Paramount Chief Gert Cornelius Steenkamp, Oeswana

the years but we can assure at least our people that we are Khoi». «You see, and that is what happened here when we left Cape Recife and came home. And we could with joy in our heart talk about the Khoi and the San and that was very, very important for me. We don’t have to be shy anymore and say who we are and what we are». «Especially in places like Graaf-Reinet: all those small places. They say they are Khoi but never did the rituals so that is why it was so important to go there so that the people can also own their being as Khoi and the people couldn’t stop talking about the Khoi and the San. Even the here in Port Elizabeth». «You know we were so colonised, not the whole Khoi, but a lot of them, tried to practice the customs, our Khoi customs and culture but even the Griekwa tribe was so colonised they actually forgot about their past and practiced a westernised culture. They left their own culture behind and tried to do things the westernised way. But after the Way of the Water when I got home, I did some more research and called my leaders. And I said to them that I’m going to practice our customs, our culture, to bring it back to our tribe. I’m gonna bring it back and I’m gonna practice that and they gave me actually their blessing».

Paramount Chief Gert Cornelius Steenkamp, Oeswana PGCS: «It was not easy to take us into that journey». «During the meetings, there was a lot of talk and sometimes talk was on the table, favourable and not favourable, but there was no winner and no loser. There is always a compromise and based on the compromise, it brings us where we had better understanding of each other and better understanding for what was in front of us». «What was very difficult for me, during the first day of the rituals at Cape Recife, was the fact that the weather had become so dramatic. I could not understand what the main reason was. I remember very well that experience of sleeping in the place, in front of the sea. I’m still wondering in my mind the reason that the sea became so rough. Nature is a very, very difficult things in life but it teaches you a lot of lessons. And to me, that weather was binding us. I remember there were some of us who were standing that evening of that day….It didn’t look to us with a genuine spirit. There was a feeling of disrespect and that weather during that night taught me that no, you need each other… forget about who is more senior. We have to work hand and glove to make a success of life». «The next morning the weather condition was opposite. Where we could stand, talk, listen and the programme could continue. Eye opening …You must have respect for Mother Nature, respect, appreciate and look after Nature». «There was a holy fire and you know that fire has a very magnificent cultural value. For example, fire brings us to those parts in our lives where things went wrong. You must not remain on the wrong path but have to move forward. You have to burn it. And that fire is telling me that the world needs each other. No one can be an island by yourself». «During the site visit there was also a cloud in form of Africa. Now I’m asking myself, how is it possible that the sky took the form of Africa in front of us. And then I said “we are the real son and daughters of Africa”. And the fact that your passion and excitement about the programme boiled over onto us made it a success». «There was an old man, I don’t know if you can remember, who was very, very sick that day, when we did the first site visit. And I was worried about this old man (photo p.48). Two days before the event he passed on. That was one of the deep secrets of how people force themselves that extra mile, to be part of something, and that extra mile is taking a lot of energy». «Many of us were sure where they belong, but there were still those who were still thinking “am I a real Khoi, am I a real San?”. When you listen to what they said, after the experience in Cape Recife, they told me that they’d once again realized that they are First Nation». «I also remember Prof. De Wit. He was tired after the ritual. He came straight to me and asked me: “Where is the next generation? There’s only leadership, but no young people involved”. And since that time, I said to myself that we need to bring young people with us so that they can learn. Although sometimes young people are not willing to learn».