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Native American Tribes of Aruba
This is an index to the Native American language and cultural information on our website pertaining to Arubian Indian tribes.
Some pages contain more information than others. If you belong to an indigenous tribe from the country of Aruba 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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The name "Aruba" comes from Arawakan words meaning "shell island." In historical records the name was spelled Ayrubo, Ayrabo or Oruba.
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 been destroyed by genocide and disease. On Aruba, however, many Caquetio
people survived and intermarried with the colonial population. So although there are no official Native American tribes remaining on Aruba,
many Arubans today do have Arawak ancestry, and Aruban culture has been influenced by that of the Caquetios.
The original inhabitants of the area that is now Aruba included:
The Caquetio Indians
What about Papiamento Creole? Does that have indigenous roots?
No. Papiamento, which is one of the official languages of Aruba and is spoken by the majority of the population there, is a mixture between
Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. Only a few Arawak loan words exist in Papiamento, just as they do in English (hammock, hurricane, tobacco, etc.)
Recommended books about Aruba's Native Americans:
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The archaeology of Aruba: The Tanki Flip site:
Museum publication about prehistoric Arawakan ruins in Aruba.
The Marine Shell Heritage:
Anthropology book about the lifestyle and traditions of the Aruban Caquetio natives.
More resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Aruba:
National Archaeological Museum Aruba
Aruban national museum with information and photos about the Caquetio and other local Arawak people.
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 Aruba and the Caribbean.
Indigenous origins of the name Aruba
Article on the Native etymology of the island of Aruba.
The Arawakan meaning of Cunucu
Article on the possible origins of the Aruban word "cunucu."
Aruba Archaeological Maps
Map showing where prehistoric indigenous sites are located on the island of Aruba.
Sea Travel by the Caquetio Indians
Map showing the routes the Caquetios followed to reach Curacao and Aruba.
Beyond the Beach: Caquetio Rock Art 
Wikipedia: Caves of Aruba:
Pictures and information about the Arawakan cave paintings and rock carvings of Aruba.
Dutch Caribbean Roots
Historical images and information about the culture of the Amerindian natives of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao over time.
Informal commerce in the colonial Caribbean
News article about archaeological research in Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.
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