The President of the Canary Islands attends a tribute to the birth of General Artigas, who is considered the father of the nation and the grandson of a Canary Islands emigrant.
On Saturday, President Fernando Clavijo reaffirmed the continued support for socio-health cooperation projects and heritage protection initiatives that the Canary Islands Government promotes in Uruguay. This assurance followed his visit to the Museum of History, Culture, and Canary Identity, a centre inaugurated last year, backed by the regional government’s funding.
A Milestone for the Canary Diaspora
The museum, established by the Canary Islands Society, represents a significant landmark for the Canary diaspora, being the first of its kind in Latin America dedicated solely to preserving and promoting the memory of emigration and Canary identity in Uruguay. It features a permanent collection of household items, historical documents, publications, photographs, and traditional attire that help illustrate the impact Canary Islanders have had on the social, economic, and cultural development of Uruguay since 1726.
In addition to this centre, the Deputy Ministry of External Action has funded six international cooperation projects in Uruguay during this legislative period, amounting to an investment of €357,895. These initiatives, run by third sector organisations that have participated in public calls for funding, focus on dual training courses, socio-healthcare, infrastructure improvements, supporting women’s business training, and preventing gender-based violence in vulnerable educational contexts.
Meetings with Local Leaders
During his official visit to Uruguay, Clavijo also met with the Mayor of Canelones, Francisco Legnani, one of the 19 Uruguayan departments with the highest number of Canary migrants settled during various waves of emigration. They discussed the conditions of the islander community and the progress of cooperation projects driven by the autonomous community in this southern province.
Regarding this, the President informed Legnani about the Canary Government’s involvement in the “Cultural Community Centre of the Canary Islands” project, which will be developed in the municipality of Barros. This initiative aims to transform the space into a community and cultural centre to strengthen social ties, promote citizen participation, and enhance Canary culture in the department.
The project, supported by the government, incorporates a specific component dedicated to promoting and spreading Canary identity as a living heritage of Canelones.
Broader Cooperation Efforts
Apart from this initiative, the regional government is currently implementing several cooperation projects in Uruguay that also benefit Canelones, which are part of the support provided to the Canary community in the country through the Directorate General of Emigration led by José Tellez.
Canary Roots of Orsi
The third day of the Canary President’s work in Uruguay also took place in Sauces, where Clavijo had the opportunity to join Uruguayan Government head, Yamandú Orsi, in a tribute to General Artigas, venerated as the father of the nation in the southern cone of South America.
During their meeting, Orsi expressed a sense of Canary identity, as his family hails from Teguise. Alongside Fuerteventura and Tenerife, these three islands have been the origin of the highest number of Canary emigrants to Uruguay since the 18th century.
For the President of the Canary Islands, Orsi’s Canary roots signify the importance of Canary people and their descendants in a country with which the regional government shares historical ties. In fact, on the first day of the trip, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed, replacing the one in effect since 2002.
Commemorating a Historical Figure
The meeting between Fernando Clavijo and Yamandú Orsi coincided with ceremonies honouring the birth of General José Gervasio Artigas on June 19, 1764. The Canary President participated in the commemoration of this pivotal figure in the independence and federalism of the River Plate region. Artigas had Canary ancestry, much like a significant portion of the Uruguayan population.
In Sauces, a city in Canelones, a floral tribute and a parade paid heartfelt homage to the father of Uruguay, an event the Canary President attended to affirm the historical ties between the archipelago and this southern cone nation.
A Deep and Lasting Legacy
Furthermore, during his meeting with the Mayor of Canelones, the regional government head updated him on an intense programme of activities to be held next November to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Uruguayan capital by islanders. More than 30 activities are scheduled, with some taking place in this part of the country, which serves as the second Uruguayan municipality with the largest Canary community.
Clavijo and Legnani reviewed various collaboration areas, emphasising the strong presence of Canary people and their descendants in Canelones, three centuries after the first island families arrived.
Canelones is critical for the Canary Islands as it is the Uruguayan territory where the footprint of Canary emigration is most pronounced and best documented. Historical and anthropological research reveals that, since the 18th century, a significant number of Canary emigrants settled in this department, particularly in its rural areas, establishing stable family networks, preserving cultural practices, and contributing to the establishment of new populations.
Today, this province stands as a symbolic space for Canary memory in Uruguay. Cultural and research projects, such as Orillas Antirracistas, commemorate the 300 years of Canary presence and strengthen institutional ties between the two territories. The department itself acknowledges this heritage; its inhabitants are colloquially known as “Canarios,” directly reflecting the historical weight of island emigration.
The third day of the President of the Canary Islands’ official visit to Uruguay concluded with a floral tribute by Fernando Clavijo at the monument commemorating the Canary founders of Montevideo.
