An exhibition titled 'Aux origines de la Caraïbe. Taïnos et Kalinagos' opened on December 13 at Fondation Clément in Martinique. Designed by the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, it traces over six thousand years of history of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, decimated at the start of the colonial era. Anette Sanford, leader of the Kalinago community from Dominica, hailed the event as a living heritage.
The exhibition, running until March 15, 2026, highlights the history of the Taínos and Kalinagos, the first inhabitants of the Lesser Antilles. These indigenous peoples were largely eradicated at the onset of colonization three centuries ago, yet their traces remain visible today in Martinique.
At the opening on Saturday, December 13, Anette Sanford, 42 years old and elected leader of her community in 2024, delivered a poignant speech. Adorned with an Amerindian headdress of Amazonian bird feathers, she stated: 'Today’s exhibition provides tangible proof that our history is not a relic of the past, but a living heritage.' From Dominica, neighboring Martinique, she represents one of the last pre-Columbian communities in the Lesser Antilles, confined since 1903 to an isolated reserve of about 3,000 members.
This grand event brings together distinguished guests and aims to rediscover Amerindian art and culture. It underscores the need to preserve this heritage against the erasure imposed by colonial history, offering a fresh perspective on the Caribbean's origins.
