De Conch
Third Quata Ob 2018 Edition
Disya da #GullahGeechee www.GullahGeecheeNation.com
Peace! Gret dey! We had a time een de Chuck ya! The Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ was a great success! We had participants not only from various areas in the Gullah/Geechee Nation, but also from across the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, and Israel. From the Friday VIP Reception through to the Gullah/Geechee Reunion Day and closing drum circle, there was positive and uplifting energy shared and wonderful dialogues about how to continue to support the movement and legacy of the Gullah/Geechee. Tenki Tenki ta all wha paat ob disya! The celebration of our culture did not stop when the drums did the first Sunday in August. The following Sunday our official 501(c)3 for the Gullah/Geechee Nation, the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network held a fundraiser for the “Yenna Chirun House” at “Hannibal’s Kitchen.” De Gullah/Geechee Chastun Famlee bin een de building! It was a wonderful evening which brought the fundraising goal down to $3,000. August is “Black Philanthropy Month.” We are encouraging all of our supporters to donate to: • Yenna Chirun House Project of the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network www.GullahGeecheeAngelNetwork.com • De Gullah/Geechee Land Legacy Fund www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund • Gullah/Geechee Queen Quet Returns to the United Nations https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-queen-quet-goes-toun We are also encouraging everyone to become charter members of the International African American Museum (IAAM) (www.IAAMuseum.org) that we are building in Charleston, SC. We have the $75 million that had to be raised for it and the groundbreaking will take place at Gasden’s Wharf at the beginning of next year. Tenk GAWD! More opportunities to support the numerous organizations and projects in the Gullah/Geechee Nation that tell ourstory accurately and seek to uplift the community will continue throughout the rest of the year and for decades to come. September and October will bring on the annual Moja Celebration which will include not only a Gullah/Geechee Angel Network play, but also the “Gullah/Geechee Gala at Gullah Roots.” The latter will launch “Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month 2018.” We will close out that month with the “Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival” at Hunting Island. November will close out the festival season for the year. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition will celebrate its anniversary at “Gullah Night on the Town” at our sister center, the “St. Helena Branch Library” again this year. Hunnuh chillun hafa plan fa git ya fa sum a disya! See hunnh pun de Sea Islands! Peace,
Queen Quet
Disya da Gullah/Geechee! Celebratin de Gullah/Geechee Famlee!
www.GullahGeechee.info
www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund
Yenna Chiren House Fundraiser
www.GullahGeecheeAngelNetwork.com
Hep Mo Angel fa Fly! Support De Gullah/Geechee Angel Network! The mission of the official 501(c)3, non-profit of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network is To preserve, protect and promote the cultural heritage of the Gullah/Geechee People who have lived in the southeastern portion of the United States of America from North Carolina to Jacksonville Florida 30 miles inland (known as the "Low Country") for over 300 years. To connect all people, not just in the 50 states, but internationally throughout the Diaspora, Europe, Caribbean and Africa. Goals and Objectives are achieved by the implementation of the following seven (7) point program: The Performing Arts: Musical plays, dramatizations, poetry, storytelling, enactments and workshops Arts and Crafts: Workshops in the production and displaying of traditional Gullah/Geechee cultural items. Demonstrative workshops that encourage the development of functional skills and forms of expression to potentially showcase and stimulate direct participation in the growing ethnic tourism industry, festivals and cultural events. Educational: The establishment of Cultural Learning Centers designed to foster motivation, achievement and cultural enrichment. Historical/Research excursions from the tip of North Carolina (Cape Fear) to the outlining areas of Jacksonville, Florida. Scholarships and Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award programs and events recognizing those persons who have given selflessly of themselves, and have done considerable work for the benefits of their particular community as it relates to cultural preservation. Awarding Scholarships to youth who exhibit talent, and are oriented toward developing skills which foster Gullah/Geechee Culture. The Internet and The Media: Networking with organizations, institutions and groups which focus on Gullah/ Geechee Culture. Consistently present positive role models and activities to the low country in particular, and to in the Diaspora in general. Production, Preservation and Documentation: Production and archiving of Gullah/Geechee video and audio recordings, books, symbols and banners. Radio, television and computer production programming. Health and Nutrition Awareness: Forums and symposiums which explore lifestyles, food staples, food cultivation and preparation of Gullah/Geechee cuisine, as well as developing holistic programs to promote well being. Yenna House widout a doubt! The Gullah/Geechee International Camp Meeting Center & Yenna House will host a number of activities and people from around the world and educate people on the living traditions of that exist throughout the Gullah/ Geechee Nation. We are currently seeking 100 people who will donate $50. The next major fundraiser for the project will be the Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info. For more details on fundraisers, tours, assisting with the project, or contributing, call (843) 572-6788 or go to www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com .
Links to Gullah/Geechee Living Culture
1.
Gullah/Geechee Nation Headquarters www.officialgullahgeechee.info or www.gullahgeecheenation.com
2.
Gullah/Geechee Nation on Instagram http://instagram.com/gullahgeechee
3.
Gullah/Geechee Angel Network www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com
4.
Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition www.gullahgeechee.net
5.
Gullah/Geechee TV™ (GGTV) www.youtube.om/AMPTurnItUp
6.
Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee
7.
Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association www.gullahgeecheefishingassociation.com
8.
Gullah/Geechee Nation Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/GullahGeecheeWeBe/
9.
Gullah/Geechee Folks on Twitter www.twitter.com/gullahgeechee
10. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee www.QueenQuet.com 11. Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info 12. Gullah/Geechee Doula Association http://www.gullahgeecheedoula.com/ 13. Gullah/Geechee Nation on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/gullahgeechee/ 14. Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Committee of NE FL www.facebook.com/neflaggcommittee
BARBADOS PUSHES CAROLINA TIES & HERITAGE CAMPAIGN WITH 2019 GULLAH/GEECHEE PARTNERSHIP Immersive trip connecting the Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and Barbados to take place June 21-23, 2019
The Gullah/Geechee Nation will host an immersive cultural trip to Barbados in June 2019 to explore the unique historical ties between the island, the Gullah/Geechee people and the history of the Carolinas. The effort is in tandem with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) ongoing campaign to promote connections between Barbados and the Carolinas, and strengthen its heritage proposition in the U.S. On December 19, American Airlines will launch daily service from Charlotte, further driving its commitment to expanding cross-destination initiatives. “We are so excited to welcome members of the Gullah/Geechee Nation to Barbados for this trip. Given the unique nature of Barbados’ relationship to the Carolinas, taking a journey to the island is a great way to get people involved in learning about their own ancestry,” said Petra Roach, director of the U.S. for BTMI. “There has been a continued increase this year in heritage, cultural, and genealogy tourism, emphasizing the interest among millions of Americans in unearthing their roots. I hope that this trip will help the Gullah/Geechee people accomplish that.” It is not just the Gullah/Geechee people, however, who are able to trace their roots to Barbados – an estimated 8-10 million Americans of varying racial makeup are of Bajan heritage as well. One of these ancestral links is evident in the city of Charleston, S.C., which was founded by a group of Barbadians in 1670, making Barbados the only ‘Colony to found a Colony’ in the U.S. Charleston and Barbados would later sign a Sister City Agreement, which connects Charleston and Barbados’ second largest township, Speightstown. By signing this agreement, Barbados cemented its dedication to heritage tourism development in the city and its surrounding areas. The Gullah/Geechee people have had strong historical ties across the southeast coast of the U.S. since slavery. Unlike many other African Americans in the south, the Gullah people were able to create their own enclave and retain their unique creole culture that preserved the linguistic and cultural heritage of their African ancestors, combined with new influences from the region that they absorbed. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, said, “De Bajan folks da we famlee! This trip holds great significance for the entire Gullah/Geechee Nation due to not only the history of Charleston, but the linguistic and foodways traditions. We are also interested in the other aspects of the environment of Barbados and how it relates to that of the Sea Islands.” The trip to Barbados was announced at the Gullah/Geechee International Music & Movement Festival in Charleston, S.C. on Aug. 3-5, 2018. This event is recognized as the official celebration of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. The three-day festival hosted and presented by native Gullah/Geechees highlighted the connection from the Sea Islands to Barbados through music, dance, drama, film, books, and crafts. “The festival was a great way for us to see the strength and number of our people, and how many are interested in opportunities to exchange culture and come together,” said Winston Farrell, an accomplished artist, poet and playwright, who performed at the festival and is also instrumental in organizing the trip to Barbados. “We want to galvanize our people and offer them inspiring opportunities, and a chance to experience Barbados will truly bring us together.” The Gullah/Geechee cultural immersion trip to Barbados from June 21-23, 2019 will focus on these connections to Barbados and its history. The trip will include visits to chattel houses, small homes that could easily be dismantled and reassembled, built by former enslaved Africans across the island who could not own land. The Gullah/Geechee people will also see the Emancipation Statue, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Barbados, the Arlington House Museum, which details the history of Speightstown, and the Newton Slave Burial Ground, which is the final resting place of the earliest group of African and Afro-descendent enslaved population.
Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival 2019
Wha Gwine On Every Monday at 7 pm EST Tune in to “Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio!” Disya da we sho! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee August-Black Philanthropy Month SEPTEMBER
August 31 & September 1 Lands End Woodlands River Festival on St. Helena Island, SC Gullah/Geechee Nation September 1 at 2 pm Reggae Pon de River in at the Bluffton Oyster Company in Bluffton, SC Gullah/Geechee Nation September 3 Wadamalaw Island Labor Day Parade September 8 at 4 pm Oscar Frazier BBQ Festival at Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton, SC Gullah/Geechee Nation September 15 at 10 am Pin Point Seafood Festival in Pinpoint, GA Gullah/Geechee Nation September 11-14 Queen Quet California Coast Leg of “Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands World Tour” www.QueenQuet.com
Moja Arts Celebration www.mojafestival.com OCTOBER-Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month
October 6 10 am to 5 pm Sandy Island Community Fish Fry on Pawley’s Island, SC Gullah/Geechee Nation www.toursdesandyisland.com.
For tickets go to
October 6 at 7 pm Gullah/Geechee People Production “Unbroken Chain” at Moja Celebration Charleston, SC in the Gullah/ Geechee Nation For tickets call (843) 735-2189 or email GullGeeCo@aol.com. October 7 3-7 pm Gullah/Geechee Gala at Gullah Roots North Charleston, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation This will be the launch event for “Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month. Dress to impress in your Gullah/Geechee best and jayn de Gullah/Geechee Famlee at Gullah Roots!
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and artist Quadré Stuckey will
present and sell books and artwork. Chucktown Mobile will have food on sale. E gwine be a time! Email GullGeeCo@aol.com or call (843) 276-8703 for more information. October 10 5:30-7 pm Toxic Dangers of Oil Exploration in the Gullah/Geechee Nation St. Helena Library https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toxic-chemicals-and-oil-exploration-in-the-gullahgeechee-nation-discussion-tickets-49396723931 October 24 5:30-7 pm “Protect” Documentary Screening St. Helena Library, St. Helena Island, SC Gullah/Geechee Nation https://www.eventbrite.com/e/protect-documentary-screening-tickets-49388381980
NOVEMBER
November 9-10 Rice Festival in Riceboro, GA in the Gullah/Geechee Nation November 8-10 Heritage Days Celebration on St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation
DECEMBER
Gullah Night Pun de Town at the St. Helena Branch Library December 21 & 22 Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Anniversary
Fa mo updates and ting bout wha gwine on falla www.gullahgeecheenation.com or @GullahGeechee. Keep up with events on a weekly basis by following @GullahGeechee and www.GullahGeecheeNation.com.
Meet Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation at the International Heirloom Conference! www.TheHeirloomExpo.com
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is an endorsing organization for the Climate Heritage Mobilization at the Global Climate Action Summit. The Gullah/Geechee Nation is standing up with other nations of the world that are ambitious enough to go forward with working toward reaching the mandates set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. http://climateheritage.org/
Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands Tour Takes Queen Quet to Global Climate Action Summit for Climate Heritage Mobilization Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, Founding Member of the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association and visionary behind the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank represented the Gullah/Geechee Nation at the United Nations COP 22 Conference in Marrakech, Morocco. Those that were a part of that conference came together to work toward the Paris Climate Agreement. Since that time, the United States president has said that he and his administration will not do the things within the agreement. This has not stopped the mobilization of people around the globe especially citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Organizers for the Climate Heritage Mobilization at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit which will be held in San Francisco, CA September 12 to 14 realize that heritage has the power to help communities make the #ParisAgreement a reality. At the #ClimateHeritage Mobilization @ #GCAS2018, cultural heritage community leaders from around the world are uniting to the show the way. One of these leaders will be Queen Quet who has been invited to California by the governor of that state. She will be part of the Global Climate Action Summit which will bring together state and local governments, business, and citizens from around the world to showcase climate action taking place, thereby demonstrating how the tide has turned in the race against climate change and inspiring deeper national commitments in support of the Paris Agreement. The Summit will showcase climate action around the world, along with bold commitments, to give world leaders the confidence they can go even further by 2020. The Summit’s five headline challenge areas are Healthy Energy Systems; Inclusive Economic Growth; Sustainable Communities; Land Stewardship and Transformative Climate Investments. A series of reports are set to be launched over the coming months and at the Summit underlining the contribution of states and regions, cities, businesses, investors and civil society, also known as “non-party stakeholders” to national and international efforts to address climate change. Many partners are supporting the Summit and the mobilization in advance including the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition; Climate Group; the Global Covenant of Mayors; the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group; BSR; We Mean Business; Ceres, CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project; the World Wide Fund for Nature; and Mission 2020. For more information on the Summit and the Climate Heritage Mobilization to www.climateheritage.org and globalclimateactionsummit.org/. #StepUp2018 #Culture4Climate
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Take Highway 21 toward Fripp Island and make a left at the foot of the Fripp Island Bridge
Cum fa nyam pun seafood an yeddi bout we! Disya de seafood fess a de Gullah/Geechee! FREE Admission Music & Family Fun Gullah/Geechee Presentations $10 per plate for seafood Call 843-838-1171 or e-mail Gull-
www.gullahgeecheefishing.net
Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association Holdin pun de Fishin Tradition!
The Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association (www.gullahgeecheefishing.net) was founded in Beaufort County, SC on March 25, 2010 by Queen Quet, Ricky Wright, the late Herbert Simmons, Joseph Bradley, and Keith Ellis who are all natives of St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. These founding members were quickly joined by Gullah/Geechee fishermen and women from other parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida in the mission to 1) To advocate for the rights of Gullah/Geechee and African American fishermen and fishery workers of the southeast 2) To share traditional fishing methods with the next generation 3) To restore access to the areas and factories needed to sustain the seafood industry in the Gullah/Geechee Nation and southeastern United States The Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association members have actively worked with numerous national and international organizations during their five years in existence. Their work has been featured in profiles done by the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and CNN International to name a few. During even numbered years, the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association members host, the "Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival" on Hunting Island. Throughout each year, they have community celebrations to engage more Gullah/Geechee fishing families in their efforts. They will co-host a series of "Gullah/Geechee Famlee Days throughout the year and the Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival. For more information, call (843) 838-1171 or email GullGeeCo@aol.com or casting@gullahgeecheefishing.net. De Gullah/Geechee say,
"De wata bring we and de wata gwine tek we bak!� www.gullahgeecheefishing.net
Concerned Citizens of St. Helena Have a Victory at Penn Center! The Concerned Citizens of St. Helena Island, SC was reinstated due to the mistreatment of the Gullah/Geechee community of historic St. Helena Island, SC by the executive director of Penn Center and the members of the Penn Board of Trustees. As a result, citizens marched against the institution for the first time in the history of this historic site that was actually a missionary school at its founding in 1862. They called for the removal of Rodell Lawrence and members of the board of trustees that supported fencing the institution and misappropriating funding that could have been used for community programs and support. As of August 10, 2018, the community was informed that Lawrence would no longer direct any operations at Penn Center, Inc.
The support that was received by the hundreds of people that signed petitions in person and online and those that took their protest to the road on St. Helena definitely marked a crucial historic victory by the St. Helena Island community! Tenk GAWD fa victory! Penn Center will continue community dialogues via the Penn Community Relations Committee (CRC). Penn Community Relations Committee is a standing committee of the Penn Center, Inc. Board of Trustees. It was established on December 8, 2017 in order to improve and enhance the relationship between Penn Center and the community it serves. The CRC meets on the third Wednesday every two months at 6 pm in Frissell Hall at the Penn Center National Register Historic District. The group was launched in January 2018. The CRC will host at a minimum, 1 Community Forum each quarter and will also provide leadership and coordination for the Community Sing Program. The next CRC meetings will be September 19 and November 21.
GULLAH/GEECHEE GOLD SOULS CAMPAIGN
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is the premiere organization on the protection and continuation of the Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition: •
advocates for the protection of the human and land rights of Gullah/Geechee
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promotes and participates in the continuation of Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, culture, and language.
• •
works toward Sea Island land re-acquisition and maintenance. celebrates Gullah/Geechee culture through artistic and educational means electronically and via "grassroots scholarship."
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has successfully carried out this mission since 1996. During which time, they developed the ONLY archive in the world which is TOTALLY dedicated to Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture. The Gullah/Geechee Alekbulan Archive is being upgraded in order to continue to provide access to artifacts, images, documents, books, films, and recordings to future generations of Gullah/Geechees and global researchers. The Coalition host hundreds of students and professional writers each year and it also supports native Gullah/Geechee speakers and presenters traveling to other parts of the world to make sure that accurate presentations on our culture are done in a varied array of venues. We are calling on all supporters of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition to become dues paying members and to contribute to the “Gullah/Geechee Gold Souls Campaign.” The funds will assist with the completion of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Center. Please use the form at the end of this ezine or go to http://fnd.us/c/07Wl6 in order to financially contribute to the fundraising efforts that are currently under way in order to finalize the second phase of archival digitization and artifact preservation. The “wish list:” • New Apple Mac Pro desktop computer • 10 Mac compatible 2T and higher external drives • Acid free archival boxes and poster covers of all sizes • CD/DVD Duplicator For details on how you can host a fundraising event, contribute in any or in all of these ways, please email GullGeeCo@aol.com. Disya bout geeing frum de soul fa mek sho de richness stay een wi black gold!
Join the GULLAH/GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION www.gullahgeechee.net I am enclosing my check for _____ $45 for the year of membership _____ $300-999 supporter (Pledge amount can be sent in monthly installments)
Mail this to Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Post Office Box 1207 St. Helena Island SC 29920 Name: _________________________
_____ $1200 for lifetime membership
What island are you closely connected to? ________________________________ How?(Circle one) Family
Business
E-mail address: ________________________________
Address: _____ $___________ toward the Gullah/ Geechee Gold Souls Campaign My check is written to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. I know that I will receive a newsletter, event announcements, and will be a subscriber to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Roots Listserve and will also receive discounts on Gullah/Geechee products.
______________________________
Where did you receive this? ________________________________
______________________________
What would you like to see done by this organization?
Telephone:
___________________ (Day)
_______________________________ (Eve or Cell)
GULLAH/GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION Post Office Box 1207 St. Helena Island SC 29920
© August 2018 Gullah/Geechee Nation © August 2018 Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition ALL rights for photographs and articles are reserved. Republishing should not be done without consent from the Gullah/Geechee Nation.