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Wednesday 12 april 2023 locAl
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Aruba, between captured and slaves Episode CCI - 201

Destination values, native heritage, and cultural iden-
tity are what Etnia Nativa advocates for as its own par-
ticular way of safeguarding all reasons to love Aruba.
Through this cultural blog, “Island-Insight,” we share
awareness, educate, and safeguard native heritage.
It is how we encourage you to experiment with an is-
land-keeper state of mind during your stay.

In Aruba, the history of slavery presents itself with a par-
ticular situation since the law prohibited indigenous
people from being considered “catibo” or captured,
and no one had been “brought” from Africa.

Around 1776, the first two names of black slaves be- did not call them “catibo” but consider Beginning in 1863, approximately one
came known: Cecilia, a black slave of Bernardino Sil- them as his own children. hundred new names of former slaves
vester, and Apolinar, a black slave of Jacob Alvarez. were registered for Aruba. Many of
Silvester and Alvarez were two families from Alto Vista- Written testimonies by Pastor L. Jansen which have disappeared over time.
Noord. in the early 1900s say that Aruba treated
its “catibo” as free people (see episode We can even recognize some of these
Records from 1820 indicate that Aruba had 331 per- 108, about a slave from Argelia bought surnames by the odd way they were
sons deprived of freedom, of whom 157 were indige- in Curacao and freed by prosecutor Al- formed using the Dutch language,
nous and 174 blacks; 15 blacks were born here, and 19 varez in 1763 to live in Aruba). like Knuppel (means club) or Gouds-
blacks had arrived as free men from abroad, bought traet (means gold street) -etc. or other
and freed by generous natives. When the children of the “catibo” were name compositions from Bonaire, like
baptized, their godfather and god- “Goedgedrag (means good behav-
Although the law did not allow indigenous people to mother were the same as those of the ior), –Braafhart (means good heart), –
be “catibo”, in practice it was different, and the legal adoptive family; this shows the good re- Scherptong (means sharp tongue), etc.
situation of the indigenous people “brought” to our is- lationship that existed; while in Bonaire,
land from Guajira was not very clear. In an 1824 bap- only “another slave” could be “godfa- From those times, catibo, black slaves,
tismal record, it is mentioned: “Jacobus, about 5 years ther or godmother of the baptism”, and and the common free people were
old, Main Coast Indian of unknown parents.” In the Bonaire also did not allow marriage be- mixed through marriage; therefore,
same file, there are 32 names of other Guajira children tween “slaves” because “they had no “slavery” in Aruba covers a different
who performed domestic chores or were considered civil rights.” Meanwhile, the records of story since although it existed legally, in
“adoptive children.” These children did not receive Aruba show that in 1823, eight names of terms of mistreatment and oppression,
a formal education since at that time there was no legitimate marriages of “catibo” were very little is known.
school, and despite being baptized, they were denied recorded; however, they were originally
a “catholic burial”, mentioning only their first name, from Venezuela. If you’re intrigued by Aruba`s native life-
without their last names, as: “Jacobus de La Guajira”. style and its cultural heritage do some-
After the abolition, many “slaves” con- thing outside of the tourist grid. Become
Testimonies passed from generation to generation as- tinued to live with the same family who one of the exclusive visitors of Etnia Nati-
sure us that these children were “stolen or captured in owned them, as in the specific case of va, a private museum/home where you
Guajira” and brought to our island. Beatrice Sierbol with the Figaroa family, will be able to touch and be touched
whom they called “Ma Tichi.” by authentic Aruba heritage, a spec-
They used to be called “catibo cora” or red slaves. We Before the emancipation, “a catibo”, or tacle of native art, archaic as well as
don’t know if the government counted them as “cati- black slave, could buy their freedom for archaeological artifacts, lithic tools, co-
bo”. The testimonies assure that Jan Hendrik Semeleer 400 florins, and also the children “of the lonial furniture, and other items of the
had three of these children from La Guajira, but he catibo” were declared free. island’s bygone era.

Etnia Nativa is, since 1994, the home of
Anthony, our acclaimed columnist, art-
ist craftsman, and island Piache, who
guides and lectures you through his re-
splendent collection. Etnia Nativa is the
only place that recreates and introduc-
es you to an authentic glimpse into na-
tive cultural heritage. Something com-
pletely different for a change—a con-
temporary Native Aruba experience!

Appointment is required Whatsapp
+ 297 592 2702 or etnianativa03@gmail.
com. q