GUADELUPE CULTURE

THIS ISLAND OF GUADELUPE IS CALLED KARKERA BY THE CARIBS AND BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN
1493. IT HAS 8 ISLANDS IN THE LESSER ANTILLES, NEAR CARIBBEAN. THE TOTAL AREA IS 660 SQ. MILES. THE AREA IS ESSENTIALLY LIMESTONE WITH PLATEAUS, PLAINS, AND HILLS. THEY HAVE HUMID CLIMATE AND A DRY SEASON FROM JANUARY TO MAY AND IT IS WET THE REST OF THE TIME. THE POPULATION IS GUADELUPE IS 428,000. THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAD THEM ENABLED PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY PLANNING AND A POLICY OF EMIGRATION IN 1961 TO 1981.

FRENCH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION, BUT MOST SPEAK A MIX OF FRENCH AND CREOLE.

THEY HAVE CREOLE, DRUM MUSIC AND FOOD SPECIALTIES AND CARNIVAL SYMBOLS OF FRENCH. ARAWAKS AND CARIBS MOVED THE REGION FROM SOUTH AMERICA. EUROPEANS EXPLORED THE AREA TO RID IT OF INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS AND INTRODUCE SUGARCANE. SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED HERE IN 1848. THEN INDIAN INDENTURED LABORERS CAME HERE.

IN 1946 GUADELUPE WAS AN OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE. THEY HAD A RISE IN UNEMPLOYMENT AND IN 1997 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A REGION. TEENS TEND TO ACCOUNT FOR 43% OF THE POPULATION.....

THEIR SOCIAL CLASS IS BASED ON EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION. CULTURE AND WEALTH. THERE IS NO TENSION BETWEEN BLACKS AND EAST INDIANS. THEY DEVELOPED A UNIQUE STYLE OF AGRICULTURE IN RURAL AREAS; COLONIAL VERANDAS AND JALOUSIED WINDOWS. THEIR EVODEN HUTS ARE NOW CEMENT HOUSES OF MOSTLY ONE STORY.

THEIR FOODS ARE INFLUENCED BY AMERINDIAN, AFRICAN, EAST INDIAN, AND FRENCH CULTURAL TRADITIONS. THEY HAD MANIOC, ROOT CROPS, BREADFRUIT, AVOCADO, GREEN BANANAS, PEAS AND BEANS, OKRA, CURRIED MEAT,SALTED CODFISH, FISH AND TROPICAL FRUITS. CREOLES USE HOT PEPPERS AND SPICES. THEY HARVEST RANGE FOOD FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS.

BY 1996 THEY HAD ONLY 30% OF LAND IN FARMS. AGRICULTURE IS DECLINING HERE. IN THE COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE SMALL GARDENS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A TRADE IMBALANCE AND HAS RESULTED IN LESS EXPORTS. GUADELUPE IMPORTS MOST MANUFACTURED GOODS, EQUIPMENT AND MUCH FOOD. THEY HAVE PRIMARILY SMALL GARDENS.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FUNDS SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS AND A MINIMUM WAGE, PENSIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND WORKERS COMPENSATION, AND HEALTH INSURANCE. WOMEN ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IN MORE NUMBERS IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. WOMEN MAY BE IN ADMINISTRATIVE EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. MOST WOMEN ARE UNDEREMPLOYED.
GENDER WITH RACE AND CLASS IS AN IMPORTANT INDEX OF STATUS. WOMEN ARE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS. WOMEN HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FARM WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS.

IN MANY DOMESTIC UNITS THE WOMEN TO FARM WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS. IN MANY DOMESTIC UNITS THE WOMEN AND CHILD BOND IS STRONG. UNIONS ARE UNSTABLE THEY HAVE POLYGAMOUS SEX RELATIONS; MANY CHILDREN ARE BORN OUT OF MARRIAGE THERE IS A DECREASE IN ADOLESCENT MOTHERS, AND A RISE IN SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES. THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY TO HELP RAISE THE KIDS. A GRANDMOTHER MAY BE INVOLVED. CHILD REARING VARIES WITH THE TYPE OF FAMILY - MANYHAVE STRICT DISCIPLINE.

THEIR RELIGION WAS PRIMRILY CATHOLIC WITH SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CALENDAR. AFTER WWII THESE FOLKS HAVE EMERGED INTO OTHER HINDU RITUALSAND ARE BEING REACTIVATED WITH EAST INDIAN POPULATIONS. EACH VILLAGE, TOWN, AND CITY HAS A CHURCH AND A TEMPLE THEY HAVE FUNERALS WITH DRUMMING, RIDDLES, STORYTELLING AND RUM. THEY FAST FOR FORTY DAYS! MODERN MEDICAL PRACTICES COEXIST WITH TRADITIONAL HEALING METHODS. AND THE USE OF MEDICINAL PRACTICES.COEXIST WITH HEALING METHODS OF TRADITIONAL HEALING. POPULAR DISCOURSE ON THE BODY INCLUDES NOTIONS OF HOT AND COLD. THEY BELIEVE IN SUPERSTITION. IN THE PAST THEY USED PERSONAL FAMILIES REMEDIES, VISITED THEIR HEALER AND THEN THE DOCTOR. TODAY THEY USEWESTERN MEDICINE OR HOSPITALS. EACH TOWN HAS CERTAIN CEREMONIES. THEY HAVE FRENCH ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND MUSIC FESTIVALS.

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