time and effort to maintain, allowing ample free time. In this free time, they developed complex religious ceremonies and games of skill, like Batéy.
Batéy is a ball game played on a small court. Two teams attempt to drive the ball past the other team's backline without using their hands. www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm
Seafood and hunted animals, such as iguanas and hutias, supplemented their diet. They also cultivated tobacco,
which they used in religious ceremonies. Statue of Agüeybaná II, "El Bravo" ▲
Image Credit: Tito Caraballo- www.flickr.com/photos/74513229
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
Batéy is a ball game played on a small court. Two teams attempt to drive the ball past the other team's backline without using their hands. www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm
Seafood and hunted animals, such as iguanas and hutias, supplemented their diet. They also cultivated tobacco,
which they used in religious ceremonies. Statue of Agüeybaná II, "El Bravo" ▲
Image Credit: Tito Caraballo- www.flickr.com/photos/74513229
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
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▲Image Source: hablemosdeculturas.com/tainos/ ▲ Image Source: www.travelweekly.com/Puerto-Rico Image source: mavnik.com ▲
As in other parts of the world, the arrival of the Europeans, in this case the Spaniards in the late 15th century, brought disease and conflict to the island. The Taínos initially welcomed the Spaniards, believing them to be gods. However, as the Spaniards began to enslave and kill the Taínos, their relationship deteriorated. The Taínos rebelled against the Spanish, but were ultimately unable to resist Spanish domination.
The Taínos had no immunity to the diseases brought by the Spanish, and many died from illnesses such as smallpox and measles. The Spaniards also enslaved and killed many Taínos, leading to the decline and eventual extinction of the Taíno population.
Taino Heritage Month (October) is celebrated in Puerto Rico to honor indigenous culture. Celebrations include educational events, workshops, and cultural performances. Activities often involve traditional music, dance, and art.
Unincorporated Territory of The Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States, and Individuals born in there are considered citizens of the United States.
The Taínos had no immunity to the diseases brought by the Spanish, and many died from illnesses such as smallpox and measles. The Spaniards also enslaved and killed many Taínos, leading to the decline and eventual extinction of the Taíno population.
Taino Heritage Month (October) is celebrated in Puerto Rico to honor indigenous culture. Celebrations include educational events, workshops, and cultural performances. Activities often involve traditional music, dance, and art.
Unincorporated Territory of The Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States, and Individuals born in there are considered citizens of the United States.
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▲ Image Credit and Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/ ▲ Image Source: www.earthtrekkers.com/
They are a group of islands and cays located in the Lesser Antilles of the Eastern Caribbean, consisting of three main islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas) and fifty smaller islets and cays. Like many of their Caribbean neighbors, the history of the islands is characterized by native Amerindian settlement, European colonization, and the Atlantic slave trade.
The original human occupants of the Virgin Islands arrived from South America “about 2500 to 3000 years ago. “The oldest archeological site found on St. John is near the beach at Lameshur Bay. Today, we know very little about these earliest human inhabitants of the Virgin Islands. These early explorers of the islands were nomadic hunter-gatherers. They likely traveled to the Virgin Islands from South America and made short trips from island to island as they made their way north. They left behind no evidence of agriculture or villages, and likely lived in caves or out in the open.” www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm
The second major influx of humans, the Taino, arrived 1,000 to 1,300 years ago. As stated before, although they spoke an Arawakan language, the culture varied significantly.
The original human occupants of the Virgin Islands arrived from South America “about 2500 to 3000 years ago. “The oldest archeological site found on St. John is near the beach at Lameshur Bay. Today, we know very little about these earliest human inhabitants of the Virgin Islands. These early explorers of the islands were nomadic hunter-gatherers. They likely traveled to the Virgin Islands from South America and made short trips from island to island as they made their way north. They left behind no evidence of agriculture or villages, and likely lived in caves or out in the open.” www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm
The second major influx of humans, the Taino, arrived 1,000 to 1,300 years ago. As stated before, although they spoke an Arawakan language, the culture varied significantly.
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▲ Taino petroglyphs Virgin Islands ▲ Taino Artifact (about 900 AD) ▲Taino petroglyphs Virgin Islands
Image Source: www.pinterest.com Image Credit: NPS photo. Image Source: www.pinterest.com
Despite their complex social organization, the Antillean Arawak were not given to warfare. They were driven out of the Lesser Antilles by the more war-like Caribs (Kalingo and Ciboney peoples) shortly before the appearance of the Spanish.
Europeans first encountered these islands during Columbus' second voyage. Over the next century, settlers from across western Europe laid claim to the land and the majority of Indigenous peoples either perished or were displaced. The islands initially profited from the triangular trade, and many enslaved peoples were brought to the islands, beginning in 1673.
TAKE AWAY
Unless you are an anthropologist, scientist, linguist, or other related profession, or unless you are an activist, there is no particular meaning to the words native, original inhabitants, indigenous, aboriginal, etc. in relation to honoring the human beings who first occupied a particular area of land, their culture, their suffering, and their contributions. Indigenous is as good a word as any.
● The First Bottom Line: Whoever Got There First.
The only two categories seem to be human inhabitants-pre-European-discovery and human inhabitants-post-European discovery. Most of the indigenous peoples, wherever they were located in the world, in the pre-European-discovery period were:
1) treated badly (even enslaved);
2) stripped of their possessions, culture, and religious beliefs; and
3) exposed to diseases for which they had no immunity.
Thus, the arrival of the white Europeans nearly or completely decimating the original culture.
● The Second Bottom Line: I Don’t Feel Guilty.
While the historical facts are deplorable, they happened. I do not feel personally guilty that they happened, since I wasn’t around to be part of it on either side, but I do feel regret that humanity was and is not very kind by nature. I believe that, as a species, we can do better, and I also believe that all of us alive today have a responsibility to assure these kinds of things do not happen again.
Good luck with that one.!
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.melissahughes.rocks/post/the-rule-of-three
https://www.history.com/articles/native-american-cultures
https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/natives-of-the-hawaiian-islands-are-not-indigenous-theyre-aboriginal/
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
https://nativepartnership.org/the-ambivalent-history-of-indigenous-people-and-u-s-citizenship/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Native_Hawaiians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Hawaii
https://www.hawaiistar.com/what-was-the-original-name-for-the-hawaiian-islands/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands/History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno
https://caribbeantrading.com/hispanic-heritage-month-how-puerto-rico-celebrates-its-cultural-roots-in-september/
https://aftvoices.org/embracing-my-ta%C3%ADno-heritage-146a53b552b8
https://ballotpedia.org/Citizenship_status_in_territories_of_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands
https://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/historyculture/indigenous-peoples.htm
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arawak
https://www.puertoricotravel.guide/blog/taino-symbols-and-meanings/
https://travelasker.com/which-indigenous-people-lived-on-the-island-of-puerto-rico/#:~:text=The%20Ta%C3%ADnos%20were%20the%20first%20known%20inhabitants%20of,with%20a%20hierarchy%20of%20chiefs%2C%20sub-chiefs%2C%20and%20commoners.
Photos
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
https://blog.polynesianpride.co/guam-cultural-dance/
https://www.mapsland.com/oceania/mariana-islands/detailed-political-map-of-northern-mariana-islands
https://hablemosdeculturas.com/cultura-tainos/
https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Puerto-Rico-tour-highlights-the-Taino-people
https://www.worldatlas.com/
https://getwallpapers.com/
http://oneflightaway.com/
https://www.artofit.org/
https://wallpaperaccess.com/
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0, TitoCaraballo
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://www.haasjuwelier.nl/tsfml-world-map-with-guam-ymwks/
Image address) https://i2.wp.com/i.insider.com/5d60599e6f24eb297f0ee5e2?width=1100&format=jpeg&auto=webp
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://ufwkk5.quioneroudle.com/click.php?key=0xwzal3dg7hufvc8xa3u&COST_CPC=&PUBLISHER_ID=327252&ZONE_
https://royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history/?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=21184238597&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy-KXpI3wjwMV3K5aBR2SdBmAEAAYAiAAEgJ5tfD_BwE
Image Source: www.pinterest.com Image Credit: NPS photo. Image Source: www.pinterest.com
Despite their complex social organization, the Antillean Arawak were not given to warfare. They were driven out of the Lesser Antilles by the more war-like Caribs (Kalingo and Ciboney peoples) shortly before the appearance of the Spanish.
Europeans first encountered these islands during Columbus' second voyage. Over the next century, settlers from across western Europe laid claim to the land and the majority of Indigenous peoples either perished or were displaced. The islands initially profited from the triangular trade, and many enslaved peoples were brought to the islands, beginning in 1673.
TAKE AWAY
Unless you are an anthropologist, scientist, linguist, or other related profession, or unless you are an activist, there is no particular meaning to the words native, original inhabitants, indigenous, aboriginal, etc. in relation to honoring the human beings who first occupied a particular area of land, their culture, their suffering, and their contributions. Indigenous is as good a word as any.
● The First Bottom Line: Whoever Got There First.
The only two categories seem to be human inhabitants-pre-European-discovery and human inhabitants-post-European discovery. Most of the indigenous peoples, wherever they were located in the world, in the pre-European-discovery period were:
1) treated badly (even enslaved);
2) stripped of their possessions, culture, and religious beliefs; and
3) exposed to diseases for which they had no immunity.
Thus, the arrival of the white Europeans nearly or completely decimating the original culture.
● The Second Bottom Line: I Don’t Feel Guilty.
While the historical facts are deplorable, they happened. I do not feel personally guilty that they happened, since I wasn’t around to be part of it on either side, but I do feel regret that humanity was and is not very kind by nature. I believe that, as a species, we can do better, and I also believe that all of us alive today have a responsibility to assure these kinds of things do not happen again.
Good luck with that one.!
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.melissahughes.rocks/post/the-rule-of-three
https://www.history.com/articles/native-american-cultures
https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/natives-of-the-hawaiian-islands-are-not-indigenous-theyre-aboriginal/
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
https://nativepartnership.org/the-ambivalent-history-of-indigenous-people-and-u-s-citizenship/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Native_Hawaiians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Hawaii
https://www.hawaiistar.com/what-was-the-original-name-for-the-hawaiian-islands/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands/History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno
https://caribbeantrading.com/hispanic-heritage-month-how-puerto-rico-celebrates-its-cultural-roots-in-september/
https://aftvoices.org/embracing-my-ta%C3%ADno-heritage-146a53b552b8
https://ballotpedia.org/Citizenship_status_in_territories_of_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands
https://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/historyculture/indigenous-peoples.htm
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arawak
https://www.puertoricotravel.guide/blog/taino-symbols-and-meanings/
https://travelasker.com/which-indigenous-people-lived-on-the-island-of-puerto-rico/#:~:text=The%20Ta%C3%ADnos%20were%20the%20first%20known%20inhabitants%20of,with%20a%20hierarchy%20of%20chiefs%2C%20sub-chiefs%2C%20and%20commoners.
Photos
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
https://blog.polynesianpride.co/guam-cultural-dance/
https://www.mapsland.com/oceania/mariana-islands/detailed-political-map-of-northern-mariana-islands
https://hablemosdeculturas.com/cultura-tainos/
https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Puerto-Rico-tour-highlights-the-Taino-people
https://www.worldatlas.com/
https://getwallpapers.com/
http://oneflightaway.com/
https://www.artofit.org/
https://wallpaperaccess.com/
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0, TitoCaraballo
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://www.haasjuwelier.nl/tsfml-world-map-with-guam-ymwks/
Image address) https://i2.wp.com/i.insider.com/5d60599e6f24eb297f0ee5e2?width=1100&format=jpeg&auto=webp
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://ufwkk5.quioneroudle.com/click.php?key=0xwzal3dg7hufvc8xa3u&COST_CPC=&PUBLISHER_ID=327252&ZONE_
https://royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history/?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=21184238597&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy-KXpI3wjwMV3K5aBR2SdBmAEAAYAiAAEgJ5tfD_BwE
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