
Protecting the Ocean: Lessons from the Kalinago People
January 27, 2025By Tana Tahira Valmond, 2024 Future Blue Youth Council member
As a member of an Indigenous community in Dominica, I’ve grown up with a lot of respect for our environment. For my people, the ocean is more than just a body of water; it is the giver of life and, in our ancestor’s eyes, a spiritual entity and a vital part of our survival.
The Kalinago people are the original inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. For centuries, they have lived in harmony with both the land and sea, relying on their knowledge to guide them on the best way to utilize their resources. The methods they used offer timeless insights into ocean conservation. Side note, they have made an appearance in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie!
One of the Kalinago’s most valuable contributions is their understanding of sustainable fishing. Living on the islands, surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Kalinagos developed methods to fish without depleting marine life. They practiced seasonal fishing, where it was compulsory that fish stocks be given time to reproduce and replenish. They also made fishing traps that were hand-crafted to target specific species and sizes, avoiding overharvesting and minimizing harm to smaller fish and other sea creatures. These practices feel foreign when compared to the overfishing and destructive techniques that threaten marine biodiversity in today’s day and age.
Another urgent issue facing the ocean today is plastic pollution, and here again, we can take a page from the Kalinago’s way of life. Before the introduction of European goods, the Kalinagos relied on natural, biodegradable materials like calabash bowls and baskets made from “lawma”. They enjoyed combining sustainability and art and passing that down to future generations. Items such as bowls and machinery made of natural materials had drawings and symbols carved into them. This contrasts greatly with the single-use plastics and synthetic materials that have become a “necessity” in the modern world.
The Kalinagos also understood that what happens on land eventually impacts the ocean. For example, they grew crops on slopes in ways that reduced soil erosion and prevented sediment from polluting nearby reefs and mangroves. Mangroves, as we know, are critical habitats for fish nurseries and a natural defense against coastal erosion. Yet today, mangroves across the Caribbean are being destroyed to make way for development, putting both marine ecosystems and coastal communities at risk.
Lastly, the Kalinago people also saw the ocean as a spiritual entity deserving of respect and protection. Their stories and rituals reflected this connection, reminding their people of their responsibility to care for and respect the sea. Today, I am carrying on this tradition by reminding you that you, too, can lend a hand in preserving and nurturing our beautiful oceans.