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Native American Tribes of Antigua and Barbuda

This is an index to the Native American language and cultural information on our website pertaining to Antiguan Indian tribes. Some pages contain more information than others. If you belong to an indigenous tribe from Antigua and Barbuda 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 indigenous name of Antigua in the Arawak language was "Yarumaqui," and the names of Antigua and Barbuda in the Island Carib language were "Waladli" (which later became corrupted to "Wadadli") and "Wa'omini." 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 destroyed by genocide and disease, sold into slavery, or fled to the mainland. Many of the indigenous people who did survive intermarried with colonial Europeans or with Afro-Caribbeans, so although there are no official Native American tribes remaining on Antigua or Barbuda, nor have any of the indigenous languages survived in this region, there are still people of indigenous ancestry living on the islands and Arawakan culture has had an influence on Barbuda and Antigua over time.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Antigua and Barbuda included:

The Siboney Indians
The Arawak Indians
The Island Caribs

Recommended books about Antigua and Barbuda's Native Americans:
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The story of the Arawaks in Antigua and Barbuda:
    History and culture of the pre-Columbian people of the Lesser Antilles.
Indian Creek. Arawak site on Antigua:
    Book on the archaeology and indigenous prehistory of Antigua.

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

Map of Antigua and Barbuda: * Language Map of the Caribean:
    Maps showing the location of Antigua and Barbuda, and where the Taino/Arawak and Island Carib languages were most spoken.
Wadadli or Waladli?
    Article about Anguilla's original Kalhipona (Island Carib) name.
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda: Prehistory
    Pictures and information about ancient Arawak houses, dress, pottery, and cultural traditions.
Antigua's Culture and History
    Timeline of Antiguan settlement, from the fisrt Siboney ancestors to the modern day.
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 inhabitants of Antigua and the Caribbean.
Arawak Facts for Kids
    Information about culture, history, and tradition in the Arawak tribes of South America and the Caribbean.



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