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 History and CultureTurks & Caicos Islands, Beautiful by nature |
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Our History The Turks and Caicos Islands was derived from the indigenous Turks’ Head “fez” cactus, 
and the Lucayan term “caya hico,” meaning string of islands. The Taino Indians were the first inhabitants of the islands. The Tainos were eventually replaced by the Lucayans, another Indian people. By the middle of the
16th century, they also disappeared with the arrival of the Europeans as they became victims of Spanish enslavement and European-borne diseases.In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Islands. It is believed as his first landfall in the West Indies. In 1678, a group of Bermudans settled and began extracting salt and logging trees. Salt traders created salinas or salt-drying pans and these still exist in the Islands. Cotton and sisal industries also flourished during that time and their harvests were sold in London and New York. However, poor soil and poor water supply hindered growth of cotton crops. These plantations disappeared when these were ruined by a hurricane. After the islands were controlled by the Spanish, French and British the Islands became part of the Bahamas colony. In 1844, two petitions were sent to the Bahamas House of Assembly requesting separation. In 1848, the Separation Act was passed, establishing the Islands as a separate colony independent of the Bahamas and Bermuda. The Islands were recognized as part of the colony and a self-governing council was elected to govern the Turks and Caicos Islands under a Crown Appointed President, supervised through Jamaica. The Islands were formally declared a Crown Colony and a dependency of Jamaica in 1874. The Islands became a British Crown Colony in 1962. Our Culture Our People The English speaking population is dispersed over the nine main islands i.e. Ambergris Cays, Grand Turk, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Parrot Cay, Pine Cay, Providenciales, Salt Cay and South Caicos. The native people are descendants from African slaves who were originally brought over by Bermudians and Loyalists to grow cotton on the island of Providenciales. The natives or Belongers as we call them are very kind, friendly and religious people. Art Local artists in the Turks and Caicos Islands thrive on the beautiful land and seascapes as themes for their paintings, sketches and drawings. The colorful characters of the natives also offer lots of subjects for the creative artist. Local art is influenced by the styles of our neighbors, Haiti and Dominican Republic. Craft The art of basket weaving, plaiting palm leaves for straw hat, net making, binding mosquito brushes, and weaving fanner dishes and bowls is very much alive in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The majority of these craftsmen and women are found in the three settlements on Middle Caicos Conch Bar, Bambarra and Lorimers. Many of the crafts people donate their time and skills to teaching and training the young people of the settlements with the intention of keeping the techniques alive. Dance There are a number of local dance steps and styles in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The most popular is winin also known as Wine-up or The Wine. To wine is to gyrate the hips from the waist in a circle, to the beat of the music being played, usually Rip-Saw, Soca or Calypso song. It is common to see even very young children stealing the show with their Winin technique at parties and local festivals. Most of the elderly folk prefer the more stylized moves of the Shati, which is a Waltz dance and The Heal & Toe Polka both a mix of our European and African heritage. The Conch Style is a local dance that is done by stepping and hooking one foot behind the ankle of the other in time to the ripsaw music. Another common dance is called the Shay-Shay. This dance is done without a partner and performed as a free for all. Dancers can show off their individual styles and steps when they dance the Shay-Shay. Music The national music of the Turks and Caicos Islands is called Ripsaw Music. Another name for this type of music is 'Rake 'n' Scrape'. The basic instruments used are the saw, the goatskin drum, the hand acordion, also known locally as the Constentina, hand made maracas and the acoustic guitar. The main instrument is the ordinary carpenters' handsaw found in any hardware store. The saw is held with either end in a number of ways to produce a unique percussive scraping sound, this action is called Ripping the Saw. Bending the body and ripping the saw in time with the beat of the music produces a wobbled overtone. This gives the characteristic sound of ripsaw music. Please visit http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/history/ to read more about Turks and Caicos Islands History and Culture. |
