“Quiet but mighty”

Could you introduce yourself and your work?

My name is Shima Rolle, an events, entertainment, and wellness entrepreneur from La Plaine, Dominica. I am passionate about decolonial initiatives such as the recovery of our spiritual intelligences and cultural appreciation. I’m proud to be an Advocate for the Repair Campaign; here I host “Safe Space” talks and always take the opportunity to share about reparations and encourage others to incorporate a reparatory mindset in their lives.

I’m fortunate to come from individuals who have been instrumental in the progress of Dominica as she is today. Waitukubuli, the Kalinago name for Dominica, has been a safe haven for indigenous lineages and maroons escaping captivity. We are proud to have been a sanctuary for warriors like Jacko, Calypso, Balla, and so many others. We were the last to be “colonized” – although we never fully were – and still continue in preserving our indigenous culture.

Could you share more about Dominica’s histories in the context of repatory justice?

Quiet but mighty, Waitukubuli, “tall is her body”, has always been a central force in the call for freedom and reparations. Whether it is standing up to miners to protect sacred land and the ecosystem, seeking funds to protect endangered species like the Sisserou Parrot and sperm whales, creating art to depict the continued struggles of our people, or joining forces with influencers and professionals who can be a voice for paving the way forward (Dominica Reparations Committee), we will always present to call for justice.

I look forward to more conversations around what active reparatory justice looks like from our end. I believe more education about what neo-colonialism looks like and how we can create around it will be beneficial and crucial to the journey.