Village to portray Carib Indian culture in Dominica
Part of the Carib Model Village in Dominica
By Malaika Laurent
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent
Email:
malaika@caribbeannetnews.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
ROSEAU, Dominica: A model village worth over EC$2 million
last week officially opened in Dominica to commemorate the life of its
indigenous people, the Carib Indians. The Kalinago Barana Auté, which translates
to “Carib Cultural Village by the Sea’, is located on a 4,000-acre reservation,
on the island’s northeast coast.
Over 3,000 indigenous people, simply called Caribs,
were granted the reserve just over 100 years ago by government after
occupying the whole island for centuries. Willa Cyrille, Project Manager of
the model village, which is part of the reserve or ‘territory’, said the
life and culture of the indigenous people would be portrayed.
“We have seen the indigenous people featured
prominently in Dominica’s overall marketing programmes, however, there was
never anything specific that could bring people to the territory other than
the mere mention that the indigenous people live on the east coast.
“This project is going to change all that,” she said,
“Anybody who comes to the island and wants a snapshot of the indigenous
people should visit the project because of the range and diversity of the
products that we will be offering here.”
She noted that the project would provide employment
for the native people on the 4.2-acre model village, which consists of 14
structures made of concrete, wood, straw and thatch.
It features the indigenous Karbet (the home of the
Carib Chief and his wives), the Mwina (the native home of a Carib), the
Ajoupa (the area where indigenous Caribs cooked) and displays the canoe in
which the Caribs migrated to the islands.
The site also has a river leading to a waterfall with
the Atlantic Ocean on its border. There will be demonstrations by the Caribs
on a daily basis, including theatrical performances and canoe building that
would allow visitors to see the lifestyle of the first settlers in the
region.
Former Carib Chief Faustulus Frederick said he was
proud that his idea to construct a modern Carib village 30 years ago has
finally been realised.
Frederick, who served as Carib Chief in 1978 when
Dominica became an independent nation, said that the model village would
keep the Carib culture alive in Dominica. “We need when you walk into this
community we see Caribs. We want to see the more typical lifestyle of
people. I am proud because it will be able to employ our local people.
“It’s also an educational project. People could come
here and look at the places, study our lifestyle,” Frederick told reporters
who visited the site.
The Caribs call themselves Kalinago (men) and Kalifuna
(women) and were among the first settlers in the Caribbean with Dominica
being one of the few countries where they remain prominent in society.
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