July 4th is a historic date, both for Americans who celebrate their national day and for Dominican Native Americans. In fact, the British created a “Caribbean Reserve” for the latter just 120 years ago. This is now called “Kalina Territory”.
July 4th is not only a historic date for the United States of America. Americans do indeed celebrate the anniversary of their country’s independence from Britain on this day; a statement dating back to 1776.
It was also much more recently, in 1903, on July 4th, when the “Caribbean Reservation” was officially established by the British colonial authorities on the neighboring island of Guadeloupe and Martinique, and has since been renamed the “Kalina Territory”: Dominica.
On the occasion of this 120th anniversary, the program of festivals and events is spread throughout the year.
Dominica is the last island in the Caribbean archipelago to host an indigenous population that was wiped out everywhere else with the arrival of Europeans. In 1763 the English gathered the last survivors of this genocide there; At that time 15 km² were dedicated to them, in a not very fertile, remote and mountainous area of the Atlantic coast.
On July 4, 1903, the Kalinago Territory was officially established, covering the same area as the 1st Reservation.
Half a century later, in 1952, the British colonial authorities set up local government.
And in 1978, the Carib Reserve Act, signed on Dominica’s Independence Day, reaffirmed the territory’s boundaries, its organization, and its local government institutions.
Representation of a family from Kalinago. • ©Martinique the 1st
The population of the territory is estimated at 3,000 inhabitants today. There were 400 when it was founded 120 years ago. The residents of the eight villages share common ownership of all land within the boundaries. Local government is provided by the Carib Council, headed by the Carib Chief, who has the same powers as a special status municipality.
Since the beginning of the 20th century there has been a strong movement to rediscover, preserve and confirm the heritage of the Kalina culture.
The 120th anniversary celebrations, planned over a 12-month period, aim to further strengthen this Caribbean revival.
The young Kalinagos of Dominica. • ©Facebook