The Real History of Indigenous People in the Virgin Islands, Part 1

The Real History of Indigenous People in the Virgin Islands, Part 1

When Christopher Columbus arrived in the Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493, he unknowingly sailed into a region steeped in millennia of indigenous heritage. The picturesque beaches and lush mountains of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John were not untouched lands waiting to be discovered. They were home to vibrant, complex societies with their own languages, traditions, and economies. Yet, the real story of the Virgin Islands’ first people has often been obscured by colonial narratives. This is Part 1 of a series aiming to uncover and honor the true history of the indigenous people who first called the Virgin Islands home.

A Journey Begins: Columbus at Salt River Bay

On November 14, 1493, Columbus anchored his fleet at Salt River Bay on St. Croix, claiming the land for Spain. That morning, he dispatched his men, including a Black sailor, to explore the nearby Kalinago (Island Carib) village. What followed was a violent confrontation between the Spanish explorers and the Kalinago in a canoe. Blood was spilled on both sides, a grim harbinger of centuries of colonization and cultural disruption.

The following day, Columbus sailed north, mesmerized by the archipelago that reminded him of the legend of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. He christened the islands Las Vírgenes—the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas was named “Santa Ana,” and its secure harbor “Serradurra,” or keyhole, for its natural defense.

Pre-Columbian Roots: A Legacy Thousands of Years Old

Contrary to many school textbooks, the history of the Virgin Islands did not begin with European arrival. Indigenous people from the Orinoco River region in South America began migrating northward into the Caribbean around 5000 B.C., reaching the Lesser Antilles and eventually settling Ay Ay (St. Croix), Las Vírgenes, and other nearby islands by 2000 B.C.

Archaeologist Irving Rouse, a leading authority on Caribbean prehistory, classifies this era as the Archaic Age, characterized by stone tools, fishing, and early agriculture. These migrants weren’t a monolithic group but rather consisted of ethnically and linguistically diverse peoples who adapted to the unique environments of each island.

The Rise of the Taino and Kalinago

By the time Columbus arrived, the Taino had become the dominant culture in the Greater Antilles, including present-day Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and parts of Hispaniola. Scholars estimate their population to have been over half a million, with 60,000 living in Puerto Rico alone. Meanwhile, the Kalinago, skilled navigators and warriors, held sway over many of the smaller islands, including St. Croix.

The Taino referred to St. Croix as “Ay Ay,” meaning “Land of Rivers,” and the Kalinago called it “Cibuquiera” or “Stony Land.” These dual names underscore the island’s importance to multiple indigenous groups and hint at a rich cultural interplay that existed long before European contact.

Echoes from the Past: Oral Histories and Modern Tribes

Fast-forward to today, and descendants of these indigenous communities continue to reclaim their identities and preserve their heritage. In March, I participated in a panel discussion hosted by the local PBS station for Virgin Islands History Month. The event featured the documentary We Are Taino, produced by Firelight Media in collaboration with Pacific Islanders in Communications, Black Public Media, and Latino Public Broadcasting.

Panelists Emmanuel Phillips and his mother, Maekiaphan Phillips, both native Virgin Islanders, shared how they traced their lineage back to the Taino and established their own tribe in the Virgin Islands. Their stories challenge the pervasive myth that the indigenous people of the Caribbean were entirely wiped out.

The Untaught Truth: Indigenous Presence Beyond St. Croix

St. Croix is perhaps the best-documented island in terms of its pre-Columbian heritage, but evidence suggests that indigenous people also inhabited St. Thomas and St. John. Unfortunately, native names for these islands remain elusive, lost in the tides of time and colonial renaming. However, we do know from Danish planter Johan Lorentz Carstens that St. Thomas was originally referred to as “Thomma” after an English captain.

When the Danes arrived in the 1670s, they encountered not only pirates but also Black and indigenous people already living on the island. Carstens noted in his writings that pirates had taken local women as partners and brought enslaved African women to the island, resulting in a mixed population.

Colonial Mandates and the Disregard of Indigenous Life

Historian Waldemar Westergaard recorded that the Danes, through the West India Company, were tasked with converting the remaining indigenous people. By then, only a handful remained. One of them, John Indian, attempted to escape and was punished by amputation, a chilling testament to the cruelty inflicted upon the island’s first inhabitants.

This painful past is not part of the standard school curriculum. It is often overlooked in favor of a sanitized colonial narrative. But to understand the Virgin Islands fully, we must confront these truths and uplift the voices that colonial powers tried to silence.

A Complex Tapestry of Migrations

Interestingly, the Caribbean’s indigenous heritage isn’t limited to migrations from South America. There is evidence suggesting that other groups, possibly from Central America via the Yucatán Peninsula and Cuba, also contributed to the peopling of the islands. These early settlers, likely ancestors of the Taino, brought with them knowledge of agriculture, navigation, and community-building that shaped the Caribbean’s early societies.

Their agricultural practices, spiritual beliefs, and communal values influenced island life for thousands of years. Ceramics, petroglyphs, and stone tools unearthed on St. Croix and surrounding islands bear witness to their sophisticated culture.

Africans in the Caribbean Before Columbus

One intriguing point often missed in historical accounts is that Columbus himself noted the presence of “Black-skinned people” trading gold-tipped spears with the natives of Hispaniola. According to his journals, these traders came from the southeast by boat—a detail that suggests transatlantic contact may have occurred before 1492.

This challenges the widely accepted notion that Africans first arrived in the Caribbean as enslaved people brought by Europeans. Instead, it proposes a deeper, more interconnected history between Africa and the Americas.

Unraveling the Colonial Labels: Arawak and Carib

In the next installment of this series, I will delve into the origins of the terms “Arawak” and “Carib,” which have long been used to describe indigenous Caribbean peoples. These labels, often misunderstood and misapplied, were colonial constructs that failed to capture the true diversity of the region’s first peoples.

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We will also explore additional pre-Columbian sites across St. Thomas, Water Island, St. John, and Hassel Island, shedding light on the archaeological evidence that proves indigenous presence was widespread and deeply rooted.

Preserving Memory, Inspiring Future Generations

As we continue to piece together the real history of the Virgin Islands, we must do so with respect, humility, and a commitment to truth. The descendants of the Taino and Kalinago are not relics of the past—they are living testaments to resilience and cultural endurance.

Educational reform, community storytelling, and archaeological preservation are essential tools in this endeavor. The more we know about our past, the more empowered we are to shape a future that honors all who came before us.

Conclusion: Reclaiming Indigenous Narratives

The story of the Virgin Islands did not begin in 1493. It began thousands of years earlier, when the first people carved canoes and followed the stars to new lands. They named these islands, loved them, fought for them, and passed their knowledge down through generations. By reclaiming these narratives, we not only do justice to history but also provide a foundation for cultural pride and understanding in the present.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we further explore the indigenous roots that run deep through the Virgin Islands and beyond.