The Indigenous Peoples

and The Europeans

Theme 1
Ques 1 : Name some religious artifacts the Indigenous people used

1. Zemi
2. Tobacco
3. Indigenous Pendants
4. Indigenous wooden figures
5. Ceremonial stool (duho)
Ques 2 : Name some substances they used in religion

1. They drank cassava wine

as a way to connect with
the spiritual world.
2. They smoked or inhaled
tobacco. They believed
the smoke carried their
prayers and thoughts to the
gods and spirits.
Ques 3 : Outline 4 religious practices for the Indigenous in the Caribbean (10 marks)

The Tainos believed in a sky god

(Yocahuna) and a female earth
goddess. They made zemis from bone,
clay, wood, shell, sandstone, and stone
to represent the forces controlled by
these gods like rain, wind, hurricanes,
and fire. They believed that by wearing
zemis around their necks or on their
foreheads it would protect themselves
from the spirits of the dead.
Ques 3 : Outline 4 religious practices for the Indigenous in the Caribbean (10 marks)

They performed rituals, often led by a

spiritual leader (the bohique), to connect
with their gods and ancestors. The
Tainos sang and danced to the music of
drums, reed pipes and wooden gongs.
While these instruments were played
they chanted songs, many of which were
about their history. These ceremonies
included chanting, dancing, and the use
of cassava wine or tobacco to invoke
spiritual guidance.
Ques 3 : Outline 4 religious practices for the Indigenous in the Caribbean (10 marks)

The Tainos played a

ceremonial ball game called
batey. It was not just
entertainment but had religious
significance, as it was
dedicated to their gods and
used to resolve disputes or
honor special events.
Ques 3 : Outline 4 religious practices for the Indigenous in the Caribbean (10 marks)

The bohique (the priests and

medicine men) performed
rituals for protection from harm
or natural disasters, such as
hurricanes. They also
conducted healing ceremonies
using herbs, tobacco, and
chants to call upon spiritual aid.
Ques 3 : Outline 4 religious practices for the Indigenous in the Caribbean (10 marks)

They performed rituals, often led by a

spiritual leader (the bohique), to connect
with their gods and ancestors. The Tainos
sang and danced to the music of drums, reed
pipes and wooden gongs. While these
instruments were played they chanted songs,
many of which were about their history.
These ceremonies included chanting,
dancing, and the use of cassava wine or
tobacco to invoke spiritual guidance. The
Tainos played a ceremonial ball game called
batey.
Ques 4 : The role of the Kalinago priests/shaman/boyez

The shaman or boyez (Kalinago

priests) played a very important role
in Kalinago society, as they were
responsible for the spiritual well-
being of the people. Their primary
duty was to protect the community
from evil forces, including the
maboya (an evil spirit) that were
believed to bring harm, sickness, or
misfortune.
Ques 4 : The role of the Kalinago priests/shaman/boyez

The Kalinagos were polytheistic,

meaning they believed in many gods.
They also believed in the power of these
gods to influence their lives. The shaman
would pray to the gods to seek their
blessings and to turn back evil spirits like
the maboya. These prayers and rituals
were often performed during special
ceremonies, using chants, offerings, and
sacred tools to strengthen their
connection to the spiritual world.
Ques 4 : The role of the Kalinago priests/shaman/boyez

The Kalinagos believed deeply in the

forces of evil, life after death, and the
existence of a heaven and hell. The
shaman helped guide people on how
to live in harmony with their gods and
to avoid offending them, which could
result in punishment or bad luck. They
also taught the people how to prepare
for the afterlife by following the
traditions and customs of their society.
Ques 5 : The role of the Taino priest

The Taino priest, known as the bohique,

was an important figure in Taino religion
and society. They acted as spiritual leaders,
healers, and advisors to the Taino people.
One of the key rituals performed by the
bohique involved the use of cohoba, a
sacred substance made from tobacco or
other plants. They would inhale the cohoba
through a hollow bone. This practice was
believed to help them communicate
directly with the gods and spirits
Ques 5 : The role of the Taino priest

They were also responsible for the

health and well-being of the
community. They had deep
knowledge of natural remedies,
including plants, herbs, and
rituals, which they used to treat
illnesses and injuries. The Tainos
believed that sickness was often
caused the actions of angry spirits.
Ques 5 : The role of the Taino priest

They were teachers and

historians passing down the
Taino peoples traditions and
religious beliefs to the younger
generations. They taught about
the gods, proper rituals, and
the stories of the Taino
ancestors.
Ques 5 : Outline 4 forms of resistance that were used by the Indigenous people

The Indigenous people resisted the

Spanish colonization through revolts.
They were not willing to accept the
way the Spaniards took their land,
forced them into slavery, and tried to
change their way of life. The
Indigenous people fought back in
various ways, from armed
confrontations to refusing to work
under Spanish rule.
Ques 5 : Outline 4 forms of resistance that were used by the Indigenous people

One of the most famous leaders of

resistance was Hatuey, a cacique (chief)
from the Taino people. Hatuey led a
revolt against the Spanish invaders in the
early 1500s. He tried to protect his people
and their land from the Spanish.
Unfortunately, Hatuey was captured, and
the Spaniards burned him to death as a
punishment for his rebellion. Despite his
tragic end, Hatuey became a symbol of
resistance against colonial oppression.
Ques 5 : Outline 4 forms of resistance that were used by the Indigenous people

Another form of resistance was simply

refusing to follow the Spaniards'
commands. The Indigenous people resisted
forced labor in the mines and on plantations
by running away or hiding. They also
resisted the Spanish efforts to convert them
to Christianity, continuing to practice their
traditional beliefs and customs. This form
of passive resistance helped the Indigenous
people maintain their identity in the face of
Spanish pressure.
Ques 6 : Resistance by the kalinago in the Lesser Antilles eastern island

The Kalinago people fiercely resisted

European colonization by attacking
French and English ships that
attempted to invade their lands. They
were skilled warriors and used their
knowledge of the sea and the coast to
ambush and destroy these ships. By
targeting these vessels, they aimed to
weaken the Europeans' control over
the islands and protect their territory.
Ques 6 : Resistance by the kalinago in the Lesser Antilles eastern island

Another form of resistance was the

destruction of European settlements.
The Kalinagos would set fire to
English and French settlements,
forcing the colonizers to abandon
their efforts to establish control in
certain areas. This tactic was meant
to disrupt European colonization and
show their determination to defend
their land.
Ques 6 : Resistance by the kalinago in the Lesser Antilles eastern island

The Kalinagos used guerrilla warfare

to fight against the much larger and
better-equipped European forces. They
knew the terrain well, using forests and
mountains to hide, ambush, and launch
surprise attacks on the Europeans. This
form of warfare made it difficult for
the Europeans to defeat them because
the Kalinagos could attack quickly and
retreat into safe areas.
Ques 6 : Resistance by the kalinago in the Lesser Antilles eastern island

Despite their fierce resistance, the

Kalinagos were eventually forced to sign
a treaty in St. Kitts. This treaty was
signed under pressure from the European
colonizers, who used military force and
diplomacy to make the Kalinagos accept
terms that favored the Europeans.
Although the Kalinagos resisted for as
long as possible, this treaty marked a
point where they had to make
compromises to avoid total destruction.
Ques 7 : Kalinagos’ resistance

When the Kalinagos and other Indigenous

groups were under threat from European
colonizers, they often retreated to the
mountainous areas. These areas offered
protection and allowed them to avoid direct
confrontation with the European forces. The
mountains were difficult for the Europeans
to navigate, giving the Kalinagos a strategic
advantage. By escaping to these highlands,
they were able to resist attempts to capture
or enslave them.
Ques 7 : Kalinagos’ resistance

In some desperate situations, some

Indigenous people chose suicide or
infanticide as forms of resistance. They
believed that death was preferable to living
under Spanish rule and being forced into
slavery. This tragic form of resistance
showed the extreme measures they were
willing to take to avoid domination. Some
women even drowned their babies or threw
them off cliffs to prevent them from being
captured or enslaved by the Europeans.
Ques 7 : Kalinagos’ resistance

The Tainos, who faced similar pressures

from the Spanish, also chose to resist by
abandoning their settlements and
neglecting the land. Rather than submit to
forced labor or surrender their homes,
they left, making it harder for the
Europeans to establish control over the
territory. This form of resistance was a
way for the Tainos to deny the Spanish
the resources they sought to exploit, such
as fertile land for agriculture and gold.
Ques 8 : The impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous societies

Under this system, the Spanish crown

granted land and Indigenous people
(called encomienda) to Spanish settlers
(called encomenderos). These settlers
were supposed to protect and
Christianize the Indigenous people, but
in reality, they forced them into hard
labor, particularly in gold mines and on
plantations. This system severely
exploited the Indigenous population,
working them to death.
Ques 8 : The impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous societies

The colonization of the Caribbean led to a

genocide of the Indigenous peoples. The
combination of violence, forced labor, and
mistreatment by the Europeans caused the
Indigenous population to decline
drastically. Many were killed during
European attacks or by the harsh conditions
imposed upon them. The Spaniards also
sought to wipe out Indigenous cultures and
religious practices, further contributing to
their destruction.
Ques 8 : The impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous societies

The arrival of European diseases like

smallpox, measles, and influenza had a
catastrophic impact on the Indigenous
peoples. The Indigenous populations had
no immunity to these diseases, leading to
widespread death. It is estimated that
diseases alone caused the death of up to
90% of the Indigenous population in the
Caribbean, wiping out entire communities
and leaving the survivors weakened and
vulnerable.
Ques 8 : The impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous societies

The Taino social and cultural systems were

completely dismantled by European
colonization. The Spaniards destroyed the
Tainos’ villages, enslaved or killed many of their
people, and forcibly converted the survivors to
Christianity. The Tainos’ agricultural practices,
language, and religious beliefs were suppressed,
and their traditional ways of life were replaced
by European customs and systems. The loss of
their land and culture led to the near destruction
of the Taino identity, although some Taino
traditions and influences remain in modern
Caribbean cultures.