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Santa Rosa First Peoples Resource Centre
POTTERY

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The collection of artifacts I choose to focus on at The First Peoples' Centre was the pottery.

The Kalinagoes, also known as the Caribs were traditionally seen as warlike aggressive people; they were considered nomadic, moving from place to place which may suggest that they may not have had an organized society. It is also recorded that they were cannibals but the discovery of various artifacts suggest that while some of this may be true, there was another side to the Carib society. They were very versed in hunting, fishing, agriculture and pottery etc.
Pottery was also a form of art which reflected their society and which the indigenous people practiced for thousands of years by their ancestors and then passed it down to generations after generations. While the men hunted and fish, women were in charge of making the potteries. They used the coiling techniques with rolls and clay dough.

Civilisation

A civilised society can be measured by the way they develop tools to meet the needs of society. The pottery is a reflection of their tools used for carrying water (Jugs, bowls). It was also used for eating (calabash) and developing musical instruments and used for various purposes in their ritual ceremonies.

Ethnocentrism

The pottery items tend to have various patterns such as various religious or mystical designs. Kalinago women often shaped small animals or human representations called "adornos" on the rims of their pottery. This identified them as Caribs as opposed to any another tribe --- their uniqueness and special hand crafted designs.

Revisionism

While early historical impressions may have reflected the Caribs as aggressive, nomadic and warlike, the discovery of artifacts in the form of pottery reflected a more settle people living in a structured society, which may reflect family life. Their cannibalism was mostly found in ritual religious ceremonies.

Defining the Caribbean

The artifacts are similar to what you find in other places in the Caribbean e.g. Dominica, which shows the influence of the Kalinagoes throughout the Caribbean. This symbolizes the major impact the Kalinagoes had on the Caribbean in contributing to our rich heritage and culture.

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Discovering the "New World"

a. Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who wanted to set sail to the East through the western sea route to lands that possessed prized resources.  Columbus was in search for the gold, spice and the pearls of Asia. He was unable to fulfil his goal when he began to discover the "New World". On August 3rd 1492, Christopher Columbus left Spain and began his voyage with 3 small ships, the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. He made landfall in the island of Bahamas and went on to further explore other Caribbean islands in successful maritime explorations. During Columbus' lifetime he led 4 expeditions to the New World where he was able to discover the Gulf of Mexico, the south and central main lands and various Caribbean islands. Columbus had discovered for Europe the New World which in return for many centuries would contribute to Spain's economy and help it to become the most powerful nation in the world. Columbus discovered the Caribbean when his ships set sail and landed on various islands located in the Caribbean Sea, home to at the time the earliest inhabitants.

b. At the time when Columbus landed and discoverd the "New World", there were groups of indigenous people inhabiting many of these Caribbean islands already. They were known as the Tainos and Kalinagoes. The indigenous groups were living what was considered primitive lives. They used various tools they made to aid them in hunting for food and practicing agriculture. They made their cutleries out of materials nature produces such as wood, dirt, vines etc. They practiced various rituals that to Columbus, he saw as immoral and unethical. They behaved wild like animals and were not dressed as civilized individuals, for their clothing where made out of materials from nature and knitting. Also, they already had a governing structure in place to run their tribes and engage in acts of war. The Indigenous tribes were not accustom to the standard of living of the Spanish and were very aggressive towards them especially to the fact of the Spanish invading their home. The New World only experienced European civilization following Columbus arrival because, he brought with him, wealth, goods and advancement of technology. Christopher Columbus also brought with him his practices and teachings of Roman Catholicism as the Spanish Colony was fully of this religion. These Caribbean islands were then taken over by the Spanish Colony, resulting in killing of (murder and foreign diseases) the indigenous people and extracting resources from these islands. The Spanish Colony saw these islands as prized possessions due to the high production of various natural resources such as cotton, coca, sugar etc.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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"Die with my Dignity" - Singing Sandra

a. This song is relevant to an enslaved woman in the chattel slavery during the 18th Century Chattel slavery with reference to the fact that many enslaved black women were taken advantage off by their slave owners. Slave masters used many enslaved women as sex tools for their personal gratification and also for producing of offspring. Female slaves were seen as weak, feeble and passive. Women had two roles on the plantations, they worked as field labourers and also were responsible to procreate. Sexual exploitation was quite frequent but having sexual relations with slave masters would have some perks and increase incentives for these women. As slave women would obtain a certain respect from their slave master as they would be responsible for the next generation of slave masters.

b. The song "Die with my Dignity" by Singing Sandra is relevant to women in the 21st century Caribbean Society as currently we still see women in our society being sexual harassed, abused and taken advantage of. The calypso song emulates the cries of strong black women who are seeking for justice and fighting for women rights. The song was written to express the hurt, pain and frustration women have to go through, especially those who are not financially stable. It was written to ridicule men who are of high esteem and class, who are in various positions of power and to protest against prejudice and oppression. There are many instances in society where women who are looking for a stable job to provide for their families and are being taken advantage by wealthy men who offer them high positions and salaries. In our society today, women are being raped, objectified and seen as a sexual tools used for gratification. We still face gender inequality where in some societies women are seen as weak and men hold a higher and stronger power over them.

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Apprenticeship Period

The final law was made in the fight to end slavery. The Emancipation Act of 1833 came into practice on August 1st 1834 where slaves were freed at the age of six years old and those slaves who were of an older age were made "apprentices". This meant that they worked on the plantations up to 8 years but in return receive board and lodging in return for the work they do while learning. In return the slaves would receive a small stipend for they work they do. It was a form of trade amongst the slave master and the salves but a deliberate action to ensure that plantation owners were provided with free labour even after slavery was abolished. Slaves were learning to be free and because of the way the system was operated the end of slavery did not actually meant freedom for the enslaved Africans. The term "neither freedom nor enslaved" meant that the apprenticeship period were not suppose to have the level of harsh treatment and abuse as opposed to during the slavery period; however at the same time the African slaves who were made "apprentices" did not have much freedom. They still were expected to work on the plantation fields day and night. But unfortunately the slaves were not aware of what they were expecting as they were not explained in detail about the apprenticeship system. Many people still found that it turned out to be a form of slavery as the Africans were still brutally abused, taken advantage of and overworked. Many abolitionists considered that the name "apprentices" was just a different name that the Africans were given under slavery. The apprentices still faced similar challenges that were equivalent to the way they were mistreated during the enslavement period and much freedom were not granted to them. True fredom came in 1838 when the apprenticeship period was terminated.

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“The importance of Female Slaves in The Caribbean.” Making History at Macquarie, makinghistoryatmacquarie.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/the-importance-of-female-slaves-in-the-british-caribbean/. Retreived 23/03/18

“The End of Slavery.” Port Cities Bristol, www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/against-slavery/freedom-from-slavery/apprenticeship/slavery-end/. Retreived 20/03/18

“History.” This Day In History, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbus-reaches-the-new-world. Retreived 27/08/18

“Christopher Columbus.” EyeWitness To History.Com, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/columbus.htm. Retrieved 19/02/18

"Santa Rosa First Peoples, TT"
http://www.santarosafirstpeoples.org/history-of-the-amerindian-canoe-and-building-rituals/

“Home to the Indigenous People of Dominica.” Kalinago Territory, kalinagoterritory.com/work-art/crafts/.