Day 8: Carib Territory

Our flight leaves in the afternoon, and we spend our last morning exploring Carib Territory, a 3,500 acre reserve set aside for the last of the indigenous people in the Caribbean. By most accounts, the Carib Indians were originally a warlike group who traveled from South America in canoes, conquering the small peaceful Arawak communities scattered through the Caribbean, killing the men, and keeping the women for wives. The Carib called Dominica "Wai'ti Kubuli", which translates to be "How tall is her body", in reference to the dramatic mountains which rise up out of the sea.

When the Europeans arrived, the Carib Indians throughout the Caribbean defended their lands with a fierce intensity. In other Caribbean islands, they were all but destroyed, either due to illness or slaughter. However, the imposing mountainous terrain of Dominica afforded additional protection for the Carib Indians here. The Europeans decided it easier to trade with the Dominican Caribs than to go enter the imposing mountain interior and try to conquer them.

The people retain many of their pre-Columbian practices, such as canoe building and basket-making. Governance is under a Carib Council. There is an active effort to retain the Carib ways, including discouragement of marrying people outside of the territory. Efforts are being made to create a Carib Cultural Village, which would be a great attraction for tourists. Some fear that the risks of exploitation are too great, but others see it as a great financial resource for the people.

A more detailed history is found here.

All through this trip, Dominicans said that I look like a Carib Indian. I thought it was a joke until we visited this area and I saw some of the school children. With long straight black hair, almond eyes and honey skin, they looked like a tanner version of me as a child. I guess they weren't kidding.


A traditional canoe is built behind the Carib Council House.

Day 8: Carib Territory

Our flight leaves in the afternoon, and we spend our last morning exploring Carib Territory, a 3,500 acre reserve set aside for the last of the indigenous people in the Caribbean. By most accounts, the Carib Indians were originally a warlike group who traveled from South America in canoes, conquering the small peaceful Arawak communities scattered through the Caribbean, killing the men, and keeping the women for wives. The Carib called Dominica "Wai'ti Kubuli", which translates to be "How tall is her body", in reference to the dramatic mountains which rise up out of the sea.

When the Europeans arrived, the Carib Indians throughout the Caribbean defended their lands with a fierce intensity. In other Caribbean islands, they were all but destroyed, either due to illness or slaughter. However, the imposing mountainous terrain of Dominica afforded additional protection for the Carib Indians here. The Europeans decided it easier to trade with the Dominican Caribs than to go enter the imposing mountain interior and try to conquer them.

The people retain many of their pre-Columbian practices, such as canoe building and basket-making. Governance is under a Carib Council. There is an active effort to retain the Carib ways, including discouragement of marrying people outside of the territory. Efforts are being made to create a Carib Cultural Village, which would be a great attraction for tourists. Some fear that the risks of exploitation are too great, but others see it as a great financial resource for the people.

A more detailed history is found here.

All through this trip, Dominicans said that I look like a Carib Indian. I thought it was a joke until we visited this area and I saw some of the school children. With long straight black hair, almond eyes and honey skin, they looked like a tanner version of me as a child. I guess they weren't kidding.


A traditional canoe is built behind the Carib Council House.