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local Monday 10 noveMber 2025
The Aruban Cunukero; From past to present

(Oranjestad)—Aruba’s cul- land were either once affili- people to have land on the
ture consists of rich historical ated with the WIC or were island, the climate never re-
traditions that make up the colonists who settled on ally allowed real profit from
Aruban identity and lifestyle. the island to try their luck at farming. Because of the
However, the life of the cu- farming. In 1767, there were climate, Aruban farmers
nukero (farmer) is perhaps about 120 houses/cunucus in general could not keep
the most important aspect of on the island. large quantities of livestock.
our culture, in a sense rep- At a certain point toward
resenting to locals the true These Aruban farmers were the end of the 18th century,
essence of the Aruban. also limited to the amount the climate got so bad that
of cattle they could keep. many farmers decided to
Historically, cunucus (farms) Most kept goats as cattle, as leave the island for a while.
played a huge role in the only those who were affiliat-
early social and economic ed with the WIC could keep
development of Aruba, (more) sheep. Of the 76 goat
and its relevance dates contract expired, they were were granted a piece of herders on the island, about For this reason, the farming
back to the early days of given a plot of land for inde- land to live off of. However, 45 of them had less than 30 economy on the island re-
the colonization era. Upon pendent use; in exchange for this grant, goats, and only 7 of them mained small. As the years
being discovered by Span- Proto-Peasants were plan- these indigenous farmers had more than 60 goats. went by and people noticed
ish conquistadors in the late tation slaves who were al- were obligated to work for that these farms could not
15th century, Aruba was lowed to have a small piece the WIC, doing daily tasks It wasn’t until the WIC was really produce any sustain-
used primarily as a ranch, of land to grow food for their such as taking care of or defunct in late 18th century able profit, farmers kept their
housing horses and cattle own consumption. This was hunting cattle—large majori- that these farmers were able small piece of land just to live
brought from Europe. Dur- to curb the cost of living on ty of which were destined for to obtain more freedom as off of. This is why the Aruban
ing the Dutch colonization the plantations; Curacao, clean water tanks cunukeros. After 1824, the cunukeros only played a
era where the West Indian Lastly you have the “Run- and chop wood, among government gave these very tiny role into the plan-
Company (WIC) dominated away Peasantries”, usually other things. farmers official permission tation economy.
the economic sphere on the comprised of runaway slaves to keep livestock, and the
island, using the land to set who acquired farming tools As much as these farmers obligations once placed In modern Aruba, cunucus
up cattle farms and ranches and cattle through stealing were given to opportunity on them were officially dis- and cunukeros still exist on
remained popular. or through secret exchanges to live “free” with a plot of carded. the island, fortunately with
with other slaves from differ- land, their exclusion from the more freedom and more
Anthropologist Sidney Mintz ent plantations. trading and business world, Because of the dry climate opportunity to tap into the
divided Caribbean farmers However, the Aruban cu- as well as being deprived in Aruba, growing food for agricultural market. These
back in four categories: nukeros back then are hard the chance to become real commercial purposes was farmers usually sell their
to place, and their history property and cattle owners, not popular. The focus was produce on a smaller scale,
The “squatters”, who were may explain why. made them a unique group mainly on cattle herding like during farmers’ market
mostly comprised of illegal among Caribbean farmers and taking care of livestock. events and other types of
and poor colonists, run- From 1636 (beginning of at the time. However, livestock need (holiday) events.
away slaves and deserters Dutch colonization era) to food to survive, and when
who took advantage of the before the oil industry in The WIC placed a lot of re- Aruba experienced its duper Source: “Arubaans Akkoord:
Spanish’s weak supervision 1924, Aruba’s population strictions on these indigenous dry climate, many farmers Opstellen over Aruba van
on Caribbean islands like consisted of mostly farmers. farmers—a method to safe- would see a big loss in their voor de komst van de olie-
Cuba and the DR; These farmers were mostly guard their cattle deposit on livestock, and hence profit. industrie (Aruban Accord:
Then you have “Early Yeo- indigenous and were char- the island. The indigenous Essays on Aruba Before the
men”, who were legal farm- acterized as peasants. They farmers were mostly grant- Although the WIC at one Arrival of the Oil Industry)”
ers who came to the west weren’t allowed to partici- ed less than 7 acres of land. point did try to come up by Alofs, Luc; Rutgers, Wim;
under contract. Once their pate in trading, but instead Those who owned bigger with an initiative to get more Coomans, Henny E. red.q

Aruba to me

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