Page 13 - AHATA

Wednesday 24 september 2025 locAl
A10

Episode CCCXXII-322

Aruba’s Journey Through Education and Culture

The narrative of Etnia Nativa
highlights the importance
of reclaiming Aruba’s cul-
tural identity and heritage.
Through this platform, it
shares an authentic native
perspective, educates the
public, and inspires readers
to adopt an “island care-
taker” mindset.

Join us and discover how
education and literacy
have shaped Aruba’s con-
temporary cultural life.
Day-to-day life in early
19th-century Aruba was
largely monotonous. Many
people preferred to rest in
hammocks, seeking refuge
from the scorching sun and ture captures the island’s
oppressive heat. Reading early cultural evolution.
was uncommon—partly However, Hartog’s writings
due to a long-standing mention Aruba’s first na-
misinterpretation of an tive Antillean poet, “Mosa
old proverb passed down Lampe,” who reportedly
through generations, which wrote letters in Dutch and
warned that “reading can enjoyed composing and
drive people mad.” reading Dutch poetry.
At that time, only two In 1894, the Arubasche
schools had been estab- Courant (Aruban News-
lished on the island. The paper) was founded. As
public school offered Prot- the century progressed,
estant education in Dutch, reading gradually be-
while the Roman Catholic came more widespread,
school provided instruction although access to formal
in Spanish. In the late 1800s, education remained lim-
nuns gradually took over ited.
teaching responsibilities. In 1905, a library was es-
Schools were opened in tablished in Aruba. Initially
Oranjestad, Noord, and serving only 12 members,
Santa Cruz. In Oranjes- it functioned as a subsec-
tad, Dutch was the only tion of the Curaçao Library,
language of instruction in which was part of the Neth-
both public and Catholic erlands Antilles branch of (Aruba Bookshop) began particularly through the Tired of Aruba’s tourist fa-
schools. In contrast, schools the Algemeen Nederlands as a single small business in Public Library—consistently çade? Then it’s time to go
in Noord and Santa Cruz Verbond (Universal Dutch the 1950s. It eventually ex- exceeded those of English deeper. Etnia Nativa isn’t
began to replace Spanish Association). The city of panded into a company titles. a souvenir shop or staged
with Papiamento—the lo- Rotterdam contributed operating five separate The Public Library experi- attraction—it’s the island’s
cal language. By the turn nearly 500 books to the li- shops. Unlike bookstores enced significant growth. cultural heartbeat. An
of the century, a school in brary’s founding collection. in the Netherlands, Aru- Initially, it circulated ap- authentic, ever-evolving
Savaneta was also teach- The arrival of the oil indus- ba’s bookshops also sold proximately 15,921 books. space, founded in 1994
ing in Papiamento. Mean- try in 1924—with compa- toys and other non-literary By the 1960s, that number by a visionary who helped
while, a small Protestant nies like Eagle and Lago items, which helped attract had risen to over 60,000— shape Aruba’s National
school was founded in Pie- Petroleum Corporation— customers and boost book more than one book per Park, Archaeological Mu-
dra Plat, located northeast had a significant impact sales. Within ten years, book resident. Around this time, seum, and local artisan tra-
of the Hoiberg hill. on education and voca- turnover had increased to the library moved to a larg- ditions.
Although Aruba did not tional training. The Lago Oil nearly four times what it er building in Oranjestad to Tucked away in the high-
experience significant eco- Company launched a top- had been in 1950. accommodate the island’s rise area, this private cul-
nomic or demographic of-the-line apprenticeship Magazines—primarily im- growing appetite for read- tural sanctuary isn’t on tour
growth during this period, program to teach young ported from the United ing. maps—and that’s inten-
islanders generally lived men English, mechanical States—had a monthly cir- This expansion continued tional. It’s for those who
content and peaceful lives. and technical skills, prepar- culation of approximately into San Nicolas, where a seek authenticity over con-
With the exception of folk ing them to work at what 30,000 copies. While this library branch opened to venience.
dances, religious ceremo- was then the world’s most might suggest that English- the public in September Think that’s you? Come
nies, and harvest festivals— modern oil refinery. Aruba’s language publications 1959. It soon developed find out. Experience Etnia
some of which were docu- first trade school was offi- were more popular than into a fully functioning pub- Nativa Whats App+297 592
mented in Van Meeteren’s cially established in 1952. Dutch ones that was not lic library, with dedicated 2702 etnianativa03@gmail.
Volkskunde (Ethnology)— In terms of literary culture, the case. The sale and cir- sections for both adults and com
very little historical litera- the Aruba Boekhandel culation of Dutch books— children.