Kalinago genocide facts for kids
The Kalinago genocide was a terrible event that happened in 1626 on the island of Saint Kitts. During this time, about 2,000 Kalinago people were killed by English and French settlers.
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The Event
In the early 1600s, more and more English and French settlers were coming to Saint Kitts. The Kalinago leader, named Tegremond, became worried. He saw that the settlers were starting to outnumber his people. They were also clearing land to build farms.
Tegremond's Plan
By 1626, Tegremond feared that the settlers would completely take over the island. He decided to plan a secret attack to remove all the English and French settlers. He sent messages to other Kalinago communities on nearby West Indian islands. He asked them to come to Saint Kitts by canoe at night to help with the attack.
A Warning is Given
However, a Kalinago woman named Barbe found out about Tegremond's plan. She told the leaders of the settlers, Thomas Warner (English) and Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc (French).
The Settlers Attack
Because they knew about the plan, the settlers decided to act first. They attacked the Kalinago people. In this first attack, 120 Kalinago were killed, including their leader Tegremond.
The Battle at Bloody Point
The next day, the settlers forced about 4,000 Kalinago people into an area known as Bloody Point and Bloody River. A big battle started there. Historians believe that about 2,000 Kalinago were killed during this fight, even as some tried to surrender. About 100 settlers also died in the battle. One French settler went mad after being hit by a poisoned arrow before he died.
Aftermath
The Kalinago who survived the battle ran away into the mountains. By 1640, many of them were forced to leave Saint Kitts. Some were enslaved, and others were moved to the island of Dominica.
