The indigenous people of the Kalinago Territory are celebrating 120 years of indigenous independence. The Kalinago Territory was established as the Carib Reserve on July 4, 1903, and the people have evolved their ethnic identity, traditional cultures, native language, distinctive heritage, and geographical space over the decades.
Under the auspices of the Kalinago 120 Initiative, Kalinagoans will be celebrating the 120 years of their ethnic determination under the theme “Our Land: the Foothold of Our Survival.” The chairman of the Kalinago 120 Initiative, Prosper Paris, said the celebrations will cover the space of one year with various programmes highlighted to project the Kalinago way of life.
Paris said the Kalinago Territory is the “only indigenous reservation in the entire Eastern Caribbean” and that a Kalinago flag is being designed to underscore the pride and recognition of the Kalinagoans of Dominica. He said the date for a Kalinago National Day will also be decided upon by the leaders of the territory and the government to boost the cultural identity of the people.
We intend to focus on our existence in the form of an evaluation over the 120 years. We will also hold various symposiums to address matters of land management and our natural resources such as coastal erosion, forestry, and water resource, agriculture practices for sustainable and commercial enterprise as well as economic development of the Kalinago Territory.
Prosper Paris, Chairman of the Kalinago 120 Initiative
He said there will be series of lectures, seminars, and consultations with national experts on Kalinago matters. He noted that there are programmes earmarked for July, August, and other subsequent months to bring attention to the indigenous people of Kalinago.
Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said the government will intensify efforts to provide Kalinagoans with economic independence, employment opportunities, wealth-building leverage, and socio-economic improvements. He said this effort will cover agriculture, education, business enterprise, housing, disaster risk management, and concessionary loans at the interest rate of 2%.
The government of Dominica will continue all efforts to lift our first people out of economic dependence, increase opportunities for them to build their wealth, and create avenues for growth in agriculture and enterprise and education. These are just some of the ways we are empowering the Kalinago people to sustain livelihoods, increase earnings and household incomes…
Dr. Irving McIntyre, Acting Prime Minister
The acting prime minister said the government is building 200 homes in the Territory for Kalinagoans and another 107 homes under the Housing Recovery Project to ensure climate safety, better accommodation, and boost family integration.
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