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The Caquetios, masters of ceramics Episode CCCVII-307
Etnia Nativa’s narrative emphasizes the importance of
reclaiming and recognizing Aruba’s cultural roots—
often overshadowed by its colonial past. The platform
promotes the rediscovery of native traditions, history,
and identity, while encouraging a conscious break
from colonial influence and inherited patterns of sub-
missiveness.
If we study the history of humankind from early times,
one thing becomes clear: our population has con-
tinually increased. While this growth has accelerated
in recent centuries and decades, in prehistoric times
the number of people was slowly rising. The solution
humanity has consistently turned to in response to this
growth is organization—particularly in the cultivation
of plants through selection and cross-breeding. a direct descendant of this traditional
This agricultural organization improved the nutritional cooking method. In fact, this method
value of plants, leading to domestication. Once large of preparing flatbreads on clay plates
quantities of these improved plants could be grown is widespread throughout the Ameri-
on relatively small plots of land, organized agriculture can continent. The term budare origi-
became possible. As a result, reliance on constant nates from the Arawakan-Caquetío
hunting diminished significantly. language, and the word buren, which
appears in Borikén (the indigenous
The Amerindians made a substantial contribution to name for Puerto Rico), refers to these
agriculture by domesticating numerous plants of high cooking plates—symbolizing an abun-
nutritional value. Among these are potatoes, maize dance of food. In Mexico, the comal
(corn), cassava (manioc), peanuts, and various types serves a similar purpose in the prepara-
of beans, tomatoes, cacao, and vanilla. tion of tortillas.
In our area, maize and cassava played a primary Today, these traditional clay griddles
role. Cassava was domesticated early on in Cen- have largely been replaced by cast
tral Amazonia. Early maize cultivation dates back to iron plates, known in Aruba as the
around 4000 BC or even more,in both Peru and Mexi- casuela. Still, food cooked on clay
co. By around 2000 BC, Amerindian groups in eastern and founded large villages. These vil- budare retains that unique native fla-
Venezuela were cultivating cassava, while in western lages were strategically located on vor that modern versions cannot rep-
Venezuela, maize was grown. Aruba, in turn, followed fertile soils suitable for gardening, and licate.
the agricultural trends and developments of western close to natural water sources such as Another traditional dish, funchi, made
Venezuela. Aruba’s guts or rooi. from ground maize, closely resembles
As agriculture began to provide the main part of We refer to these people as Ceramic Italian polenta or corn cake, showcas-
the diet, more permanent villages were established. Amerindians, named after the distinc- ing the shared culinary heritage of var-
These villages featured larger and more robust hous- tive style of their pottery. This type of ious cultures centered on maize.q
es. And once agriculture takes hold, people begin pottery was first discovered in excava-
to store liquids and process food more elaborately tions near Dabajuro, a town south west
than in hunter-gatherer communities. This evolution of Coro on the Venezuelan mainland. If you enjoyed reading our ancestral
marks the beginning of what archaeologists call the The pottery is well-crafted and aes- stories and are interested in learning
Ceramic Period—the time when pottery use became thetically pleasing, as can be seen in more about the true identity of the
widespread. the exhibits at Etnia Nativa and our lo- Aruban people, we invite you to visit
cal museum. Etnia Nativa—the only living museum
These developments were already present in Ven- of its kind in the Caribbean. A fasci-
ezuela long before they reached Aruba. But around However, not all the pottery found at nating destination and cultural trend-
900 AD to 1000 AD, Amerindian groups possessing ce- large village sites—such as Santa Cruz, setter since 1994, Etnia Nativa has
ramic and agricultural knowledge migrated to Aruba Tanki Flip (inland), and Savaneta (near contributed to the founding of Arikok
the coast)—was of ceremonial qual- National Park, the Archaeological Mu-
ity. Most of it, over 90%, was undeco- seum of Aruba, and various artisan
rated utility ware: vessels for storing foundations, among other voluntary
liquids, cooking pots, and griddles. initiatives.
These griddles, or budare (also called Etnia Nativa offers a unique experi-
buren),are large, flat, circular ceramic ence that connects visitors with the
plates approximately 2 cm thick, used spirit and soul of the island’s ancient
to prepare a kind of pancakes or torti- heritage.
llasmade from cassava or maize. WhatsApp 297 592 2702
The modern Aruban dish, pan batí or etnianativa03@gmail.com
(Papiamento for “beaten bread”), is
