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local Thursday 22 augusT 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.

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