Page 9 - AHATA

a7
local Saturday 1 July 2023
Aruba’s Nature is to be Cherished

Bubali Magic
This beautiful close-up im-
age of the pink bird is cour-
tesy of Michiel Overstee-
gen of the Aruba Birdlife
Conservation. This impor-
tant foundation showcases
and builds awareness of
Aruba’s birds and other na-
tive flora and fauna. You
may have seen a ‘pink
cloud’ lately at the Bubali
ST. CRUZ — The national ucational and informative or Spanish Lagoon Wet-
park Arikok comprises al- programs and fun activities lands areas? It’s most likely
most 18 % of the island. Its is available. to be Roseate Spoonbills
rugged terrain, desert-like (Ajaia ajaja) or ‘Chucharon
hills filled with tall cacti, Did you know that four of Cora’ as they are known in
breathtaking coastline and the in total seven species Papiamento. This unusual
protected local flora and of sea turtle lay their eggs looking bird forages in shal-
fauna welcome you to be on Aruba's beaches? In low muddy water while
explored. There is numer- the national park, a Least sweeping its flattened bill
ous wildlife to discover like Tern (Sternula antillarum) from side to side to catch
for example the sea turtle keeps a strict eye on a very small fish, crustaeceans
who lays his eggs on the special event taking place and other aquatic inverte-
park’s beaches. There are below on the beach: a brates. The Roseate Spoon-
more places on the island majestic Leatherback (Der- bill remains an uncommon
that are a preserved area mochelys coriacea) heads sight as they are vulnerable
like the Bubali Plas which is back to sea after laying to degradation of feeding to go beyond this and get sequences to flora and fau-
a bird sanctuary. her eggs, while another and nesting habitats (Wet- an idea of our entire island. na. Motorized vehicles are
nest laid 2 months ago by lands). (Source: arikok na- Lately there is a discussion forbidden to drive on the
The national park Arikok the same female hatches. tional park) going on about the effect sand dunes in the Northern
takes you on a memorable A very rare occurrence certain activities have on part of the island and all
journey of the islands past of daytime nesting and The aforementioned is just our nature, for example the beaches in Aruba are for-
offering unique geological, hatching. Sea turtles pre- a part of what Aruba’s na- ATV vehicles cause a lot of bidden for any motorized
cultural and historical sites. fer nesting in the cool and ture has to offer. We can- dust, noise and leave tire vehicle. Treasure our island
These can all be enjoyed dark hours of the night. And not stress enough to go, see tracks. Animals live in these to enjoy it like you do: as a
and explored either on hatchlings usually wait for for yourself. The island has areas where the vehicles tropical and natural para-
your own or during guided the cue of cooling surface the most beautiful beach- run, often with high speed dise. We truly appreciate
tours. A wide variety of ed- sand before emerging. es but it is also worthwhile and with detrimental con- it!q

On July 1st we commemorate “Keti Koti” in the Dutch Kingdom

Celebrating the abolishment of slavery within the Dutch Caribbean

(Oranjestad)—On July 1st, Suriname and the can slavery on the island came in two waves:
former Dutch Antilles commemorate the abol- A short 4-year wave from 1715 to 1719, and
ishment of slavery within the Dutch Kingdom. another longer wave from the late eighteenth
Although the scale of slavery in Aruba was not century up to the 1863, the year in which slav-
as big as in our sister islands, we find that it is still ery was abolished within the Dutch Kingdom. By
important to acknowledge and give recogni- that time, 496 enslaved Africans on Aruba were
tion to the Afro-Caribbean descendants that still emancipated, and they integrated relatively
live on the island, and the influence that their easy in the free Aruban society. Many went to
ancestors have had on the make up of the Aru- work in the police force, while other became
ban Culture. successful merchants.

Brief history The Afro-Caribbean influence on Aruban cul-
In Aruba, there were two slave routes that oc- ture
curred on the island during the colonial era: Because the formerly enslaved were able to in- duced in Surinam and the Dutch Antilles by Af-
The Amerindian Slave Trade and the African tegrate easily and fast in Aruban society, they rican slaves. Popular music and dance genres
Slave Trade. Before the African slave trade was did not form a separate subculture. In fact, on the island, like the tumba and tambu, are
introduced in Aruba, many of the Amerindian white colonists, Amerindians, and Africans inter- also based on African influences. Soul food on
Caquetios were subjected to slavery, mostly by mixed, resulting in Aruba’s Mestizo-Creole pop- the island is heavily based on Afro-Caribbean
the hands of Spanish colonizers. A large part of ulation of today. This intermixture of culture and dishes found in other islands as far as Jamaica
the Caquetio community on the island were ex- race also brought with it certain aspects that is and Trinidad. It was only later on, during the
ported to Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) and still prominent in the modern cultural identity. In 20th and 21st century that Aruba saw a rise in
were forced to work in the land mines. After the terms of African influences on our culture, this Latino-American influences on our culture and
Dutch gained control of the island, many Am- can be seen in all areas of our cultural iden- way of living. However, the African-Caribbean
erindian natives were forced to work for them. tity, ranging from folk tales, music and dance impact on our cultural identity is still very much
The history of African slavery in Aruba was one to even food and way of life. For example, as prominent. q
that was relatively short-lived compared to the children, Arubans grow up hearing tales of the Source: Places of Memory: Aruba and the Slave
rest of the Caribbean region. Furthermore, Afri- trickster spider Compa Nanzi (Anansi), intro- Trade Route (2007) by Luc Alofs.