A delegation of Kalinago indigenous leaders, headed by Chief Anette Sanford and Councilor Miranda Langlais, is currently conducting an official working visit to St Kitts, focused on expanding development opportunities for Kalinago communities residing outside their home nation of Dominica, the Kalinago Council announced in an official public statement recently.
During the ongoing visit, bilateral discussions have already delivered tangible progress on a key collaborative initiative: the proposed establishment of a dedicated Kalinago Craft Center in St Kitts. Once completed, this cultural and commercial hub will directly generate new, sustainable economic pathways for the Kalinago population that has made St Kitts their home, while also preserving and showcasing the indigenous group’s distinct cultural heritage to the broader Caribbean community.
In its statement, the Kalinago Council highlighted a historic milestone tied to this engagement: the Government of St Kitts and Nevis has become the first English-speaking Caribbean government to enter into formal, substantive dialogue with the Kalinago people focused on expanding opportunity for their communities beyond Dominica’s borders. “This is the kind of regional partnership we welcome,” the statement read. “It recognizes that our cultural heritage is a living resource that can create cultural, social and economic opportunities for present and future generations. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and continue to build bridges between our Kalinago communities across the Caribbean.”
Beyond economic and collaborative development talks, the visit also includes a solemn ceremonial component. The Kalinago delegation is scheduled to take part in a public remembrance ceremony honoring Chief Tegremond, the Kalinago leader of St Kitts who was assassinated in 1626 in a plot organized by Sir Thomas Warner — father of Kalinago Chief Thomas Warner of Dominica, who was also widely known by the alternative names “Carib Warner” and “Indian Warner.” The commemoration marks a key moment of collective reflection on shared indigenous history across Caribbean Kalinago communities.