“Karukera” means “the island of beautiful waters” in reference to the numerous fresh water springs and sublime rivers that cross the island.

This is the historical name given to Guadeloupe. 
The word "Karukera" probably comes from the Arawak language, a Native American language that was spoken by the indigenous people of the region before the arrival of Europeans. 

​

The Arawaks are a group of indigenous people who inhabited much of the Caribbean and South America, from the region of present-day Colombia to the island of Hispaniola (home to today's Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The Arawaks were farmers and fishermen, and their culture was based on family, community and spirituality.

The Arawaks were the first indigenous peoples of the Caribbean to come into contact with Europeans, when Christopher Colombus arrived in the region in 1492. Interactions between the Arawaks and Europeans had dramatic consequences for indigenous populations, particularly due to the spread of European diseases for which the Arawaks had no immunity. Additionally, the Arawaks were enslaved and exploited by Europeans to work on plantations and mines.

Today, the Arawaks are considered part of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, who continue to fight for the preservation of their culture and traditions in the face of the cultural and economic domination of modern societies.

​

The name "Karukera" is commonly used to designate Guadeloupe in Creole, particularly in local and cultural circles.