Where did the arawaks in the West Indies come from?

The Arawaks, specifically the Taíno people, originated from the Orinoco River basin in present-day Venezuela and began migrating northward to the Caribbean islands around 1000 AD. They spread throughout the Greater Antilles, including present-day Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. These early settlers were skilled agriculturalists and navigators, adapting to the diverse environments of the islands. Their culture significantly influenced the region before European contact.