The Modern day St. Vincent Kalinago

Today, on the Island named Yurumein (St. Vincent) by the Garifuna (The Black Caribs), are a remnant of the Garifuna People, who were never captured, banished and who never knew slavery, are still living on St. Vincent. There is also a settlement of what may be considered, direct descendants of the Kalinago (The Yellow Caribs) People who received favorable treatment from the British, are still living in small Villages on the island of St. Vincent.

There are some things that are common, to the two groups that makes up the St. Vincent Indigenous People (SIP). Over the years, the Kalinago people have both lost all aspect of their culture, as well as, the ability to speak and understand, the language that was native to them.

I greatly suspected that in the Kalinago people case, this was done to remain in the Good graces of the English, who had banished them to the far north of the Island.

The Kalinago People

The Kalinago people that can be found on the island of St. Vincent are the direct descendants from the original people who first settled the island. The main settlement of the Kalinago, can be found on the extreme north of the island and encompasses villages such Sandy Bay, Owia and Fancy, which are the main or original Villages they settled. Later, they moved more south, closer to the imaginary dividing line, which marked the Kalinago territory: the Rabacca Dry River. Although the Kalinago occupies lands on the Windward side of the Island, there are also settlements on the Leeward course. Examples of these settlements are Clay Valley which is just on the outer limits of the capital Kingstown, Rose Hall and Rose Bank are also Kalinago or Yellow Carib settlements.

Unlike the small islands that is found on the south of St. Vincent that today is called the Grenadines; St. Vincent is an extremely fertile island. The Kalinago People, were allowed to settle St. Vincent, which meant that they had very fertile farm lands, which they were able to utilized to feed themselves. However, this sea fearing nation, was unable to utilize the see in the same manner they once did. This was and still is so, because the sea in the area of the Kalinago's arranged settlement, is a part the open Atlantic Ocean. As a result, of this simple but profound fact, the sea in these area are consistently rough and gives way to boisterous waves that crash onto the shore; waves which keeps the sea in that part of the Island, rough and dangerous. This did not stop the Kalinago People from adopting and from feeding themselves as well as, making a living from the sea as: Fishers.

Distinct feature:

The Kelenago, people may have taken longer than expected to become properly and fully integrated in the community, this may be so, because of their totally distinct appearance. Their beautiful yellow skin, that appear to glow are hard to miss, their square forehead and their lack of height, are all unmistakable, identifying features of the Kalinago people. The basic characteristics of the Kalinago people, have not change much and they can still be identified on site even though they are quickly becoming integrated into the community.

　

The Temperament of the Kalinago People.

The Kalinago people, have somewhat of a docile or submissive, peaceful nature. There is not much violent crimes that is reported to have been committed in that part of the island. They are a closely knitted community, who for the most, part keep primarily to themselves. Although they are very hospitable, they rarely let outsiders to settle in their community. The occupation of choice are generally farming and fishing; however, as more of the Kalinago people come too acknowledge and appreciate the value of formal education and more of them began to go in pursuit of higher education, they have been venturing out and taking up more nontraditional (for Kalinago) jobs.