The Kalinago 120 Initiative, a project of the department of Kalinago Upliftment of the related ministry which seeks to commemorate the establishment of the Kalinago Territory(formerly Carib Reserve) on July 4th, 1903 was officially launched on Friday 16 June, 2023.
Former chief, Prosper Paris gave remarks as to the reasons for the initiative as well as the activities which will form a part of it.
He said, “We intend to focus on our existence in the form of an evaluation over the 120 years. We will also hold various symposium to address matters of land management and our natural resources such as coastal erosion, forestry, water resource, agricultural practices for sustainable and commercial enterprises as well as the economic development of the Kalinago Territory”.
Paris explained that national and regional experts will be engaged in a series of consultations, seminars and lectures. The activities will be centered in the months of July to September. From July 1- 9, the focus will be on the establishment of the territory, from August 7-9, activities will be around the observance of International Day of Indigenous Peoples and from September 16-24, activities will commemorate Kalinago Memorial Day or Kalinago Week.
Another key feature of the Initiative will be the establishment of the Kalinago National Day and the finalization of plans for the Kalinago National Flag.
Paris explained that the reason for the Kalinago National Flag is to ‘give better pride and general positive recognition of the indigenous people of Dominica and the only indigenous reservation in the entire eastern Caribbean.The theme of the Kalinago 120 Initiative is ‘Our Land, Foothold of our Survival’.
