Councilor Mrs. Miranda Langlais, Mrs. Octavia Tyson, Cultural Elder Mr. Skeet Tyson, Kalinago Chief Mrs. Anette Thomas-Sanford Photo: Division of Kalinago Affairs
A recent appeal has been made for the youth of Dominica to prioritize their faith in God to achieve national success, by Cultural Elder Skeet Tyson, who was honored on Sunday as the Cultural Elder of the Year by the Division of Kalinago Upliftment, in partnership with the Kalinago Council and the Kalinago Events Committee. This marked the beginning of the 2024 Kalinago Week celebrations.
“To the young persons, I will say to them to take it easy, one day at a time and just have the Lord in our midst firstly and everything will fall in line. For today, I feel great for being the Cultural Elder for Kalinago Week 2024 and for everything that I have done for my community, I feel good” expressed Mr. Tyson.
The Kalinago community kicked off Kalinago Week with an Expo 2024, themed “Unity in Diversity, Embracing Kalinago Culture.” The Expo aimed to highlight various aspects of Kalinago heritage, including traditional crafts, unique culinary offerings, a parade featuring Kalinago attire, folk music, literature, games, and opportunities for social interaction. Additionally, a Traditional Mas Lapo Kabwit Competition was held and the Sineku Lapo Kabwit Band took home the winning cash prize of $1500.
Lapo Kabwit Band Photo: Division of Kalinago Affairs
This event was held at Soutoma Park, located along the Gaulette River within the Kalinago Territory, and attracted a diverse audience, including many Dominicans from across the island.
” A variety of activities are planned throughout the Territory to celebrate this occasion. Cultural Officer Mr. Prosper Paris urged the people of Dominica to participate in these events as a collective effort to advance the development of Waitukubuli.‘Our next activity will be on September 17, with the Full Moon Naming Ceremony and the Kalinago Traditional Dinner at the Kalinago Barana Aute from 7:00 PM.
On September 18, we will have our Heritage, History, Myths and Legend Day at the Kalinago Barana Aute targeting the Primary School students of Grade Six from 10:00 AM. We will be teaching the students about herbal medicines and Kalinago heritage. The smoke ceremony will be on September 19, in memory of our past heroes who fell and fought for the liberation of the Kalinago people at the 1930 Uprising Site in St. Cyr from 10:00 AM. On Saturday, we will feature a Fashion Show at the Karina Cultural Center to showcase traditional costume and models in native wear. It is a good opportunity to purchase costume wear which will also be available for sale from September 15, at the Soutomah Park in Gaulette River. We want to invite everyone to the activities” stated Prosper.
Chief Anette Sanford after sashing Cultural Elder Photo: Division of Kalinago Affairs
Kalinago Chief, Mrs. Anette Thomas-Sanford, expressed pride in the Kalinago community and emphasized the importance of acknowledging those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Kalinago culture. She also mentioned the upcoming National Kalinago Dress Day, set for this Thursday, encouraging Kalinagos worldwide to don traditional attire in celebration.
“This week we are celebrating Kalinago Week and we did honor our Cultural Elder Mr. Skeet Tyson who has contributed to the community and we believe that going forward, we need to recognize our elders and the contributions that they make because if information and tradition is not passed on, it will be lost by our youth and the community”, said Chief Sanford.
“We are celebrating Kalinago Week under the theme: Unity in Diversity, Embracing Kalinago Culture. I am encouraging all our indigenous people to work together and recognize that unified as a force we can accomplish so much more than our individual self and interests. We want to encourage all the people around Dominica and persons who are Kalinago but living out of the Kalinago Territory to come and celebrate with us, particularly our Kalinago Dress Day which is on Thursday. We are encouraging all persons wherever you are, if you are indigenous or have some indigenous background to wear an indigenous outfit on Thursday and be part of our celebration,” she continued.
Attendees at Kalinago Week opening
The Honorable Cozier Frederick, Minister for Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment, as well as Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency, stated that this year’s theme promotes greater unity among the Kalinago people to fulfill their aspirations as an indigenous community.
“Unity in diversity is a theme that encapsulates exactly what we are as a unique people in the Kalinago space. It really means that although we appear to be different than the rest of the Waitukubulian population, it is important to know that our heritage is what really drives the Waitukubulian society.
For many moons we have integrated into the Dominican society, we have many people who [have] assisted us in the journey and it has come to a point in our history where we are putting ourselves together in ensuring that we can harness all our resources to ensure that the financial obligations that we have as a people, the human capacity, all of this is shared as we have a common dream and hope to make the Kalinago nation a powerful nation to prepare us moving forward. We want to keep a better and more powerful community for generations of Kalinago children to come,” said Frederick.
Kalinago Week is scheduled to run from September 15 to September 22, under the same theme of “Unity in Diversity, Embracing Kalinago Culture.
Craft display at the Kalinago ExpoPhoto: Division of Kalinago Affairs
President of Dominica, H.E Mrs. Sylvanie Burton visiting the Kalinago ExpoPhoto: Division of Kalinago Affairs
Kalinago Development Officer (Ag.) Ms. Alice Dalrymple presenting hamper to Cultural Elder Mr. Skeet TysonPhoto: Division of Kalinago Affairs
Cultural Officer Mr. Prosper Paris presenting token from H.E President of DominicaPhoto: Division of Kalinago Affairs
Listen to Chief Sanford’s remarks here:
Minister Frederick:
Related Articles
Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of
DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member.
All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never
censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain
a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.
We will delete comments that:
contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
Is there a place where someone can order Kalinago wear? Or any patterns if I could find a seamstress?
Proud Carib
September 16, 2024
But who changed the name from Cribs to Kalinago nou? What’s the reason? I grew up all my life reading wonderful books about the Caribs and all of a sudden that wonderful history is lost? Can someone please tell me where I can read a book highlighting the history of the Kalinago? Should we also change the Caribbean to Kalinagorean, and the Caribbean sea to the Kalinagorean sea?Man no wonder we taking all this nonsense from Skerrit because we behaving like we have forgotten our history. I am a Carib at heart and all my Carib blood in my heart and I am proud of it.
Is there a place where someone can order Kalinago wear? Or any patterns if I could find a seamstress?
But who changed the name from Cribs to Kalinago nou? What’s the reason? I grew up all my life reading wonderful books about the Caribs and all of a sudden that wonderful history is lost? Can someone please tell me where I can read a book highlighting the history of the Kalinago? Should we also change the Caribbean to Kalinagorean, and the Caribbean sea to the Kalinagorean sea?Man no wonder we taking all this nonsense from Skerrit because we behaving like we have forgotten our history. I am a Carib at heart and all my Carib blood in my heart and I am proud of it.