Christopher Columbus did not Discover Dominica

Christopher Columbus's ships sailing past the east coast shores of Dominica on November 3, 1493, with the Kalinago on the shore.

Christopher Columbus did not discover Dominica, as the Kalinago, the indigenous people of Dominica, also known as the Caribs, already inhabited it before the Arawaks inhabited them and even earlier by the Ortoiroids, establishing a deep-rooted cultural history on the island.

Dominica was already Discovered by its Indigenous Settlers

The island, called “Waitukubuli” by its natives, meaning “Tall is her body,” had a rich cultural history. On November 3, 1493, Columbus sailed past Dominica but did not land due to the Kalinago’s fierce reputation and his health issues. He named the island “Dominica” after the Latin word for Sunday, “Domingo.”