Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………1
Rational………………………………………………………………………………………………..2
Area of research…………………………………………………………………………………………3
Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………………4 Analysis: Agriculture…………………………………………………………………………………………………5
Culture……………………………………………………………………………………………………6
Religion……………………………………………………………………………………………………8
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………9
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………10
First of all, the researcher would like thank the almighty father for granting him the breath of life, wisdom and understanding, also courage to face this assignment head on. Thanks also go out to his family who provided him with all necessary material to do this School Base Assessment, and for their encouragement and guidance. The researcher wants to show gratitude to his classmates for their never ending support and words of encouragement and also his teacher for assigning him with this project to display his skills and what he have learnt. Once again the researcher wants to say thank you all.
This school based assessment is focused mainly on the contribution the Kalinago people made to the social life of Dominicans up to 1985, whether in culture, religion, agriculture etc. It shows the procedure or the way they went about doing whatever they did, in terms of contribution. First of all they are still remembered to this very day and their culture is long lasting. They contributed to the social life of Dominicans, first of all by agriculture, crops they planted and reared whether subsistent or in large proportions, these crops are still reared and some are one of Dominica’s main export crops, bananas. People still practice the methods of planting and irrigation that the Kalinago ancestors used. They also contributed to the social life of Dominicans by means of culture; their dances, dressings and their way of preparing meals are still practiced. And lastly their religion, not many people of the Kalinago territory or the people of Dominica on a whole worships and exalts the gods that the Kalinago people back then used to worship, but a few can still be found.
This SBA is being done so that student may then be further educated on how the Kalinago people contributed to the life of Dominicans up to 1985. After going through this assignment, it will be clear to one what contributions were made, whether through agriculture, culture or religion. These three aspects can be seen in the lives of Dominicans this day. The methods of rearing crops and livestock the way the Kalinago people did are still being practiced today, Culture in general is also seen in the everyday lives of not only the native Kalinago people but in the lives of Dominicans on a whole, and religion though not often practiced as an everyday routine, it is done for healing and mainly to attract tourists.
Agriculture
Religion
Culture
The information collected to accomplish this school based assessment was obtained via the internet, history books, and visits to various indigenous sites, interviews with a few native Kalinago people in the Territory and from topics taught in school. This information was relevant as it was ideal for every part of this SBA.
Agriculture
The Kalinago people contributed agricultural methods which were adopted by the new arrivals. They had digging sticks which are still used for planting dasheen, they had methods of clearing the forest and lighting boucan (a Kalinago word) to prepare for planting crops. In a variety of ways Kalinago farming knowledge has helped support small farmers in Dominica over the years. A few Kalinago tools and methods of rearing crops and livestock are still being practice in Dominica today. Small farms of mixed crops dominated by bananas and coconuts are clustered around the roadsides and surrounding hillsides. The drying of timbers, cocoa, coffee and reeds for basket making are still being practiced.
BOAT BUILDING
The majority of boats used in the fishing industry of Dominica are Kalinago canoes made out of the rain forest Gommier trees. They were made this way from before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. This is perhaps one of the biggest contributions to the development of Dominica because fishing in these boats provides a great source of protein for the nutrition of Dominicans. The Kalinago people also contributed many techniques and tools of fishing to modern Dominicans. A type of net, the Cali, and the club used for killing large fish called the batu still bear their Kalinago names.
CASSAVA PRODUCTION
Cassava was the main food staple for the Kalinago people and it is still grown and processed in Dominica particularly on the east coast of the island. It is an important source of starch and is made into cassava farine and into cassava cakes called kassav. One of the main contributions that were also handed down was how to grate the cassava roots and remove the toxic poison from it so that it could be eaten by humans. This method is still being used by the Kalinago people and people though out Dominica to this day.
MEDICINAL PLANTS Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants that grew on the island was handed down by the Kalinago people to the new African and European arrivals. These had been used for cures and sacred purposes for centuries and the knowledge was transferred. And this practice is still in existence to this day, being used for sicknesses and minor pains.
BASKETS AND HANDCRAFTS
Kalinago handcraft is now a very important part of the Dominican small economy especially now that the tourism industry is being promoted and the banana industry is declining. The Kalinago baskets are unique in the Caribbean because they are made of particular local plants and are produced in a style and with skills handed down before the arrival of Columbus in this part of the world. Baskets are sold to tourists and are used in the hotel industry and exported for sale abroad which helps with obtaining foreign exchange from overseas.
The Kalinago people are believed to have been polytheists. The Kalinago religion, practiced by the Kalinago people, had some features similar to the of the Taino ancestor worship. The Kalinago believed in an evil spirit called Mabouya, the Mabouya had to be placated for any person to escape harm. The buyeis (shamans) were treated with great respect as they could cast spells to keep the Mabouya pacified, as well as heal the sick with herb preparations. Also, the buyeis underwent special shaman training rather than become warriors. Ceremonies conducted by the Buyeis also contained sacrifices. Tobacco was also smoked during religious rituals, as is the case with the Arawaks and other Native Americans. The Kalinago religion had a tradition of keeping bones if their ancestors in their houses; believing that the ancestral spirits would look after the bones and protect their descendants. Though not all of which is practice today, it can be proven by artifacts and signs throughout the Kalinago territory and the rest of Dominica, today people tend to mimic the religious practices of the Kalinago people, mainly for tourist attraction. .
The contribution of the Kalinago people to the Dominicans up to 1985, are still visible in the life of the Dominican people today. First of all, agriculture is being displayed in all aspects, methods of rearing crops and livestock are also vividly practiced. The culture of the Kalinago people is exhibited in the Kalinago territory and throughout Dominica. Though the religious practices of the Kalinago people are not being practiced by much of the people in Dominica, it can still be seen, in the Kalinago territory, but mainly it is being practiced for tourist attraction.
Bibliography The Information in this School Based Assessment (SBA) was o btained by:
-http://da-academy.org/kalinago.html -http://alchemipedia.blogspot.com/2009/12/carib-island-carib-kalingo-people.html -http://www.kalinagobaranaaute.com/carib_territory/history/
Interviews with: -The Kalinago chief Mr. Garnette Joseph -The manager of the Kalinago Barana Aute Mr. Kevin Dangleben -An elder native Kalinago/President of the K arina cultural group Mr. Gerald Langlais
History Books: -A concise history of the Caribbean by B.W Higman -Caribbean History: The inheritors by William Claypole and John Robottom
Visits to: -The Kalinago Barana Aute -The Kalinago Council Office -The Cabrits National park -The site of the Kalinago uprising
