04 Oct 2019
People
The people who call Dominica home are largely split into two backgrounds. First there is the Kalinago People who are the indigenous peoples of the island, often referred to as the Carib Indians. And, there is the people of African decent who’s ancestors were forced to come to the island as slaves to work on the sugar and banana plantations. Over the past 200 years the two peoples, along with the larger Caribbean region, have built a very unique and distinct society.
Personally, I know very little about the Carib Indians beyond what my wife has told me about them and what can be learned about them on websites created for or by them such as The Carib Territory website which is specifically dedicated to them. What I have learned from my wife is that they were on the island even before the Europeans began settling on the island and bringing African slaves to work on the sugar and banana plantations. During the time of European occupation, they were primarily located near the center of the island surrounded by thick, lush rain forest. They were quite successful at avoiding the clutches of the British, Spanish and French terrorists and would sometimes even help the Africans run away and hide from the Europeans. Today, many of them make a living by carrying on the traditions of their ancestors. Making wicker baskets and furniture as well as traditional pottery and jewelry which they sell both at local tourist stands and internationally!
The descendants of the African slaves that were brought there make up the majority of the rest of the population of Dominica. The culture of most Dominicans is a beautiful mix of the African heritage that came with them, the British culture that was forced upon them and the unique creation of the Rasta culture that began in the Caribbean! They have a deep love and respect for traditional dance, music, art and most importantly education! They are a very kind hearted people and respect for others is an integral part of their society! You will always be greeted with a warm Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening. You would be hard pressed to find someone who is unwilling to help you out if you are unfamiliar with the island! One of the most enjoyable and festive times of the year in this amazing “Heaven on Earth” is their national day of Independence!
Image credit: br0wser (Flickr user) – Shared under the Creative Commons License