Chief of the Kalinago Territory explained

The Chief of the Kalinago Territory presides over the Kalinago Council, the local government of the Kalinago Territory (formerly known as the Carib Territory or Carib Reserve).[1] The position is the equivalent of a village council chairperson elsewhere in Dominica.[2] Beginning in the late 20th century, Kalinago Chiefs have also acted as a representative of the Kalinago Territory to other indigenous populations in the Caribbean region, and have worked with organizations including the Caribbean Organization of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations.[3]

Historically, the Chief was the leader of the Kalinago, the indigenous inhabitants of Dominica. Under British colonialism, the title was officially recognized as a ceremonial position beginning in 1903, when the Carib Reserve was established. The colonial governor endowed the Carib Chief with a silver-headed staff and a sash embroidered with "The Chief of the Caribs" in gothic lettering.[4] Colonial authorities suspended the position in 1930 after "The Carib War," a brief, but violent, civil disturbance.[5] The position of Chief was finally reinstated in 1953, as part of an island-wide system of local council government.[6] The territory name was changed from "Carib Reserve" to "Kalinago Territory" by an act of the House of Assembly in 2015.[7]

List

Sources:[8] [9] [10] [11]

NamePeriod
Thomas "Indian" WarnerServed 1667–74. Half-English, as a son of Sir Thomas Warner.
Petit FrançoisServed sometime in the first half of the 18th century
(Popot) WakanikServed in the middle half of the 18th century
JosephServed sometime in the period 1850–75
BrunieServed sometime in the period 1875–1900
Auguiste FrançoisServed during the period when the Carib Reserve was officially established by the British government
Jules Benjamin Corriette1916–26
Thomas "Jolly" John1926–30
Simon John1930 (six months)
Office suspended1930–52
Whitney Frederick1953–59
Jermandois Francis1959–72
Masclem Frederick1972–75
Faustulus Frederick1975–79
Hilary Frederick1979–84, 1994–98
Irvince Auguiste1984–94
Garnet Joseph1998–2004
Charles Williams2004–09
Garnet Joseph2009–2014
Charles Williams2014–2019
Lorenzo Sanford 2019–2024
Anette Sanford[12] 2024-

References

Notes and References

  1. Though under the Carib Reserve Act, the area's official name is the Carib Reserve, the Carib people themselves prefer the name Carib Territory, and that name is now in more popular use. See, e.g., ("The reserve was renamed 'Carib Territory' by the Caribs themselves."); ("...the Carib Territory, as it is now popularly called...").
  2. ("Except for this title, [the Carib Chief] plays the same role as all the other Village Council chairmen in Dominica.")
  3. .
  4. .
  5. See for a detailed account.
  6. .
  7. Web site: 2015-02-22. Change from Carib to Kalinago now official. 2021-07-21. Dominica News Online. en-US.
  8. Web site: Honychurch. Lennox. 2004. The Kalinago Fight for Oüaladli and Oüahómoni: A Clash of Cultures over Possession of Antigua and Barbuda. live. 2021-07-21. www.open.uwi.edu. https://web.archive.org/web/20190224013447/http://www.open.uwi.edu:80/sites/default/files/bnccde/antigua/conference/papers/honychurch.html . 2019-02-24 .
  9. Web site: Joseph. Garnette. 2009. The Kalinago Chiefs of Dominica. live. 2021-07-21. divisionofculture.gov.dm. en-gb. https://web.archive.org/web/20160101124351/http://divisionofculture.gov.dm:80/index.php/indigenous-people/18-the-carib-chiefs-of-dominica . 2016-01-01 .
  10. Web site: 2014-07-07. UPDATE: Charles Williams confirmed as Kalinago Chief. 2021-07-21. Dominica News Online. en-US.
  11. Web site: 2019-07-26. Lorenzo Mika Sanford: The Newly Elected Kalinago Chief. live. 2021-07-21. The Dominica Chronicle. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721223505/https://thedominicachronicle.com/lorenzo-mika-sanford/ . 2021-07-21 .
  12. Web site: Anette Sanford calls for unity after historic win; promises to deliver . Dominica News Online.