2016 Cultural Elder Philippa Christopher of Mahaut to receive her sash & cash award on Heritage Day

​2016 Cultural Elder Philippa Christopher of Mahaut will receive her sash and a cash award on Heritage Day, Sunday October 23rd, 2016. Christopher was selected for this honour by the Mahaut Heritage Day Committee, which is responsible for coordinating preparations for Heritage Day in the community.
 
Christopher is being recognized for promoting various aspects of culture such as the national wear, the making of tèt kase, fibre mattresses, ear piercing of infants, organizing of koudmen, and for her work in agriculture and business in the Mahaut community. A number of individuals and groups will also be recognized for their contribution to the development of the community.
 
Heritage Day starts with a Creole Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Roseau Gabriel Malzaire from 10:00 am. A grand exhibition featuring various aspects of the history and cultural heritage of Mahaut will be launched at midday. The Cultural Gala commences at 3:00pm, and includes the addresses by government officials, sashing of the Cultural Elder, issuing of community awards and performances by individuals and cultural groups from Mahaut and surrounding communities.
 
Heritage Day signals the start of the annual Creole Week/Simenn Kweyol celebrations in Dominica. It was first held in 1983 in the village of Toucarie, under the direction of the Cultural Division and the Konmite Pou Etid Kweyol (KEK). Each year, a different village is selected to host the celebrations in order to highlight the island’s unique cultural heritage and rich traditions.
 
This year, Heritage Day places the focus on the host village Mahaut, and will help locals and visitors to become more aware of its attributes such as history and heritage, unique cultural achievements, as well as major personalities and their contribution to the overall preservation of Dominica’s rich heritage and culture.