Curaçao

Nathan Allen, Maggie Burns, Kellie Shanaghan

a historical

preface

The first people to inhabit Curacao were the Amerindian Arawaks who migrated north from South America; those who settled on Curacao were the Caquetios who lived there for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived on the island.

 

In 1499, Alonso de Ojeda, a Spanish conquistador landed on the island to find the Natives who were mainly fishermen and salt miners. It was later conquered by the Spanish and called "Isla de los Gigantes," referring to the Arawak peoples.

The Dutch gained control of the island in 1634. The capital was named Willemstad.

Willemstad Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the Americas, is home to a group of Jews that emigrated from Portugal. This is the oldest continuous Jewish population in the Western Hemisphere.

Because of its importance as a major slave trade port the Dutch and the British fought over the Island. In 1815, the Dutch regained control again.

In 2010, Curaçao became an independent constituent country under the rule of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Natural Resources

An extremely accessible natural harbour exists near the capital town of Willemstad.

 

The dutch were initially driven to the Caribbean due to the need for salt to preserve Herring.

 

During the 1600s and 1700s Curacao’s port was open to the rest of the world while business and the slave trade were flourishing.

 

The island resources differ from typical tropical island vegetation:

Lots of xeric shrublands - with cacti, shrubs, evergreen, and watapana tree.

 

 

Surrounded by extensive fringing reefs adding up to a total area of ~130 km^2.

 

Since settlements concentrate around Willemstad, large parts of the coast are fairly undeveloped.

 

 

 

Cultural Systems

Incredible ethnic diversity

 

European, African, and Jewish heritage

 

Afro-Carribbean, Dutch, French, Latin American, and Asian cultural influences

Literary Elements

 

Arawaks oral history was primarily lost

 

Papiamentu

-Native language of Curaçao

-Stories and poetry written in this language

-Magic Realism

 

 

One of the most important figures in West African/Caribbean folklore. Often takes the shape of a spider and is considered the spirit of all knowledge of stories. Trickster. Stories brought to Curacoa from West Africa with tales of Anasi

Anansi

Dutch Colonial

Architecture

Carnival

One of largest and longest lasting Carnival celebrations in the Caribbean

 

Carnival Queen - Represents Mother Earth (fertility and peace)

 

Carnival King - Represents infertility, sins, and bad luck. Burned at the end of Carnival

Fishing & the Ocean

Environmental Issues

Coral Reef Loss

 

 

Loss due to fishery disturbance, pollution, and changing ocean chemistry.

 

The Ocean is responsible for sequestering 1/3 of all carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere.

 

Absorbs 90% of generated heat.

 

 

 

 

Successful Restoration in Curaçao

 

Polyps produced through sexual reproduction are attached to substrates.

 

New genetic combinations may lead to better outcomes for new coral.

Substates can be wedged into crevices.

 

 

 

The Shell Refinery

 

 

A Sustainable Way Forward

As of now, Curaçao imports its energy supply (fossil fuels) from Venezuela. To become energy dependent the island should look to renewables that are capable of supplying the people. For resilience, the island, although small, should still consider micro grids for energy.

In Addition: 

Curaçao's imagined futures can become realities on small scales with engaged communities. The reefs will require community members on the ground to restore. The future of energy independence necessitates community independence. The Isla refinery must be cleaned up, and should be done so by the responsible parties so that those affected can moved forward.

Community Action in Practice

Blue Halo Curaçao is an initiative, based on collaboration among government agencies and fishermen to develop better harvesting mechanisms that aid in marine / coral protection. Priorities are set based on ecological and cultural principles that work in unison.

“An important part of this work for me is preserving Caribbean cultures, which are tied to the ocean ... When you lose the quality of the ocean resources, you lose the culture too.”

- Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Director of Blue Halo

Who is Curaçao for? 

Citations: 

http://www.secore.org/site/about-us.html
http://divemagazine.co.uk/eco/7942-successful-curacao-coral-sowing-project http://www.secore.org/site/newsroom/article/we-need-to-start-coral-restoration-sooner.158.html
https://ejatlas.org/conflict/shells-toxic-legacy-in-curacao
https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/caribbean/curacao/history-and-culture
https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-four-main-cultures-of-curacao
https://mythology.net/mythical-creatures/anansi/https://e360.yale.edu/features/how_long_can_oceans_continue_to_absorb_earths_excess_heat https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/sustaining-fishing-and-island-culture-caribbean