The Taino

By Robert Nickel

The incredible Dominican Republic, is that unique country that shares the island of La Hispaniola with Haiti. One can determine that there was some Spanish influence in the country, as Spanish is the national language, but who were the first known people to live there?

Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the area that is now the capital city, Santo Domingo, was occupied by a people know as the, Taino. “Who are the Taino”, you ask, “and where did they come from?” Well, lets have a look.

There was a lot of interplay between the island nations and the American mainland. The Tainos are thought to be related to the Arawak people of South American. They are seafaring, pre-Columbian, inhabitants of the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. The language of the Taino people is related to the Arawak family of languages, which exists throughout South America and the Caribbean.

What is now modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic, had five Taino chiefdoms and territories, before the arrival of Columbus. Each territory had what is known as a Cacique (chief) and a payment, or tribute, is made to him by the tribe. The chiefs of these fiefs lived, not surprisingly, a better and more dignified life that the others in their tribe. The housing, clothing and jewelry were all superior and underlined their status. Interestingly, a Cacique could be either male or female. Also, theirs was a matrilineal society, meaning that inheritance was passed down to the eldest child (son or daughter) of a deceased woman, if she had no brother. In another unusual twist, newly married couples would move into the house belonging to the maternal uncle.

When the Spanish conquest of the Dominican Republic began, the Taino lived in groups of up to 3000 people. Historically, the Taino had enemies before the arrival of Spain; a nearby tribe called the Carib. The Carib also had ties to South America and were usually found in the Lesser Antilles. The Taino had been driven out of South America, to the north-east of the Caribbean, by the Carib. Many Taino women ended up captives of the Carib.

Sadly, by the 18th century, the Taino were on the decline. Like many indigenous peoples of the Caribbean and the Americas, the Taino could not cope with previously unknown diseases, such as smallpox. Integration into the Spanish plantation system further reduced their numbers, as intermarriages with the settlers became common.

At one time, it is estimated, that between 100,000 to 1,000,000 Tainos lived on what is now La Hispaniola. There was also thought to be up to 600,000 Taino in Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Estimates for the entire area range up to the 8,000,000 mark. It is believed that all the Taino died out, but there are many who feel remnants of this once great people continue to endure throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.

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Tags: Carib, columbus, family lines, Hispaniola, lost culture, santo domingo, smallpox, Taino, Travel and Leisure

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