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Fast facts

A recent speaker for the society was Felix Maceguani Rodriguez, who traces his heritage back to Ciboney/Calusa ancestors — his wife Abigail is descended from the Taino tribe. Taino and Arawak Indians lived in the pre-Spanish Caribbean islands such as Cuba and Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The root language of the Ciboney and Calusa is very close to Arawak.

Felix was born in Jacksonville and grew up realizing that Cubans looked down upon Native Americans. He asked his father and others about their history and they were silent, until he found an aunt who was willing to talk to him. He learned that there were four main “fishing tribes” in Florida: Calusa, Ciboney, Tequesta and Tokobaga. The Ciboney left around 2,000 years ago and went to the islands, especially Cuba. They settled in Oriente Province and had 29 separate clans.

They remained primarily fishermen, but also took up farming, pottery and mound building. The main Ciboney town in the area was Baracoa, where they continued to fish but also farmed and produced pottery. A Ciboney dance of that time led to the modern salsa.

Things were fairly peaceful there until the Conquistadors arrived in the late 1400s. Haiti was one of the first places to feel their power, and the people warned other islanders. The Spaniards were determined to kill the natives or else destroy their culture, and the islanders suffered miserably. Eventually, when Spanish rule was well established, intermarriage occurred and this led to a group called matzos or mestizos. Pure Spaniards today still frown upon on such people. Felix gives Castro credit for the road that was built into the Ciboney area and for generally being in favor of conservation there.

Today Felix fashions beautiful wooden paddles to represent the various tribes, and says that some were also used as weapons, carved to a point and with shark teeth imbedded along the edge. He favors hardwoods like mahogany, but also uses cypress, cedar and pine. These are for sale, and Felix also works on commission — you can reach him at 440-0309 or e-mail him at Felixmacquani@gmail.com

What’s new with the museum?

Members of the building committee presented a power point program to the City of Marco Island Council updating progress on the museum and requesting help from the City by way of sharing resources.

The MIHS Committee suggested one way the city might help is to provide fill dirt for the museum from the stockpile awaiting disposal. The city might also be able to adjust their sewage plan schedule that would allow the new museum to hook up instead of spending $40,000 on installing temporary disposal when the sewer line is only a block away.

Marion Nicolay and Betsy Perdichizzi of the Marco Island Historical Society are compiling this report on a weekly basis for the Eagle. Shirley Beckwith oversees the archiving of photos for MIHS.