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local Friday 6 September 2024

The Aruban Cunukero

From past to present

(Oranjestad)—Aruba’s cul-
ture consists of rich histori-
cal traditions that make up
the Aruban identity and
lifestyle. However, the life
of the cunukero (farmer) is
perhaps the most impor-
tant aspect of our culture,
in a sense representing to
locals the true essence of
the Aruban.

Historically, cunucus (farms)
played a huge role in the
early social and economic
development of Aruba,
and its relevance dates
back to the early days of
the colonization era. Upon
being discovered by Span-
ish conquistadors in the late
15th century, Aruba was
used primarily as a ranch,
housing horses and cattle
brought from Europe. Dur-
ing the Dutch colonization
era where the West Indian
Company (WIC) dominat-
ed the economic sphere
on the island, using the land
to set up cattle farms and
ranches remained popular.
other slaves from differ- come real property and tury that these farmers many farmers decided to
Anthropologist Sidney Mintz ent plantations. cattle owners, made them were able to obtain more leave the island for a while.
divided Caribbean farmers a unique group among freedom as cunukeros. Af-
back in four categories: However, the Aruban cu- Caribbean farmers at the ter 1824, the government For this reason, the farm-
1. The “squatters”, who nukeros back then are time. gave these farmers official ing economy on the island
were mostly comprised hard to place, and their his- permission to keep live- remained small. As the
of illegal and poor col- tory may explain why. The WIC placed a lot of stock, and the obligations years went by and people
onists, runaway slaves restrictions on these indig- once placed on them were noticed that these farms
and deserters who From 1636 (beginning of enous farmers—a method officially discarded. could not really produce
took advantage of the Dutch colonization era) to to safeguard their cattle any sustainable profit, farm-
Spanish’s weak super- before the oil industry in deposit on the island. The Because of the dry climate ers kept their small piece of
vision on Caribbean is- 1924, Aruba’s population indigenous farmers were in Aruba, growing food for land just to live off of. This is
lands like Cuba and the consisted of mostly farmers. mostly granted less than 7 commercial purposes was why the Aruban cunukeros
DR; These farmers were mostly acres of land. Those who not popular. The focus was only played a very tiny role
2. Then you have “Early indigenous and were char- owned bigger land were mainly on cattle herding into the plantation econo-
Yeomen”, who were le- acterized as peasants. They either once affiliated with and taking care of live- my.
gal farmers who came weren’t allowed to partici- the WIC or were colonists stock. However, livestock
to the west under con- pate in trading, but instead who settled on the island need food to survive, and In modern Aruba, cunucus
tract. Once their con- were granted a piece of to try their luck at farming. when Aruba experienced and cunukeros still exist on
tract expired, they were land to live off of. However, In 1767, there were about its duper dry climate, many the island, fortunately with
given a plot of land for in exchange for this grant, 120 houses/cunucus on the farmers would see a big more freedom and more
independent use; these indigenous farmers island. loss in their livestock, and opportunity to tap into the
3. Proto-Peasants were were obligated to work for hence profit. agricultural market. These
plantation slaves who the WIC, doing daily tasks These Aruban farmers were farmers usually sell their pro-
were allowed to have such as taking care of or also limited to the amount Although the WIC at one duce on a smaller scale,
a small piece of land to hunting cattle—large ma- of cattle they could keep. point did try to come up like during farmers’ market
grow food for their own jority of which were des- Most kept goats as cattle, with an initiative to get events and other types of
consumption. This was tined for Curacao, clean as only those who were af- more people to have (holiday) events.
to curb the cost of living water tanks and chop filiated with the WIC could land on the island, the cli-
on the plantations; wood, among other things. keep (more) sheep. Of the mate never really allowed Source: “Arubaans Ak-
4. Lastly you have the 76 goat herders on the is- real profit from farming. koord: Opstellen over Aru-
“Runaway Peasant- As much as these farmers land, about 45 of them had Because of the climate, ba van voor de komst van
ries”, usually comprised were given to opportunity less than 30 goats, and only Aruban farmers in gen- de olieindustrie (Aruban
of runaway slaves who to live “free” with a plot of 7 of them had more than eral could not keep large Accord: Essays on Aruba
acquired farming tools land, their exclusion from 60 goats. quantities of livestock. At Before the Arrival of the Oil
and cattle through the trading and business a certain point toward the Industry)” by Alofs, Luc; Rut-
stealing or through se- world, as well as being de- It wasn’t until the WIC was end of the 18th century, gers, Wim; Coomans, Hen-
cret exchanges with prived the chance to be- defunct in late 18th cen- the climate got so bad that ny E. red.q