The Kalinago Council has entered into a landmark partnership with the Pawanka Fund, an Indigenous-led grant-making organization based in Nicaragua, securing financial support for a two-year program running from 2025 to 2027.
According to the Council, the collaboration has already yielded an initial grant of US $30,000, which will be invested in initiatives to protect and revitalize traditional Kalinago knowledge. Central to the program is the expansion of cassava cultivation and processing, alongside the transfer of cultural skills such as basket weaving, craft-making, herbal medicine, and the processing of coconut and castor oils.
The Pawanka Fund, established in 2014 during the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, supports Indigenous communities worldwide across seven regions. Its focus is on empowering people to safeguard cultural heritage and advance self-determined development through community-driven projects.
The partnership also extends into international representation. Pawanka has pledged support for Chief Anette Sanford to participate in the International Indigenous Women’s Summit in Belém, Brazil, scheduled to coincide with COP30 in 2025. There, Chief Sanford is expected to highlight the Kalinago community’s experiences and strengthen ties with other Indigenous groups globally.
The Council expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Myrna Cunningham, Chairperson of Pawanka’s Board, for her role in guiding the collaboration, and to Crispin Gregoire, former Dominican Ambassador to the UN, whose efforts in organizing the 2014 Indigenous Peoples’ Conference laid the groundwork for this initiative.
With this partnership, the Kalinago Council underscores its commitment to cultural preservation and youth empowerment, ensuring that traditional practices remain a living, vibrant part of Dominica’s future.
This article is copyright © 2025 DOM767
