A Brief History of Ouanalao / St. Barthelemy
Long before St Barts became a popular tourist destination, it was home to people who had little in common with the folks who inhabit the island today. Depending on what you read, there were a number of groups that inhabited the area. Going back to 1000 BC, it is believed that the island was inhabited by people called the Ciboneys. Later on, the Arawaks would arrive and it appears that they may have been invaded by the Caribs. Obviously, there were not as many good restaruants on the island in those days.
There were however a lot of Pelicans. According to world renowned Arawak / Amerindian expert "Mr. JAM" The "Arawak or Amerindian" word for "pelican" is ialíppou / yalippou NOT Ouanalao. So why the indigenous people named the island Ouanalao is a mystery and I have no idea what it means. According to Mr. JAM.....nobody knows what it means.
Things began to take a new direction in 1493 when Christopher Colombus sailed by and named the island St. Barthelemy in honor of his brother Bartolomeo.
Over the years, the island was claimed for Spain by Columbus and owned by the Knights of Malta, the French and the Swedes.
If you check out St Barts national coat of arms, you will find references to the past including the Maltese cross, three crowns. the Fleur-de-lis and two pelicans standing guard at either side. It also says OUANALAO......which could mean anything.....perhaps even Pelican.
