The Kalinago people of Castle Bruce have just learned their true history from Dr. Lennox Honeychurch, Dominica’s celebrated historian. Honeychurch took the people back in time to the colonial period when the slave trade dominated the Caribbean, and when the topographies of present-day communities were different from they are today.
According to Dr. Honeychurch, Castle Bruce was formerly known as Kouanari in the original Kalinago language. But the name was changed to Castle Bruce to honour James Bruce, the plantation owner whose sugar-cane farm dominated the area. Bruce’s former residence overlooked his plantation, and this is where the Christian Union Mission Church stands today.
Bruce made use of slaves to farm his sugar-cane plantation, and he cared nothing for their welfare, prompting several revolts from his slave workers.
Honeychurch went back in time to inform residents of the geological formations in Castle Bruce and how they came to be; and he revealed that the mountains, flatlands, beaches and rivers for which Castle Bruce is noted for are similar to those found in Roseau for historical reasons. He went on to lecture them on British colonization, slavery and post-slavery life in the region.
The historian noted that James Bruce among other plantation owners exported rum, molasses and lime to Europe from their sugar-cane plantation, with Castle Bruce being one of the oldest parts of Dominica. Some of the ancient ruins of Kouanari were recently bulldozed to facilitate the construction of new housing. There were equally islets that the ancient Kalinago farmed, and which colonial masters used as shipping points for foreign trades.
But it was not all good news for the British colonialists. Several slaves revolted against their masters and the British ended up freeing many African slaves brought to the region. When the British Army captured an enemy ship with slaves in 1837, most of the slaves were freed in Castle Bruce. This enabled the freed slaves and other native residents of the area to fight against injustice and colonial oppression.
Today, Castle Bruce has Loreen Bannis-Roberts for a United States ambassador, with Stafford Alred being the first local representative in government.
The historical event was tagged “From Slavery to Championship” and it marked part of the activities lined up for Castle Bruce’s Village Feast celebrations. Following Honeychurch’s presentations, participants call for a ban on the misleading historical books used in schools for their children, saying Honeychurch’s expositions should be written into a book for use in Dominican schools.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
