The Kalinago people of Dominica originally came from the South American mainland, probably from the Orinoco River area. They were the final wave of thousands of years of migration to the islands of the Lesser Antilles before Europeans arrived at the end of the 15th century. Where native people on other islands perished because of the weaponry and diseases brought by European colonists, Dominica’s Kalinago combined fighting spirit, inherited knowledge, and the dense forests of the island to survive. Today, the majority of their descendants live in a semi-autonomous territory in the east of Dominica.
21st century life in the Kalinago Territory is, for many, still a matter of survival. Although some Kalinago beat the odds and succeed as professional people such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, and so on, the majority are forced to eke a living however they can, often from subsistance farming, fishing, or tourism – upon which Dominica is becoming increasingly dependent. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and social issues such as alcoholism among underemployed men are real problems.
The Kalinago are, however, resilient and proud people. Many are skilled artisans, making traditional basket ware, carving intricate and ornate calabash shells, building fishing canoes, baking cassava bread, and so on.
Although we recognise the importance of tourism to the Kalinago Territory and the country as a whole, we at Kibe’kuati would like to help the Kalinago people become less dependent on it, and develop personal skills, small businesses, and community interconnectedness so that they can also prosper in other areas. We believe this will encourage Dominica’s Kalinago to be more able to empower themselves and thereby achieve a greater feeling of independence. More diverse and sustainable forms of work and lifestyle will also help to build pride, community spirit, and cultural awareness.
We have learned from the ‘banana boom’ of the late 20th century that people simply need opportunity, but that such opportunity has to be diverse and sustainable. Providing such opportunity to Dominica’s Kalinago is our aim.