Brief History

Info to talk about:

Dominica's first inhabitants, the Ortoroids, arrived from South America around 3100
B.C., and lasted on the island until around 400 B.C. Next came the Tainos, or
Arawaks, who settled in about 400 A.D. By 1400, the Kalinago or "Caribs," moved
aggressively up the Caribbean from South America, eliminating the Arawak from the
region, including Dominica. When Columbus ushered in the era of colonization to
Dominica in 1493, the same fate that befell the Tainos would threaten the Caribs.
Ignoring the Kalinago name that they gave to the island, Columbus renamed the
island Dominica as he first made landfall on a Sunday. The Caribs successfully
resisted efforts of Spanish colonization, but the British and French followed from the
1600s on, battling each other, and the Caribs, to claim the Island. Through the
many battles and ravaged by disease, the Caribs gradually lost control of the island,
fleeing back to South America. However, today approximately 2,000 Caribs remain
on the island, most living in the Carib Territory in northeast Dominica. You many
note that many of village names in and around Dominica are a mix of Carib, French
and English, reflecting the power struggles of the last 500 years.
On November 3rd 1978, the island was finally granted its independence from
Britain. The new era of freedom and independence brought increased challenges,
and economic and political struggles. By the mid-1980s though, Dominica had
settled down as a stable and peaceful country. The success of the banana trade, the
island's major export, brought economic buoyancy to the island. By 1992 however,
Dominica saw sharp declines in banana exports with the loss of its preferential
access on the UK market.

Info to be on slides:
-Dominica's first inhabitants, the Ortoroids, arrived from South America around 3100
B.C., and lasted on the island until around 400 B.C.
-Then, Tainos settled in around 400A.D.
-In the 1400s, the Kalinago tribe moved up the Caribbean, eventually to Dominica,
where they went to war with and eliminated the Tainos
-When Christopher Columbus sighted the island, he disregarded the Kalinago name,
Watiukubuli, he renamed the island Dominica
-Kalinago tribe resisted Spanish colonization attempts, but in the 1600s British,
French and Kalinagos battled for the land. Britain eventually ceded Dominica from
the French and Dominica was made a British Colony.
-On November 3rd 1978, Dominica was granted Independence from Britain.

Brief Culture:
Info to say:
MUSIC-Music and dance are important facets of Dominica's culture. The annual
independence celebrations show an outburst of traditional song and dance
preceded since 1997 by weeks of Creole expressions such as "Creole in the Park"
and the "World Creole Music Festival".
FOOD- Dominica's cuisine is similar to that of other Caribbean islands, particularly
Trinidad and St Lucia. Like other Commonwealth Caribbean islands, Dominicans
have developed a distinct twist to their cuisine. Breakfast is an important daily
meal, typically including saltfish, dried and salted codfish, and "bakes," fried dough.
Saltfish and bakes are combined for a fast food snack that can be eaten throughout
the day; vendors on Dominica's streets sell these snacks to passersby, together
with fried chicken, fish and fruit and yogurt "smoothies". Other breakfast meals
include cornmeal porridge, which is made with fine cornmeal or polenta, milk and
condensed milk and sugar to sweeten. Traditional British-influenced dishes, such as
eggs, bacon and toast, are also popular, as are fried fish and plantains.
Dominica's rich volcanic soil and abundant rainfall are ideal for growing a variety of
fruits, vegetables, and root crops. These are sold at market or by street vendors, but
people typically grow enough for their own consumption. Bananas and plantains are
central to rural diets, and are prepared in a variety of ways.
Info on slides:
MUSIC-Music and dance are important facets of Dominica's culture
-The annual independence celebrations show an outburst of traditional song and
dance preceded since 1997 by weeks of Creole expressions
FOOD- Dominica's cuisine is similar to that of other Caribbean islands, particularly
Trinidad and St Lucia
-Breakfast is an important daily meal, typically including saltfish, dried and salted
codfish, and "bakes," fried dough.
-Dominica's rich volcanic soil and abundant rainfall are ideal for growing a variety of
fruits, vegetables, and root crops
-Bananas and plantains are central to rural diets, and are prepared in a variety of
ways.