Long before Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1498, the island of Trinidad thrived under the stewardship of its first peoples—the Amerindians. These indigenous inhabitants, believed to have migrated from the Orinoco Delta region in South America, had called the island home for thousands of years. They shaped the land, honoured its spirit, and lived in harmony with its wild beauty, creating a legacy that still echoes in place names, oral traditions, and the very soil of Trinidad.
The First Peoples: A Rich Cultural Heritage
The two main Amerindian groups in Trinidad were the Arawaks (or Lokono) and the Kalinago (Caribs). The Arawaks were known for their peaceful nature, settled agricultural lifestyle, and finely crafted pottery. They lived in communal villages along the coast and riverbanks, cultivating cassava, maize, and sweet potatoes, and fishing in the abundant waters that surrounded them.
The Kalinago, who arrived later, were more warlike and often lived in smaller groups. While early European records often portrayed them as fierce and aggressive, they were, in fact, a proud people with their own complex society, known for their seafaring skills and protective stance over their territory.
Trinidad, at the time, was a significant node in a vast network of island and coastal trade routes. Shells, feathers, tobacco, and tools passed from hand to hand, linking communities through commerce and shared rituals. The Amerindians believed in the presence of ancestral spirits and revered nature, conducting ceremonies to ensure balance and respect between the physical and spiritual worlds.
A Land Unspoiled: The Flora and Fauna of Ancient Trinidad
Imagine stepping onto the shores of Trinidad before European contact—a land untouched by plantation agriculture or urban development. It was a lush, green paradise bursting with life.
Forests blanketed the island, from the northern mountain ranges to the lowland swamps and savannahs. Towering silk cotton trees, majestic mahoganies, and the resilient mora reached for the sky, their branches cradling orchids, bromeliads, and lianas. Beneath this canopy, the air was rich with the scent of wild cacao and the song of birds.
The fauna was just as diverse. The island teemed with life: agoutis scuttling through the underbrush, armadillos and iguanas sunning themselves on riverbanks, and manatees gliding gracefully through the still waters of mangrove estuaries. Jaguars and ocelots may have prowled the deeper forests, while red howler monkeys roared from treetops at dawn.
Birds, brilliant and bold, painted the sky with colour. Scarlet ibises—now a national symbol—nested in the mangroves, alongside kingfishers, parrots, and hummingbirds. The Amerindians considered many of these animals sacred, weaving them into myth and legend.
Rivers crisscrossed the land, providing fresh water and food, while coastal reefs and lagoons teemed with fish, conch, and turtle. The sea was both barrier and highway, food source and spiritual force.
Legacy in the Land
Although colonisation drastically altered the Amerindian way of life, their legacy endures. Many Trinidadian place names—such as Arima, Mayaro, and Couva—stem from Amerindian roots. The survival of cassava bread, cocoa farming techniques, and herbal medicine also trace back to indigenous wisdom. Today, groups like the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community in Arima work to preserve and revitalise this important cultural heritage.
As we reflect on Trinidad’s rich and complex history, it’s vital to honour the original caretakers of the land—the Amerindians who lived, loved, and thrived here long before sails were spotted on the horizon.