Arawak

The Arawak

The Arawak is a name used for several groups of Indigenous peoples who lived in northern South America and the Caribbean. These groups had their own names and cultures, but people later called them Arawak.

Two main groups were called Arawak. The Lokono lived in parts of South America. The Taíno lived on islands such as those in the Greater Antilles and northern Lesser Antilles. Both groups spoke similar languages.

Today, some Lokono people live mainly in Guyana, with smaller groups in Venezuela, Suriname, and French Guiana. They are working hard to keep their language and traditions alive.

The Taíno were among the first people Christopher Columbus met in 1492. Even though many faced hard times, some Taíno traditions continue in Caribbean culture today. People are proud of their Taíno heritage and are sharing their history and beliefs.