Kalinago Week 2026 will feature heritage, culture, health and community activities across Dominica from September 13-19.
Dominica: The Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment has announced that Kalinago Week 2026 is officially set to be held from September 13 to 19, 2026, under the theme, “Honouring Our Past; Celebrating Our Culture; Building Our Future.”
This announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Cozier Frederick, who shared a calendar of events with a list of activities which will be taking place during the week-long period.
According to the calendar, Kalinago Week 2026 will begin on Sunday (September 13), with an Ecumenical Service, and will be followed by Community Appreciation Day on Monday, (September 14).
On day three (September 16), Heritage and History Day will be observed which will feature a Traditional Kalinago Naming Ceremony, while on Day four (September 17), Senior Citizens Day will take place. Moreover, Health and Wellness Day on Friday, September 18.
The annual cultural celebration will conclude on Saturday, September 19, with the Traditional Smoke Ceremony.
Minister Cozier Frederick shared the announcement on his official Facebook page, informing the citizens of the planned activities and noting that further activities will be announced in due course. In his post, the Minister shared a heartfelt message explaining the importance of the cultural celebration for the country.
Kalinago Week is more than a week on the calendar but rather it a journey through memory, identity, culture and resilience. Each September, we remember the sacrifices of our ancestors, honour the legacy they protected, and celebrate a living Kalinago culture expressed through language, food, craft, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony, shared the Minister.
He added that the observance is not only a celebration of the Kalinago people’s rich history and cultural identity but also an opportunity to inspire the next generation to preserve, strengthen, and build upon that legacy.
But Kalinago Week is also about the future. It calls upon every generation to carry our heritage forward through education, leadership, community development, environmental stewardship and the continuing pursuit of dignity and self-determination. Our story did not end in 1930. It continues. It lives in our Territory, our traditions and our people. We remember. We remain. We carry our heritage forward, Cozier Frederick stated.