Growing interest in ancestry research among people of Caribbean descent

GREAT BAY-KRALENDIJK--Caribisch Netwerk has published a compelling feature by journalist Deborah Bremmer highlighting a rising movement among people of Caribbean descent who are tracing their ancestral roots. The article, titled “More and more people of Caribbean descent are looking for their roots,” explores how new access to digitized slave registers and historical archives is helping families across the islands and the diaspora reconnect with their history and identity.

The report describes a surge of interest both in the Caribbean and the Netherlands, driven by projects such as “Proteha Mi” on Bonaire and the “Family Traces” initiative in Dutch cities. These programs aim to make genealogy more accessible by digitizing records and hosting community workshops that guide people in discovering their origins.

On Bonaire, the Proteha Mi project is led by the Bonaire Archaeological Institute (BONAI) in collaboration with archaeologists Daudi Cijntje and Maaike de Waal. Supported by the Faro Implementation Agenda and the Mondriaan Fund, the three-year project focuses on cultural preservation, community engagement, and “healing the past” through historical understanding.

Lauriane Ammerlaan, director of BONAI, shared that reconnecting with one’s lineage can bring validation and belonging, particularly for islanders navigating questions of identity and place. “When you uncover your family history, you have proof that you belong here—something no one can take away from you,” she said in the Caribisch Netwerk interview.

Archaeologist Daudi Cijntje, who was born in the Netherlands to Curaçaoan parents, explained that tracing his roots allowed him to reconcile his Caribbean identity with his upbringing in Europe. “When people find out who they are, they dare to choose for themselves more often and express themselves more freely,” he said.

The article also includes reflections from anthropologist Jay Haviser, who emphasized that understanding ancestry strengthens identity and helps communities confront the legacy of colonialism. He noted that as migration reshapes island societies, the rediscovery of heritage is becoming an act of cultural resilience.

Caribisch Netwerk reports that digitized slave registers—first made public in 2020—are opening new doors for families who, for generations, lacked access to such information. While research remains challenging due to incomplete records, ongoing digitization projects are making steady progress toward restoring historical continuity.

In the Netherlands, the “Family Traces” project is connecting members of the Caribbean and Surinamese diaspora with genealogical researchers, helping them uncover personal histories once buried in archives.

The Caribisch Netwerk feature frames this renewed curiosity about ancestry as both a personal and collective healing process. As Ammerlaan put it, making these archives public is “a way of saying sorry for the past… it helps people understand where they come from and why they feel at home.”

For the full article by Deborah Bremmer, visit Caribisch Netwerk at www.caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl

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