A descendant's digital contribution to a living culture
This page is created by Onan Thomas, a descendant of the Kalinago people of Dominica. It does not speak on behalf of the Kalinago Council, Elders, or community. Instead, it is a personal, cultural, and technological offering to preserve and honor our legacy.
The Kalinago, once known as Caribs, are the Indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles. The Kalinago Territory in Dominica remains one of the few legally recognized Indigenous communities in the Caribbean. We maintain language, craft, and connection to land despite colonization and modern pressures.
The Kalinago people of Dominica are the last remaining Indigenous community of the Eastern Caribbean, inhabiting a legally recognized 3,700-acre territory along the island’s remote and rugged east coast. The territory comprises eight villages, each rich with ancestral customs, community resilience, and cultural pride. Known to the Kalinago as Wai’tukubli – meaning "Tall is her body" – Dominica’s mountainous terrain helped them resist European colonization for over two centuries.
Today, the Kalinago continue to preserve their heritage through basket weaving, pottery, cassava bread making, traditional governance, and deep ecological knowledge passed down through generations. Their contribution to Dominica’s identity is both historical and living, echoing the strength, artistry, and spiritual connection to land that defines Kalinago culture.
Ancestors of the Kalinago migrate from the Orinoco Basin into the Caribbean, settling Dominica and other islands.
Christopher Columbus sights Dominica; Kalinago resist European incursion fiercely across the region.
The Kalinago maintain control of Dominica’s interior, defending their land against French and British colonists.
The British government formally recognizes the Kalinago presence by creating the Carib Reserve (now Kalinago Territory).
The Kalinago commemorate 100 years of formal recognition with cultural events and community renewal efforts.
Focus on heritage preservation, language revival, and international visibility through culture, tourism, and digital presence.
Explore key cultural and natural landmarks within the Kalinago Territory.
Cultural Site
Viewpoint
Food Spot| English | Kalinago (Karifuna) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Iréi |
| Thank you | Wálibá |
| Water | Túna |
| House | Karbey |
| Child | Kiyá |
| Land | Balú |
| Food | Káli |
| Friend | Kátu |
Photos of crafts, nature, faces, and tradition from the Kalinago Territory.
Sports unite our villages and generations. These videos capture the strength and spirit of our athletes in action.
Watch moments from our cultural and sporting events held in the Territory.
Explore key sites, cultural hubs, and recommended readings about the Kalinago people.
Ancestors of the Kalinago migrate from the Orinoco Basin into the Caribbean, settling Dominica and other islands.
Christopher Columbus sights Dominica; Kalinago resist European incursion fiercely across the region.
The Kalinago maintain control of Dominica’s interior, defending their land against French and British colonists.
The British government formally recognizes the Kalinago presence by creating the Carib Reserve (now Kalinago Territory).
The Kalinago commemorate 100 years of formal recognition with cultural events and community renewal efforts.
Focus on heritage preservation, language revival, and international visibility through culture, tourism, and digital presence.
If you'd like to support me as I build this initiative: