Gli Gli to visit Nevis/St. Kitts - Sun St.Kitts/Nevis

[Anguillan newsboy]

by Terresa McCall

A piece of Caribbean history will come a-sailing to the shores of St. Kitts/Nevis in little more than a week, in the form of a visit from Carib Indian Canoe, the Gli Gli.
The visit is part of a Leeward Islands expedition dubbed, “The Caribs are coming!” which seeks to raise awareness and draw attention, “to the survival and resurgence of their culture and to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Gli Gli’s creation,” a press release informs.

During the expedition, Gli Gli will set sail from Antigua and is scheduled to make stops in Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barths, St. Martin, St. Maarten and Anguilla following which, it will cross the Anegada P***age ending at the British Virgin Islands.

Gli Gli which will be crewed by some 14 individuals; 12 men and two women from the Kalingo Carib Territory in Dominica, has been described as “35’ traditional dug out sailing canoe”.
While at St. Kitts, Gli Gli’s crew will provide invaluable educational information to residents and visitors alike by giving talks about Carib culture; performing traditional Carib music; and giving demonstrations of their one-of-a-kind craft-making methods.
The SUN spoke to John Guilbert of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society who gave a list of the activities which are expected to take place upon the arrival of the Carib canoe.
“They will arrive in Nevis next Monday about 4 p.m. A welcoming reception will be held by the Nevis Historical Conservation Society and the Nevis Island Administration at the Museum of Nevis History, Hamilton House.
“Tuesday, they are going to have a performance for the children here in Nevis at the Cultural Centre. Then Wednesday, they are going to go to Oualie Beach Resort and do a performance there. So they will be in Nevis for three days.”
Gli Gli leaves Nevis and arrives in St. Kitts next week Thursday and Co-ordinator of the activities in St. Kitts, Hazel Brookes, informed of the tentative list of activities which would be taking place when the canoe arrives on island.
“On that evening they are going to have a cultural presentation at the St. Christopher Heritage Society. They have indicated that they are going to bring some craft items for sale as well.
“Friday 11 May, they intend to visit the petri-glyphs at Bloody River and we are trying to organise a school to accompany them after which they will show a film at the Tyrell Williams Primary School,” Brookes told the SUN.
This is the first time in more than 300 years that a Carib Indian canoe manned by Dominican Kalinago Caribs will be sailing up the Leeward Islands.



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