The Warao Community of San Fernando and Siparia, has introduced the First Annual Indigenous Festival, held from October 13-19, 2024. This inaugural event celebrates the rich history, culture, and resilience of Trinidad and Tobago’s indigenous people and aims to become an annual tradition. It complements the country’s Heritage Week celebrations, which spotlight the contributions of First Peoples and promote understanding through cultural activities.
Heritage Week, marked in Arima, Port of Spain, and other communities, leads up to October 14th, a day dedicated to the First Peoples. Events during this time include sacred ceremonies, indigenous street parades, and community gatherings, where religious bodies, international indigenous representatives, and the public are invited to participate.
A Day of Collaboration and Reflection
During our visit to the festival, chiefs, queens, and elders from Trinidad, Suriname, and Guyana shared their insights and participated in the celebration. At the San Fernando Community Center, visitors were immersed in a variety of workshops and cultural activities, including:
- Craft-making sessions
- Warao language workshops
- A medicinal knowledge workshop
- A full moon fire ceremony
- Music and dance ceremonies
- Indigenous book launches
The festival also featured an array of paintings, crafts, handmade goods, including soaps, honey, woven bags, plants, and locally-produced drinks, reflecting the creativity and sustainability of indigenous artisans.
Messages of Unity and Empowerment
Chief Ricardo Hernandez, head of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, emphasized the importance of the festival as a tool to raise public awareness of the First Peoples’ presence and legacy:
“This event is about preserving our traditions, securing our identity, and empowering our communities. As First Peoples, we must come together and meaningfully contribute to the development of our nation.”
Hernandez acknowledged that unity can be challenging but stressed the need to overcome differences:
“As Cherokee Chief Jim Penn said, ‘It’s not the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that matters, but the quality of it, your pride in it.’”
Caciqua Donna Bermudez Bovell, the fourth blood queen of the Warao Nation, called for unity and urged attendees to focus on what truly matters:
“Our children must come first. The bickering must stop—there is too much to do, and we have a responsibility to protect the land from imposters. Let us leave this festival with peace, harmony, and togetherness.”
A New Tradition for the Future
The Indigenous Festival 2024 signals the beginning of a new chapter for the First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago. It is more than just a celebration—it is a cultural revival, calling for unity and collective action.
The Warao Community of San Fernando encourages everyone to follow their journey on social media at “The Warao Community of San Fernando” and to stay connected with future events.
With this festival, the First Peoples are laying the foundation for a renewed tradition, one that celebrates their identity, strengthens their communities, and ensures their contributions shape the nation’s future.
