Page 11 - AHATA

Wednesday 18 december 2024 LOCAL
A10

Arubans traits Episode CCLXXXIV- 284

Every week, Etnia Nativa, which means “native eth- had been “evacuat-
nicity”, writes a new episode concerning culture and ed” in 1513, but rather
heritage, focusing on various aspects of native knowl- are common traits re-
edge, transcendental wisdom, and the importance lated to the indigenous
of upholding cultural identity. Its goal is to educate people who settled on
readers and connect them with “our sense of belong- the island from 1640 on-
ing”. wards, who, as a result
of the economic and
_ “The real “sense of belonging is” to be aware and demographic policy of
have emotionally accepted and incorporated intel- the WIC, were able to
lectually Aruba’s real history, which includes all those lead a free life on the is-
Arubans who thrived before one’s own existence had land and consequently
even begun”. — From the book “Cultural & Genetic remain longer than in
Heritage of Arubans” Curaçao or Bonaire.

There are many foreign authors who prefer to deny However, such ac-
the island’s native heritage, even in some school counts were very com-
books, following various theories that government mon from the European
authorities adhere to. However, scientific research perspective of record-
performed by Aruban authors has proven otherwise, ed history. Some Aru-
that the islands’ indigenous roots are dominant in the ban authors conclude
traditional Aruban genome, supporting and sustain- that Amerindian genes
ing Etnia Nativa’s claim. are very strong in Aru- the first subject studied graphic sources. For ex-
bans and that, geneti-
Like every ethnic group, some Aruban people share cally, Amerindians have carrying a native mt- ample, was this region
DNA. Shortly after, the
a Caquetio settlement?
similar racial characteristics, among which we can never become extinct
highlight the characteristics of “slanted eyes” and on the island, convinc- first results on the ge- Find out what traces
these people have left
netic identity of Aruba
“straight black hair”, mongoloid traits largely derived ingly demonstrating this
from “indigenous features”, also the Mongolian spot, through mitochondrial and its ancestral links in their genes which are
were published in the
still present in the cur-
known as slate gray nevus or congenital dermal me- DNA and introduced
lanocytosis, a benign, flat, congenital birthmark, or by Aruba’s maternal previously mentioned rent population. Per-
haps this home settle-
mt-
medical-scientific
blue butt mark which have been preserved much Amerindian genetic an-
more strongly in the population of Aruba than in those cestors. In the medical- DNA study. ment represents an im-
portant part of Aruba’s
of Bonaire or Curaçao. scientific mt-DNA study
entitled “Genetic struc- The mitochondrial DNA forgotten history. Follow
Some historians claim that these indigenous traits do ture of the Aruban pop- made from certain each episode of “Island
not originate from the inhabitants before the arrival ulation: three origins”, Mongoloid traits ex- Insight” and learn a lot
hibited by a group of
about our little beloved
of the Europeans, since “supposedly” the majority the theory that Arubans
became extinct due to the native population rock.
determined not only
European colonizers is
refuted, while demon- the origin of our mater- If you enjoy reading
our stories and are in-
nal ancestors but also
strating who is consid- terested in learning
ered Aruban since co- those with whom we more regarding the
are related in the ma-
lonial times.
ternal line, and also in- true identity of Aruba,
vestigated the genetic we recommend book-
In 2001, during the 19th ing a visit to Etnia Na-
International Congress pool of the region. In tiva—the only “living
this way, it is possible to
of Caribbean Archeol- museum of its kind in
ogy, Etnia Nativa was find out which families the Caribbean”—a
come from the same
presented the oppor- fascinating choice, a
tunity to acknowledge region, how closely trend setter since 1994
intertwined they are
the ancestral existence and co-founder of Is-
of Arubans by bringing related, and which lands National Park,
haplo-groups and, con-
together two profes- Archaeological Muse-
sionals in this field - Dr. sequently, which haplo- um Aruba and Artisan
types are still present in
Oswald Wever (Aruba) Foundation among oth-
and Dr. Martinez Cru- our aboriginal contem- ers. Etnia Nativa shares
porary population.
zado (Puerto Rico) - valuable knowledge
who discovered facts These results should and connects you to
behind our Amerindian the ancient island’s spir-
genetic history. We not only be compared it and soul. Whats App
with entries in a family
must mention that Etnia +297 592 2702 etniana-
Nativa’s curator was tree, but also possibly tiva03@gmail.com
with historical and geo-