DOMINICA CULTURE

ON NOVEMBER 1493 CHRIS COLUMBUS'S SECOND VOYAGE TO THIS AREA, HE NAMED THE ISLAND DIES DOMINIC OR THE "LORD'S DAY". THE CARIBS FROM SOUTH AMERICA HAD INHABITED THE ISLAND FOR 600 YEARS AND OTHERS CALLED AMERINDIANS WERE HEAR FOR AT LEAST 2000 YEARS. SPAIN SOON LOST INTEREST IN THE ISLAND BUT FRANCE AND ENGLAND FOUGHT EACH OTHER FOUGHT EACH OTHER FOR CONTROL DURING THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES. BY 1978 DOMINIC BECAME A DEPENDANT REPUBLIC.

IT IS BETWEEN MARTINIQUE AND GUADALUPE IN EASTERN CARIBBEAN. IT HAS MOUNTAINS UP TO 4500 FEET AND IS 30 MILES LONG. IT IS ONE OF THE LAST IN THE CARIBBEAN TO BE COLONIZED . IT WAS A REFUGE FOR ESCAPED SLAVES AND LACKED SUGAR PLANTATIONS. IT HAS LUSH RAIN FORESTS AND A SULPHUR SPRING WITH A BOILING LAKE. IT HAS A 1700 ACRE NATIONAL PARK WITH WATERFALLS AND RIVERS. BY 1991 THERE WERE 71,000 PEOPLE. THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ARE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. THERE IS A MIXTURE OF MANY CULTURES. FOLKS SPEAK ENGLISH AND BRITISH TOOK CONTROL IN 1763. THE ISLAND HAS SOME CREOLE AS WELL AND SETTLED BY METHODISTS MISSIONARIES. THE LAST FLUENT SPEAKER OF THE CARIB LANGUAGE DIED IN 1920'S. SOME FOLKS ARE TRYING TO RETRIEVE IT. A COMMITTEE OF CREOLE STUDIES WAS CREATED IN 1981. THEY HAVE STRONG RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND VARIOUS SYMBOLS. THE NATIONAL FLAG HAS A PARROT AND 3 COLLARS REPRESENTING BANANAS, RIVERS AND VOLCANIC SOIL.

THEY HAVE VERY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ISLAND HAD CARIBS AND WAS UNCLAIMED UNTIL 1635 BY FRENCH MISSIONARIES. BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH RELINQUISHED IT TO CARIBS AND WAS UNCLAIMED UNTIL 1635 BY FRENCH MISSIONARIES. BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH RELINQUISHED IT TO THE CARIBS, BUT CONTINUED AFTER 1750 TO FIGHT OVER THE ISLAND WHILE CARIBS RETREATED TO THEIR RUGGED RESERVE. BOTH COUNTRIES BUILT ESTATES HERE . BY 1834 NO MORE SLAVES WERE ALLOWED . FREED SLAVES TOOK OVER SOME OF THE ISLANDS - THEY PLAYED POWERFUL ROLES IN THE GOVERNMENT AND AFFAIRS.

IN 1833 DOMINICA PLAYED PART OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS BUT CHANGED TO WINDWARD ISLANDS IN 1940. THE COUNTRY BECAME AN ASSOCIATED STATE WITH BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN 1967 BEFORE CLAIMING INDEPENDENCE IN 1978.

AT THIS POINT THEIR WAS SOCIAL UNREST, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, AND IN 1979 A HURRICANE THAT COMPLICATED THE TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE. THE GOVERNMENT WAS MORE FOCUSED THE FRENCH, AFRICAN, AND CARIBBEAN INFLUENCE, MORE THAN BRITISH. THE CARIB LIVED IN THEIR RESERVE WHILE THE OTHER FOLKS (SOME CHINESE) OWN SOME OF THE LARGEST BUSINESSES. THEIR IS ETHNIC STEREOTYPING.

FRENCH HOUSES WERE BUILT IN THE CAPITAL AND BRITISH BUILT SOME STREETS VERY ORDERLY. THERE ARE MULTISTORY CRUISE SHIPS ON THE REBUILT PORT. THEY HAVE A LARGE CRUCIFIX ON A SHRINE THAT OVER LOOKS THE CITY. THE DOMINICA RURAL HOMES ARE MADE OF WOOD WITH GALVANIZED METAL ROOFS. THEY HAVE A SEPARATE KITCHEN OUTDOORS. THEY SOCIALIZE AT SHOPS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, CHURCHES OR ON THE STREETS.

THEY HAVE RICH VOLCANIC SOIL FOR GROWING FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES, AND ROOT CROPS. BANANAS AND PLANTAINS ARE CENTRAL TO RURAL DIETS. THEY ARE PREPARED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. THEY PROCESS MANIOC INTO CASSAVA BREAD, AS ONCE A STAPLE FOOD. NEW WHEAT BREAD IS FROM BAKERIES. LAND CRABS, RIVER CRAYFISH, AND OTHER FISH ARE CAUGHT. THEY COOK A FROG WITH A CREOLE DISH AND PEPPERS IN OIL. THEY HAVE IMPORTED TURKEY PARTS. FOLKS BAKE CAKES, COCONUT POPS AND SWEETS. THEY HAVE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS. LUNCH IS THEIR LARGEST MEAL OF THE DAY.

DURING THE 1950'S THEY HAD A BANANA BOOM. IN THE 1970'S MANY ESTATES REMAINED SCATTERED AND SOLD OFF IN SMALL LOTS. LAND OWNERSHIP IS WITH A DEED AND HIGHLY VALUED BY PEASANT FARMERS. THE CARIB RESERVE IS EXPANDED TO 3700 ACRES BY BRITISH BUT IT IS COMMUNALLY OWNED.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ARE COCONUT SOAPS, BAY LEAF OIL, RUM, CIGARETTES, PAINT, AND PLASTICS. THEIR MAIN INDUSTRIES INCLUDE FOOD PROCESSING , COCONUT PRODUCTS. MANUFACTURING, DISTILLING RUM, AND HANDICRAFTS. THEY HAVE A SMALL FISH INDUSTRY AND SOME COMMERCE IN TIMBER AND PUMICE. THEY HAVE SMALL FISHING INDUSTRY AS WELL AS TIMBER. TOURISM IS DEVELOPING BUT THEY LACK HOTELS AND AN INTERN AIRPORT. IT IS THE NATURE ISLAND OF THE CARIBBEAN. DAY CRUISE SHIPS VISITS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN 1990'S.

MANY GOODS, FOODS, AND CHEMICALS ARE IMPORTED FROM THE U.S. THEY IMPORT TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY EXPORT. THERE IS A CARIBBEAN MARKET HAT HAS A TREATY ESTABLISHED AND SIGNED BY THE CARIBS. MERCHANTS TRAVEL TO OTHER ISLANDS TO SELL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. MANY OF THEIR POSITIONS ARE GOVERNMENT JOBS THAT REQUIRED POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. RURAL VILLAGES ARE OWNED BY UPPER CLASS DOMINICANS.

SINCE EARLY 1980'S CRIME HAS BEEN LOW. IN 1945 THEY HAD A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND A WOMEN'S DESK. SEVERAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE INDEPENDENCE. THEY OFTEN WORK TOGETHER TO UTILIZE FUNDS FOR PROJECTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE, RURAL HEALTH AND CULTURE.

SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S CRIME HAS BEEN LOW. IN 1945 THEY HAD A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND A WOMEN'S DESK. SEVERAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE INDEPENDENCE. THEY OFTEN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO UTILIZE FUNDS FOR PROJECTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AS HEALTH AND CULTURE.

WOMEN AND GIRLS RAISE CHILDREN. THEY GROW VEGIS, AND RAISE SMALL LIVESTOCK. VENDORS ARE AT THE OPEN AIR MARKETS AND THEY BAKE GOODS AND SELL THEM AT MARKET. THEY WEAVE BASKETS. OR HOUSE CLEAN AND PROVIDE CHILDCARE. MEN HARVEST AND SELL BANANAS A MAJOR EXPORT CROP. THEY THEY TEND LIVESTOCK FISH AND WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, BOTH SEXES ARE PROFESSIONAL. WOMEN'S WORK WAS VALUED LESS THAN MENS. WOMEN AS MOTHERS ARE VERY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY LIFE AND ARE THE CENTER OF KIN NETWORKS.

DOMINICA MARRIAGES ARE BY CHOICE ONLY - I MAN TO 1 WOMAN. MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE PARTNERS BEFORE MARRYING WITHOUT CHURCH MEN ARE PRIMARY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CHILDREN. IN UPPER CLASS MARRIAGE COMES LATER IN LIFE ABOUT 30. DIVORCE IS FROWNED UPON.

A HOUSEHOLD MAY BE A MAN AND WIFE, A WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN, A NUCLEAR FAMILY WITH PARENTS, OR SEVERAL GENERATIONS. THEY SAY THEY SAY EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND IS RELATED. FINANCIAL AND FOOD RESOURCES ARE SHARED.

CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR BY THEIR FAMILIES AND EXTENDED FAMILIES. SMALL BABIES ARE KEPT AT HOME BUT MAY GO TO THE FIELDS AND RIVERS AND ELSEWHERE. WHEN THEY ARE OLDER THEY HAVE CHORES. IN PRIMARY SCHOOL THEY HELP CARE FOR THEIR YOUNGER CHILDREN AND RUN ERRANDS. CHILDREN ARE OBEDIENT. CHILDREN ARE OBEDIENT. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES. EDUCATION IS VALUED. THEY CHARGE FOR PRESCHOOL. ALL ATTEND PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MUST GET A HIGH ENOUGH SCORE ON THE COMMON ENTRANCE EXAM BY AGE 13 TO GO TO SECONDARY SCHOOL. ONLY 2% RECEIVE A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION. PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO GREET ONE ANOTHER WHEN THEY TELEPHONE ONE ANOTHER. PRIVACY IS HIGHLY VALUED

ABOUT 70% OF THE POPULATION IS ROMAN CATHOLIC. CARIB AND WEST AFRICAN BELIEFS IN SPIRITS AND OBEAH IN WITCHCRAFT, CONTINUOUS DESPITE CHURCH DISAPPROVAL. SOME DOMINICANS ARE BEING TRAINED AS CLERGY. NATIVE DOMINICANS HAVE BUILT CHURCHES AND BECAME CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND BECAME NUNS.

THEY HOLD SERVICES RESPECTIVE OF CHURCHES. SAME VILLAGES HAVE STONE CHURCHES FROM 17TH TO 18TH CENTURY. THEY TYPICALLY BURY THE DEAD IN A FETAL POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS. THEY OBSERVE ALL SAINTS DAY BY OBSERVING AND VISITING CEMETERIES AND LIGHTING CANDLES OF THEIR DECEASED. THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS
; PARASITIC INTESTINAL,NUTRITIONAL, VENEREAL AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES, AND DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION. DENGUE FEVER, TEEN PREGNANCY, AND SANITATION ARE MAJOR HEALTH CONCERNS. THEY GENERALLY LIVE TO BE 75 YEARS OLD. THEY HAVE SEVERAL HOSPITALS. THEIR TRADITIONAL MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE INCLUDES THE USE OF HERBS AND PLANTS TO CURE.

THE ARTS ARE LARGELY SELF SUPPORTING AND EVENTS RECEIVE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDING. THEY HAVE A LOCAL HISTORIAN OR ANTHROPOLOGIST WHO HAS PUBLISH THE HISTORY OF THIS ISLAND. BASKETS AND HANDICRAFTS ARE SOLD TO TOURISTS. THEY HAVE TRADITIONAL SONGS, DANCES, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING AT CULTURAL EVENTS. THERE IS LITTLE FUNDING FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DOCUMENTED ORAL TRADITIONS.

HOLIDAYS ARE IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES THAT ARE CELEBRATED WITH KILLING SOME GOATS OR COWS AND THEY PREPARE LARGE MEALS. GUESTS VISIT HOMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ARE GIVEN FOOD AND ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRINKS. CATHOLICS MAKE OFFERINGS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES DURING CHURCH SERVICES.

AGRICULTURE IS A MAINSTAY OF THE ECONOMY WITH BANANAS AND COCONUT AS EXPORTS. THEY ARE NOW A SOCIETY WANTING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR MONOCROP. BY 1763 BRITISH DIVIDED LAND INTO LOTS FOR SALE OF 232 ACRES THAT WENT TO THE CARIBS. FOR THE NEXT 200 YEARS THE LARGEST ESTATES BELONGED TO THE BRITISH OR FRENCH FAMILIES. THESE WERE BOUGHT DURING THE BANANA BOOM OF 1950'S. IN THE 1970' MANY ESTATES REMAINED SCATTERED AND SOLD OFF IN SMALL LOTS. LAND OWNERSHIP IS WITH A DEED AND HIGHLY VALUED BY PEASANT FARMERS. THE CARIB RESERVE IS EXPANDED TO 3700 ACRES BY BRITISH, BUT IT IS COMMUNALLY OWNED.

THE STATE CONFERRED WITH BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN 1967 BEFORE CLAIMING INDEPENDENCE IN 1978.

AT THIS POINT THERE WAS SOCIAL UNREST, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, AND IN 1979 A HURRICANE COMPLICATED THE TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE. THE GOVERNMENT WAS MORE FOCUSED ON THE FRENCH, AFRICANA, AND CARIB INFLUENCE , MORE THAN THE BRITISH. THE CARIBS LIVE IN THEIR RESERVE OWN SOME OF THE LARGEST BUSINESSES. THEIR IS ETHNIC STEREOTYPING.

FRENCH HOUSES WERE BUILT IN THE CAPITOL AND BRITISH BUILT SOME STREETS VERY ORDERLY. THERE ARE MULTISTORY CRUISE SHIPS ON THE REBUILT PORT. THEY HAVE A LARGE CRUCIFIX ON A SHRINE THAT OVERLOOKS THE CITY. THE DOMINICA RURAL HOMES ARE MADE OF WOOD WITH GALVANIZED METAL ROOFS. THEY HAVE A SEPARATE OUTDOOR KITCHEN. THEY SOCIALIZE AT SHOPS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, CHURCHES OR ON THE STREETS.

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