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Native American Tribes and Languages of Anguilla

This is an index to the Native American language and cultural information on our website pertaining to Anguillan Indian tribes. Some pages contain more information than others. If you belong to an indigenous tribe from Anguilla that is not currently listed on this page and you would like to see it here, please contact us about contributing information to our site.

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According to early colonial records, the original name of Anguilla was "Malliouhana," but its meaning was never recorded and has now been lost to time. Some researchers have suggested it may have come from an Arawakan word for "arrowhead" or "strength." The indigenous Cariban and Arawakan speaking peoples of the Caribbean Islands were disastrously impacted by colonization. By the 1600's more than 90% of their population had either been wiped out by genocide and disease or else been displaced and fled to the mainland. Many of the survivors intermarried with colonial Europeans or with Afro-Caribbeans, so although there are no distinct Native American tribes remaining on Anguilla, nor have any of the indigenous languages survived in this region, there are still people of indigenous ancestry living on the island and Arawakan culture has influenced that of Anguilla.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Anguilla included:

The Taino Tribe
The Siboney Tribe
The Island Carib Tribe

Recommended books about Anguilla's Native Americans:
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

The Tainos: Rise & Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus:
    History of the Taino Indians for sale online.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Anguilla:

Map of Anguilla: * Language Map of the Caribean:
    Maps showing the location of Anguilla and where the Taino and Ineri/Island Carib languages were most spoken.
Arawak Indians: An Anguillan History:
    Article on the history of the Arawaks in Anguilla (including the Taino and Ciboney tribes.)
Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society:
    Photos and information about Anguillan Amerindian idols, pottery, and petroglyphs.
Indigenous Languages of the Caribbean
    Collection of materials about the lost and endangered Indian languages of the Caribbean region.
Review of the Indigenous Caribbean
    Online journal of cultural information about the Native people of Anguilla and the Caribbean.
Arawak Indians: An Anguillan History:
    Article on the history of the Arawaks in Anguilla.
Arawak Facts for Kids
    Information about culture, history, and tradition in the Arawak tribes of South America and the Caribbean.



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