Slide One

Building a greater sense of national cultural identity and self-esteem among the
Dominican populace and to harness and employ skills and talents to further
develop arts and culture

Slide One

Building a greater sense of national cultural identity and self-esteem among the
Dominican populace and to harness and employ skills and talents to further
develop arts and culture

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Our Mission

To promote, develop and preserve Dominica’s culture and to encourage a greater awareness of the culture of the Caribbean and that of the wider world

Mr. Earlson Matthew
Chief Cultural Officer

Our Responsibilities

  • Preservation and promotion of Dominica’s cultural heritage and all its various expressions
  • Provision of support for Dominica’s cultural industries’ sector
  • Encouragement of cultural exchange with other countries
  • Assistance with poverty alleviation through arts and culture
  • Building of the institutional capacity of the Division of Culture
  • Management and maintenance of Dominica’s arts centers
Honorable Roselyn Paul
Minister

the replacement of one cultural system by another.

The most devastating impact on the Kalinago culture by the invasion of the European was the Kalinago language. Within four decades of Columbus’ landing, the entire Caribbean had been renamed. The flow of European immigrants, along with forced labour imposed on the indigenous people, helped diffuse the language and culture.

Until the 1920s, few Kalinago could speak or remember the language, while much emphasis was placed on learning the white man’s strange behavior. The Kalinago language was rapidly replaced by a French Kwéyol and, to a lesser extent, English.

Today, most Kalinago say they can’t speak a word in their native language. But many Kalinago names and words are in common use today.

Many villages in Waitukubuli have retained their Kalinago names:

  • Berricoa
  • Bataca
  • Calibishie
  • Layou
  • Coulibistrie
  • Toucarie

Additionally, Kalinago words are used for plants, fruit, animals and everyday objects.

Traditional Kitchen Utensils:

  • Couis – Calabash
  • Cou-Cou – Type of Calabash
  • Kaim Bouk
  • Pikan – Small stick used to take out from the Canari

Fresh water and salt water fish

  • Coulirou
  • Cacador
  • Humma
  • Book
  • Lipi
  • Chatou
  • Laursh
  • Té Ta

Trees and Plants

  • Acajou
  • Balata
  • Cachibou
  • Manioc
  • Simarouba
  • Mapou
  • Cacao
  • Karata

Buildings

  • Ajoupa
  • Mwena
  • Karbet

Fruits

  • Cachiman
  • Papaya

Animal

  • Agouti
  • Manicou
  • Anoli
  • Mabouya

Birds

  • Fou-Fou
  • Gli-gli
  • Si Si Zeb
  • Si Si Rou
Kalinago Word List
My Body Na Nocobou
Head Ichie
Nose Icherie
Ear Aricae
Face Isubu/Icibou
Teeth Ari
Breast Touri
Penis Huera
Eye Acou

 

Expression
Mabpwika Greeting
Ni Lamaha Tina I am hungry
Ita Bia How are you
Aitina Kalinago I am Kalinago
Irufu Tina I am Good
Ka Yamatetina I have a basket
Itali? What is the matter
Tiamatu Teiha She is pretty

For more on the Kalinago people, please visit the Kalinago Upliftment website.

Article by Prosper Paris

Cultural Institutions and Groups

Arawak House of Culture

The refurbished Arawak House of Culture has been opened to the general public since 1994. It is located on Kennedy Avenue, opposite the new Financial Centre in Roseau...

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Dominica Festivals Committee

The Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC), a Division of the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), has special responsibility to ...

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Kalinago Barana Autê

Kalinago Barana Autê, the Carib Cultural Village by the Sea, honors the diversity, history and heritage of the Kalinago people by presenting ...

Learn More

The Dominica Institute for the Arts

The Dominica Institute for the Arts is a premier arts training institution serving Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean...

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The Dominica Pan Association

The Pan Association was set up in the early 1980’s by the Cultural Division and is the umbrella body...

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The Dominica Writers' Guild

The Writers’ Guild was established by the Cultural Division to strengthen efforts geared at encouraging writers in Dominica ...

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The National Cultural Council

The National Cultural Council is a semi-autonomous cultural body set up by in 1981 to formulate cultural policies ...

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The Old Mill Cultural Centre

The Old Mill Cultural Centre was officially established in 1985 to provide facilities for the administration of the arts ...

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Books For Sale

Heritage Dominica—A Collection of Old Dominican Photographs Vol 1 $50.00 $20.00
Heritage Dominica—A Collection of Old Dominican Photographs Vol 2 $50.00 $20.00
National Dress of Dominica
By Aileen Burton
$40.00 $15.00

View All Books For Sale

CD's For Sale

Sound of Dominica Vol 1 $30.00 $12.00
Sound of Dominica Vol 2 $30.00 $12.00
Sound of Dominica Vol 5
(Mabel Cissie Caudeiron’s—Kairi Artistic Troupe)
$30.00 $12.00
Sound of Dominica Vol 6
(Lawonn—Ring Games of Dominica)
$30.00 $12.00

View All CDs For Sale

DVD's For Sale

DVD of Dominica's Traditional Dances

$60.00

$24.00 

DVD of The Bele Dance of Dominica

$30.00

$12.00

DVD of The National Wear of Dominica

$30.00

$12.00

View All DVDs For Sale

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