ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC -For the primary time within the historical past of the Commonwealth of Dominica, a girl has been appointed as chief of the Kalinago Territory. Earlier this week, Annette Sanford, 41, was invested and given her employees of workplace by the President of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton, who can also be of Kalinago descent and the island’s first feminine president.
In her first deal with as chief, Sanford mentioned she was beginning her time period of workplace on the shoulders of her ancestors, who bravely fought to defend Dominica from European colonizers.
“They fought not simply with weapons however with knowledge, passing down tales that maintain the essence of who we’re. Due to their sacrifice, we’re right here right this moment, a folks with an unbroken spirit and a narrative nonetheless unfolding. These are the shoulders on which I now stand as your Kalinago Chief.”
Sanford is a nurse and politician who served as a senator on the opposition aspect of the Home of Meeting between 2020 and 2022.
The newly appointed Kalinago Chief additionally known as on regional leaders to assist develop the one dwelling indigenous neighborhood within the jap Caribbean.
“Your assist would contribute in direction of therapeutic the harm and injustice skilled all through our existence as an Indigenous folks. I sit up for significant dialogue and collaboration with as lots of you as attainable throughout my time period as Kalinago Chief. It’s value noting that as Dominica indigenous folks, we’re additionally the indigenous folks of the area. Our success is the area’s success. Likewise, our failure can also be a failure of the area as a folks.”
Sanford additionally known as on Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to maintain his 2019 promise to designate a nationwide vacation in honor of the island’s first folks.
“That day would appropriately have fun our tradition and heritage as an indigenous folks. We’d want to advocate July 4 as such a day. We hope July 4, 2025, will begin this celebration.”
In the meantime, the legislator representing communities within the Kalinago Territory, Cozier Frederick, known as on the brand new chief and her council to proceed strengthening the partnership between the native authorities physique and central authorities.
Sanford took over from Lorenzo Sanford, the youngest Kalinago Chief, inaugurated in 2019.
Associated
