Photo posted by Maximilian Forte Arima, in Trinidad and Tobago, is considered the navel of Amerindian heritage, so much so that a community called the ‘Santa Rosa First Peoples Community’ was formed there. Arima is also the home of the Carib Queen, so there is a connection between Amerindians and Arima, but what is the connection between our Amerindian history, Santa Rosa de Lima and Arima? Well, in 1785, the Spanish government decided to repurpose the grounds of the old Capuchin Mission, founded in 1759 and dedicated to St. Rose of Lima, for the continued, more humane conversion of the indigenous. St. Rose was the first ‘new world’ inhabitant to be canonised a saint. She was called ‘Rosa’ because, as a baby, she was as beautiful as a rose and coincidentally went on to sell flowers to support her family, since she was denied entry to the nunnery in Peru.
Since the mission was already devoted to Santa Rosa de Lima, the foundation of the connection between the Amerindians and Santa Rosa was already present. But then it happened! It is said that the converted Amerindians once beheld the apparition of this saint in Arima near a spring which still exists; some say she even spoke to them. It is for this reason there was a push to rebuild her church and even name the area after her. Instead of Santa Rosa de Lima, the place was known as Santa Rosa de Arima. One source purports that she was born in Arima and carried away to Peru as a child. Every year Catholics and members of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community hold a grand celebration for Santa Rosa. It begins with holy Mass, a procession with her statue through the streets of Arima, then a return to the church, followed by partaking in food, singing, dancing and visiting the different stalls.
The power of the Amerindian peoples may have dwindled from colonialism to now, but it certainly has not perished. They are still ever so present and are now claiming and reclaiming their identities, ancestral sites and names.
We hope you enjoyed this article which we have published in commemoration of the Santa Rosa feast day held on Sunday 22nd August, 2021.
Since the mission was already devoted to Santa Rosa de Lima, the foundation of the connection between the Amerindians and Santa Rosa was already present. But then it happened! It is said that the converted Amerindians once beheld the apparition of this saint in Arima near a spring which still exists; some say she even spoke to them. It is for this reason there was a push to rebuild her church and even name the area after her. Instead of Santa Rosa de Lima, the place was known as Santa Rosa de Arima. One source purports that she was born in Arima and carried away to Peru as a child. Every year Catholics and members of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community hold a grand celebration for Santa Rosa. It begins with holy Mass, a procession with her statue through the streets of Arima, then a return to the church, followed by partaking in food, singing, dancing and visiting the different stalls.
The power of the Amerindian peoples may have dwindled from colonialism to now, but it certainly has not perished. They are still ever so present and are now claiming and reclaiming their identities, ancestral sites and names.
We hope you enjoyed this article which we have published in commemoration of the Santa Rosa feast day held on Sunday 22nd August, 2021.
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