It is still possible to observe the persistent traces of Indigenous ancestry among individuals in present Caribbean populations. By conducting archaeological investigations at early colonial sites, studying historical accounts from the first European travelers, and carrying out ethnographic research in present-day communities, we can unravel the wealth and complexity of the region's Amerindian heritage. Today, this heritage is reflected through language, healing and religious practices, foodways, and economic and cultural activities, as well as through popular legends.
Photo right: Traditional basketry (macuto) using leaves of the guano palm, community of Mamey in the Cordillera Septentional, Dominican Republic (photo: Corinne Hofman).
Photo top: Haitian fisherman using traditional canoe, Département du Nord, Haiti (photo: Joseph Sony Jean).