Dominica : Dominica’s Kalinago community is preparing to celebrate 109 years of the establishment of the Carib Territory next month.
The government-supported event is being described as an extremely significant one to the Kalinago as an indigenous race.
According to the organisers, establishing the territory was key in the preservation and existence “of our unique race and cultures for over 100 years”.
British colonial administrator Hesketh Belle is credited with having pushed 110 years ago, for the then Carib Reserve to be properly delineated and officially recognised.
“One year later, on the 4th of July 1903, he proclaimed the legal establishment of the Carib Territory known today as the Kalinago Territory. This in fact had a significant impact on the lives of the Presently 3,000 Kalinago inhabiting the allotted 3,700 acres of land,” the organisers of the coming event have explained.
They have welcomed the current situation in which “today, investors with high stakes in the tourism industry and advocates of our lovely nature island of the Caribbean can take advantage of this unique product; the Kalinago Territory and its people”.
The Kalinago have indicated that they deserve a larger share of the profits that accrue from this.
“Therefore it is up to us Kalinago to find innovative ways to market ourselves in a manner which will bring direct benefits to the Territory,” they have explained.
The planned activities are expected to be held between July 4-9.
They kick off with a July 4th Traditional torch relay, followed the next day by a beautification and clean up project.
The activities also include a “free community social at St Cyr” and a Kalinago history quiz for primary school children.
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