The Chief of the Kalinago Territory presides over the Kalinago Council, the local government of the Kalinago Territory (formerly known as the Carib Territory or Carib Reserve).Though under the Carib Reserve Act, the area's official name is the Carib Reserve, the Carib people themselves prefer the name Carib Territory, and that name is now in more popular use. See, e.g., ("The reserve was renamed 'Carib Territory' by the Caribs themselves."); ("...the Carib Territory, as it is now popularly called..."). The position is the equivalent of a village council chairperson elsewhere in Dominica. ("Except for this title, [the Carib Chief] plays the same role as all the other Village Council chairmen in Dominica.") Beginning in the late 20th century, Kalinago Chiefs have also acted as a representative of the Kalinago Territory to other indigenous populations in the Caribbean region, and have worked with organizations including the Caribbean Organization of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations..
Historically, the Chief was the leader of the Kalinago, the indigenous inhabitants of Dominica. Under British colonialism, the title was officially recognized as a ceremonial position beginning in 1903, when the Carib Reserve was established. The colonial governor endowed the Carib Chief with a silver-headed staff and a sash embroidered with "The Chief of the Caribs" in gothic lettering.; . Colonial authorities suspended the position in 1930 after "The Carib War," a brief, but violent, civil disturbance.See for a detailed account. The position of Chief was finally reinstated in 1953, as part of an island-wide system of local council government.; . The territory name was changed from "Carib Reserve" to "Kalinago Territory" by an act of the House of Assembly in 2015.
List Sources: Name PeriodThomas "Indian" WarnerServed 1667–74. Half-English, as a son of Sir Thomas Warner.Petit FrançoisServed sometime in the first half of the 18th century(Popot) WakanikServed in the middle half of the 18th centuryJosephServed sometime in the period 1850–75BrunieServed sometime in the period 1875–1900Auguiste FrançoisServed during the period when the Carib Reserve was officially established by the British governmentJules Benjamin Corriette1916–26Thomas "Jolly" John1926–30Simon John1930 (six months)Office suspended1930–52Whitney Frederick1953–59Jermandois Francis1959–72Masclem Frederick1972–75Faustulus Frederick1975–79Hilary Frederick1979–84, 1994–98Irvince Auguiste1984–94Garnet Joseph1998–2004Charles Williams2004–09Garnet Joseph2009–2014Charles Williams2014–2019Lorenzo Sanford 2019–2024Anette Sanford2024–
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References World Statesmen.org . . .