HaïtiThe Taíno Era
Before the arrival of Europeans, Haïti was inhabited by the Taíno people who lived in harmony. Their existence was intertwined with the bounty of the forests, rich in fruit trees, which freed them from hard agricultural work. Fishing and hunting were their main means of subsistence, supplemented by the cultivation of potatoes, corn and cassava. Unlike some neighbors in the Lesser Antilles, they did not practice cannibalism.
The Taíno practiced barter, exchanging agricultural products, fish, stone tools, and crafts. Their society was based on values of respect for nature, and trade was a way to maintain ties with other indigenous groups in the Caribbean.
Nature was their home, and they revered it through their customs and daily lives. Black, straight hair cascaded over their shoulders, a testament to their great natural beauty. Until the age of 18, they walked naked, tattooing their bodies with roucou, a rite of passage in their society. The women wore pagne or tanga, a simple outfit that reflected their connection to the land.
Dance was their most vibrant form of expression, a way to celebrate life and communicate with the spirits of their environment. The island had many names for them: Boyo, Quisqueya, Haiti, all names that resonated with the very essence of their existence.
Their languages were diverse, derived from a mother tongue, but without a writing system to preserve them, they eventually faded over time. Despite this, words of Indian origin such as coui, hamac, guanes, matoutou, macana, rapadou and others continue to resonate in the everyday language, recalling the lasting imprint left by these first inhabitants on the island.
