The Indegenious People of St Croix
- Isabella Hernandez & Claudia Espinosa
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Much of history is overlooked because it was passed down through oral traditions rather than written records.
Colonization decimated Indigenous populations in the USVI, but their influence is found in Caribbean language, food, agriculture, traditions and direct descendants living on today.
Legacy is not what remains untouched; legacy is what survives by becoming what follows. If you look around, it’s deeply rooted in the island’s identity, and its influence continues today.
Read these 9 Must-Know Facts About St. Croix’s Indigenous Roots.
Indigenous Influence
Before Europeans arrived, St. Croix was home to several Indigenous groups: the Ciboney, likely originating from northern South America and Cuba; the Arawak peoples, including the Igneri (from northern South America) and Taíno (from the Greater Antilles and northern South America); and the Carib (Kalinago), who likely migrated from the Orinoco River region in present-day Venezuela. Each group had distinct cultures, with the Ciboney likely among the earliest settlers. Also worth mentioning, that the Ciboney were more hunter gatherers compared to the later agricultural groups.
What we want to me clear when explaining the Indigenous origins, is that peoples didn’t just “come from South America”—they island-hopped in canoes over thousands of years.
Early foraging groups (ancestors of the Ciboney) arrived 6,000–7,000 years ago
Later waves of ceramic-making farmers (Arawak ancestors) came ~2,500 years ago
“Caribbean” Origins
The term Carib (Kalinago) is believed to be linked to the word “cannibal”, a label popularized by Europeans to justify conquest and enslavement. Over time, the name evolved into “Caribbean,” now describing the entire region, transforming a once-negative label into a shared identity.
From Ay Ay to St. Croix
St. Croix has had several names over time, from “Ay Ay,” used by Indigenous peoples, to “Santa Cruz” (“Holy Cross”) given by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and later translated into French as “Sainte-Croix,” which evolved into today’s St. Croix.
Shaping Caribbean Food Culture
Staple foods like cassava (used to make flatbread), sweet potatoes, and peppers were cultivated by the Arawak peoples of St. Croix, including the Igneri and Taíno. Cassava bread is still enjoyed across the Caribbean today.
Art, Craftsmanship and Language Remains
Petroglyphs (rock carvings) can still be found on St. Croix, especially at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, giving clues about spiritual beliefs and daily life.
Although colonization devastated Indigenous populations, their legacy merged into Afro-Caribbean culture, and words like cane, hammock, and barbecue are derived from the Taíno language.
Art was also used to express identity and beliefs as way of expression. This was done through crafting pottery, music, dance, and ceremonies.
Connecting with Nature
Indigenous communities practiced what we now call regenerative living, rotating crops, fishing with seasonal awareness, using plants medicinally, and building homes with natural airflow and shade. Their lifestyle was deeply connected to the land and sea. Today, their influence lives on in herbal traditions, respect for reefs and fishing seasons, and open-air architecture adapted to the climate.
Culture, Leadership AND SpiritualitY
The Arawak (Taíno) were agrarian, living in organized villages.
The Taíno also believed spirits lived within stones, trees, mountains, and water, often honored through sacred objects and called upon for guidance and protection. Perhaps why visitors today describe St. Croix as grounding, healing, and spiritually alive.
In terms of leadership, societies had chiefs (caciques) that led communities and the roles in society were shaped by age, gender, and status. Spiritual leaders, known as behíques (shamans), acted as healers and intermediaries, using plants and rituals to connect the physical and spiritual worlds.
Ceremonies were an important aspect of indigenious culture that brought communities together through drumming, chanting, and dance, connecting them to ancestors and the natural world around them.
Expert Navigators Using the Stars
The Carib (Kalinago) were expert navigators and warriors, traveling in swift canoes that carried trade, stories, rituals, and family ties.
Long before Europeans arrived, they navigated the Caribbean Sea without "modern tools", intelligentally using the lost skill of navigating by the stars, currents, and wind patterns.
Indigenous groups built networks across the islands, trading goods like food, ceramics, and shells while forming alliances and relationships.
There were also periods of conflict, with groups like the Carib (Kalinago) and Taíno engaging in raids and competition over resources.
Despite tensions, intermarriage and shared practices led to cultural exchange, blending traditions, knowledge, and ways of life across communities.
Their Legacy Still Lives On
To Indigenous peoples, land wasn’t something to own, humans were part of nature, not separate from it. Life was lived in rhythm with the sea, the soil, and the changing seasons. Colonization brought disease, violence, and displacement, but through resilience, their influence endures, in the language we speak, the foods we eat, their direct descendants alive today and the ways the land and sea are cared for. Their wisdom lives on, quietly shaping St. Croix’s identity and the way we connect to this island today.
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