1. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 367 years of history (1635 -
2002)
2. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1635 - two Spanish ships
wrecked off the coast of St. Vincent - West African slaves escape
to the island, where they found the Yellow Caribs, a group which
emerged from the intermarriages between the Venezuelan Caribs and
the island Arawaks.
3. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1675 - another shipwreck
brought another wave of Africans to St. Vincent. Also, African
slaves who had escaped nearby slave plantations from places like
Jamaica found their way to the island.
4. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1750 - The new race of people -
today called the GARIFUNA or Black Caribs, which emerged on the
island of St. Vincent through the integration of 3 peoples: the
Arawaks, the Yellow Caribs and the Africans - are said to have
grown strong and prosperous on the island.
5. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1763 - British colonizers
established presence on the island; French had already partially
colonized the territory. British and French were fighting for
territorial control. The Garifuna sided with the French, with whom
they had developed a trading relationship after an informal war
truce/peace pact.
6. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1763-1795: 32-year conflict
between the Caribs and the Europeans, particularly the British.
There was some intermarriage also between the Caribs and the
Europeans, resulting in the so- called Red Carib race, known from
the island of Dominica.
7. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1795: On March 14, Paramount
Chief of the Black Caribs, Joseph Chatoyer died in battle. It is
reported that Chatoyers daughter, Gulisi was one of the first to
settle Belize. At the age of 24, she reportedly came to Belize from
Honduras, with 5 sons.
8. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY Chatoyer, Chief of Black Caribs
on St. Vincent with his 5 wives. (Late 18th century engraving from
1773 original by Agontino Brunias.)
9. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1796: The French surrendered to
the British; but the Caribs kept up the fight. They were famed as
belligerent. To subdue them, the British -who were after the land
they had cultivated- torched their possessions. There were two
major wars: the Caribs won the first in 1795, and the British won
the second sometime in 1796.
10. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1797: Just over 5,000 Garinagu
were said to have survived the wars. In March, the British launched
a manhunt for the Garinagu. They wanted to use those who had
survived the bloody wars to help them fight against the Spaniards.
They were expecting a war, which came in 1798 - the historical
Battle of St. Georges Caye, and had uniforms made for the Garifuna
men.
11. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1797 contd: One year before
the Battle of St. Georges Caye, the British packed up about the
Garinagu into ships, reportedly with the intent of sending them to
Belize. The popular traditional accounts say that they were
deported from St. Vincent to Roatan, Honduras - then a Spanish
colony. Perhaps the Garinagu refused to fight!
12. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1797 contd: The Garifuna
people were transported from Bequia in St. Vincent to Roatan, and
half of them reportedly perished from the scourges of disease,
starvation and harsh treatment by colonial powers.
13. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY
14. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY
15. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1799: First reported contact
with Belize. 1801: On March 25, Garinagu arrive at Belize City,
spotted many white buildings near the sea and called it by the name
YARBURA - which later became Yarborough. They were only allowed to
stay temporarily for 2 days.
16. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1802: 150 Caribs settled in
Belize at Yarborough. Some surnames of the settlers include:
Avaloy, Avila, Beni, Blanco, Cayetano, Ciego, Diego, Ellis,
Enriquez, Guerrero, Lambey, Lewis, Martinez, Moguel, Noguera,
Nunez, Rhys, Reyes and Serano. One of the prominent leaders at the
time was Benito Beni.
17. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1802: Village of Red Cliff -
present day Barranco - established. Today, Barranco, one of the
first Garifuna communities in Belize, is one of the last havens
where the Garifuna culture is preserved in one of its most dynamic
forms.
18. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1823: 375 Garinagu recorded at
Yarborough in Belize City. On March 31, Elejo Beni, Romauldo Lewis,
Elias Martinez, Alejo Lambey joined by Alejo Benis cousin, Benito
Beni, their interpreter, approached Sup. Major-General Edward Codd
(1823-1829) for permission for Garinagu to migrate from
Honduras.
19. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1823: On Wednesday, November
19, 500 Garinagu settled in Belize. This was the largest recorded
exodus of Garifuna to Belize. 300Dangriga (then Stann Creek Town)
125Punta Gorda (Toledo) 28 Seine Bight 15 Jonathon Point 8 Newtown
(desolated by hurricane)
20. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1941 - First celebration of
Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize, called Carib Disembarkation Day.
Founded by Thomas Vincent Ramos. 1943 - Ramos lobbied for a public
and bank holiday and succeeded two years after celebrations began.
Granted only for Stann Creek.
21. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 1944: Holiday extended to the
Toledo District, where the second largest concentration of Garifuna
lived. 1977: Carib Settlement Day becomes a national holiday, and
name changed by Garifuna Settlement Day.
22. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY Annual Re-enactment
23. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY THEME for 2002: 200 years -
Celebrating our Achievements and Meeting the New Challenges! Bian
San Irumu Afeduha Wamei Wawanseru, Aranseu Luba Iseri Dasi!
24. TIMELINE OF GARIFUNA HISTORY 2001: On November 15, UNESCO
made a public proclamation of the Garifuna culture as a Masterpiece
of the Oral and Intangible heritage of Humanity. 2002: On November
13, the Order of Belize will be bestowed posthumously upon T. V.
Ramos, now recognized as one of Belizes true patriots.