Why does Dominica have a distinctive Carib population?

Dominica is the only island in the Caribbean that maintains a relatively large and distinctive population of Caribs. These individuals are the direct descendants of the indigenous people who inhabited the island prior to European colonization.1

Most of the remaining Carib population resides in the Carib Territory, an area of approximately 3,700 acres (1,500 hectares) located in the eastern part of the island. While the original Carib language is no longer the primary language of the island, its legacy persists through various place-names. Additionally, the community continues to preserve aspects of their material culture, such as the production and use of traditional dugout canoes and intricate woven baskets. In the 1990s, the community experienced a cultural renaissance, which included the opening of a cultural centre in Roseau and a renewed interest in their art and traditions.12