Indigenous heritage took centre stage at the Banwari Trace Archaeological Site in San Francique on Sunday, as the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago commemorated World Indigenous Peoples’ Day by showcasing traditional knowledge, cultural artefacts and the nation’s prehistoric past through an Ice Age Fossil Outreach.

The Banwari Trace Archaeological Site carries profound historical significance, as it was here that the remains of Trinidad and Tobago’s oldest known inhabitant were discovered, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of the country’s earliest inhabitants.

Leading a smoke ceremony to open Sunday’s proceedings, Chief of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, Ricardo Bharath Hernandez, called for greater respect and recognition for Indigenous people.