Who was the first Kalinago leader?

Answer 1

The Kalinagos (also known as the Caribs) are an ethnic group of people native to the Caribbean group of islands, or rather, to the Lesser Antilles islands. As a geographical grouping, Kalinagos are classified as Amerindian, thought to have come from the West Indies and South America to the Caribbean islands about 800 years ago

But very little is known about the ancient history of the Kalinagos. Doubtless each 'tribe' or village had its own leader, but in those days they would not have had the means, nor the need, to elect a 'Chief of all the Kalinagos'.

So, as an ethnic group, Kalinagos and Amerindians have no 'leader', just as Caucasian people neither had, nor have, a 'leader'. Kalinago people live on a number of islands in the Caribbean region. There are hundreds of Kalinago villages and communities all over these islands, selecting/electing their own leaders (chiefs) from among their own communities.

For example, the island of Dominica was once 100% populated by Kalinagos, before European 'settlers' came in the late 1400's. But now they constitute only about 2.5% of the population, and live in their own 'reserve' on the island. Before the settlers came, there seems to have been an island chief, but we have not been able to identify his name. However, in July 2004, the Kalinagos, having been officially 'established' in their reserve for at least 100 years, elected their own Kalinago man Charles Williams as Carib Chief (Source: Wikipedia). However, the whole island of Dominica is actually an independent 'island nation', having gained independence from Great Britain in 1978, the first President (leader?) of the new 'Commonwealth d Dominica' being Frederick Degazon from St Lucia. So, politically, he would have been their 'leader'. But, if so, only of Kalinagos on Dominica, not of Kalinagos living on other islands.

Similarly, the fourth President of Dominica (1993-1998), Crispin Sorhaindo, was actually born on the island of Dominic, in Vieilla Case, a village in the north of the island. The people in Vieilla Case are of Kalinago, French and African descent. Crispin Sorhaindo may have Kalinago ancestry, but ethnic Kalinagos living on Dominic and other islands of Lesser Antilles would hardly have considered him to be 'their' leader.

THE ORIGINAL KALINAGOS

The Kalinagos (Caribs) came to the Caribbean from the West Indies, doubtless from South America. There do not appear to be any early historical records of these South American peoples, so we do not even know that they actually had 'a leader' as such, let alone what his or her name may have been. 'Chief' seems quite likely, but without written records, and without knowledge of ancient Kalinagon, this would be extremely difficult to verify.