This story is loosely based on the Taíno, the indigenous people who lived on the Caribbean islands Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico (Borinquen), Cuba, and Jamaica. The Taíno were originally part of the Arawak people, who lived in South America. The Arawaks migrated north and made the islands their homes over time. The Taíno were hunters, artists and explorers. Taíno villages were led by a chief (Cacique). Many words we use today have their origins in the Taíno language (barbecue, canoe, hurricane and guava are just a few).