THE HOUSE OF KALINAGO
A Kalinago Connection
The Kalinago people, also known as the Caribs, are the indigenous custodians of the Caribbean, whose legacy is etched into the islands’ culture, history, and identity. Their spirit of resilience and profound connection to the land and sea form the foundation of my heritage, an enduring thread that weaves my story into theirs.
The Kalinago thrived across the Lesser Antilles long before European colonization. Skilled seafarers and warriors, they navigated the Caribbean’s azure waters, establishing vibrant communities and trading networks. They lived in harmony with nature, crafting canoes from towering gommier trees, weaving intricate baskets, and sustaining themselves with crops like cassava, yams, and bananas.
My family’s connection to the Kalinago is more than a lineage—it is a testament to survival. As colonization swept across the Caribbean, the Kalinago faced displacement, violence, and the erasure of their culture. Yet, their resilience endured, preserved through oral traditions, craftsmanship, and an unyielding sense of identity.
Growing up, I heard echoes of the Kalinago spirit in our family stories and practices. The reverence for nature, the importance of community, and the oral storytelling traditions reflect the Kalinago influence that shaped our way of life. We carry forward their legacy in the quiet pride of knowing that we are part of a lineage that refused to be extinguished.
Today, the Kalinago Territory in St.Vincent and the Grenadinesand Dominica stands as a beacon of survival and cultural preservation. It is a place where the indigenous traditions continue, where the art of canoe-making and cassava bread baking live on, and where the Kalinago share their story with the world. Their courage and adaptability inspire not just their descendants but all who cherish the resilience of the human spirit.
Through my heritage, I honor the Kalinago people—not just for their history but for their enduring presence in the fabric of Caribbean identity. They remind us that to endure is to triumph and that our roots, though tested, hold the power to ground us in who we are and where we come from.
