Who Are the Miskito?
The Miskito inhabit the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Honduras—a region historically known as the Mosquito Coast (Moskitia). Numbering approximately 200,000, they are the largest indigenous group in both countries' Caribbean regions. The Miskito developed a unique relationship with British colonizers, creating the Miskito Kingdom that maintained relative autonomy for over 200 years. Today, they inhabit autonomous regions in Nicaragua with their own government structures, speaking the Miskito language alongside Spanish and English. Their territory includes vast rainforests, rivers, and coastline rich in biodiversity.
The Miskito Kingdom
From 1625, the Miskito developed alliances with English pirates and traders, obtaining firearms that made them the most powerful indigenous force in Central America. In 1687, the Miskito formally established a kingdom recognized by Britain, with kings traveling to Jamaica for coronation. This relationship provided protection against Spanish colonization while allowing the Miskito to expand their territory. Though the kingdom ended in 1894 when Nicaragua forcibly incorporated the region, this history of independence shapes Miskito political identity and autonomy claims today.
Lobster Diving
Since the 1970s, lobster diving has become the primary income source for many Miskito men—and a deadly occupation. Divers descend repeatedly to dangerous depths without proper equipment, supplied air through simple compressors. Decompression sickness (the bends) has left hundreds paralyzed or dead. Yet economic necessity drives men into the water despite the risks. The lobster industry, largely benefiting international companies, exemplifies how global markets can impose dangerous labor conditions on marginalized communities. Advocacy groups fight for safety regulations and fair compensation.
Autonomy and Land Rights
Nicaragua's 1987 Autonomy Statute created two autonomous regions on the Caribbean coast, granting indigenous and Afro-descendant communities self-governance rights. The Miskito have their own regional government, can conduct business in indigenous languages, and theoretically control natural resources. In practice, autonomy faces challenges from central government interference, settler invasions, and illegal logging and mining. Recent years have seen violent conflicts over land, with Miskito communities facing armed attacks from settlers seeking to seize indigenous territory.
Hurricane Alley
The Mosquito Coast lies directly in the path of Caribbean hurricanes, which have devastated communities repeatedly. Hurricane Mitch (1998) and Hurricane Felix (2007) killed hundreds of Miskito and destroyed infrastructure. Climate change intensifies storm intensity while raising sea levels that threaten coastal villages. Miskito communities maintain traditional knowledge of weather prediction and disaster response, but recovery remains slow in a region with limited government investment. Climate adaptation has become central to Miskito survival strategies.
References
- Dennis, P. A. (2004). The Miskitu People of Awastara
- Offen, K. H. (1999). The Miskitu Kingdom: Landscape and the Emergence of a Miskitu Ethnic Identity
- Hale, C. R. (1994). Resistance and Contradiction: Miskitu Indians and the Nicaraguan State