In this episode, we honor the Arawak Taíno and explore their deep Indigenous roots and lasting connection to Haitian Vodou. We begin by providing an overview of Taíno life on the island of Quisqueya before enslavement and colonization, grounding the conversation in who the Taíno were as a people, how they lived, and how they related to the land. We also discuss how the Arawak Taíno supported enslaved Africans before, during, and after the Haitian Revolution, offering knowledge of the land, survival strategies, and spiritual exchange that shaped Haiti’s future.

From there, we move into a high-level discussion of Taíno spirituality, introducing listeners to core spiritual concepts and some of the Taíno spirits, often referred to as Zemis. We explore how Taíno spiritual worldviews centered on nature, ancestors, land, water, and sacred objects, ...