The Amerindians

Contemporary Caribbean documentaries are a relatively rare commodity in U.S. distribution channels—whether art house theaters or cable—which makes this film from the island nation of Trinidad (which includes the smaller island of Tobago) a welcome arrival. Serving as both first-time director and on-camera narrator, journalist Tracy Assing presents a compelling overview of the history of Trinidad's indigenous population, which barely survived the Spanish colonial occupation and was nearly erased from the history books as the country evolved from a British colony into an independent republic. Today, the Santa Rosa Carib Community is Trinidad and Tobago's only officially recognized native community, with Assing's great aunt holding tribal chieftain authority as Carib Queen. But her reign may be coming to an end (she speaks about preparing to join “the Great Spirit”) and the community is challenged to consider the election of a new leader. Assing details how the native peoples—referred to as Amerindians—kept their customs alive via oral history and how they merged their cultural celebrations with Western concepts of theology and economics. Offering a fascinating look at a subject little documented on film, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)