Kalina people

Quick Facts: Who was Kalina people?

Subject:

Kalina people

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Indigenous people of northern South America, historically known as Caribs or Kaliʼna.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Kalina (Caliña), also known as the Caribs or mainland Caribs and by several other names, are an Indigenous people native to the northern coastal areas of South America. Today, the Kalina live largely in villages on the rivers and coasts of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. They speak a Cariban language known as Carib. They may be related to the Kalinago of the Caribbean, though their languages are unrelated. The exonym Caribe was first recorded by Christopher Columbus.

Career & Major Achievements

One hypothesis for the origin of Carib is that it means "brave warrior". However, this is considered a folk etymology, and the name is more likely based on a different (but perhaps related) people's endonym in another Cariban language meaning "person" and deriving from Proto-Cariban *karipona, possibly via a Caribbean Arawakan intermediary such as the Kalinago ("Island Carib" or Iñeri) word karifuna (which is also the source of the exonym of the Garifuna; compare also Carijona, Karipúna, and similar names), though the source language is uncertain. Its variants, including the English Carib, were then adopted by other European languages. Early Spanish colonizers used the terms Arawak and Caribs to distinguish the peoples of the Caribbean, with Carib reserved for Indigenous groups that they considered hostile and Arawak for groups that they considered friendly. The name Galibi, originating as a form of the word Caribe, has also been used since at least the 19th century and is still common in Portuguese and Spanish, possibly making a resurgence in recent times as an autonym used by some Kalina groups and closely related populations, some of whom are of mixed origin and speak a creole language.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This is also the source of the place names São José dos Galibi, Santa Maria dos Galibis and the part of Suriname called Galibi. Different Galibi groups are further differentiated based on geography, such as by which river they live near (more information below). The Kalina call themselves Kalina or Karìna (approximately [kaɽiɁɲa] in IPA), spelled variously. Variants include Kaliʼna, Cariña, Kariña, Kalihna, Kalinya. In their native language (Karìna auran), it literally means "person".

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kalina people

True or False: “The name 'Carib' was originally derived from a local word meaning 'brave warrior'.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text suggests the origin is more likely based on an endonym in another Cariban language meaning 'person', not necessarily 'brave warrior'.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Kalina people