De conch gullah:geechee cultural heritage

DE CONCH GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE MONTH EDITION 2013

St. Helena Celebrates Candice Glover!

SC DOT has mounted signs honoring Candice Clover at the entryways to St. Helena Island, SC. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation was one of the St. Helena Islanders in the house for a private unveiling ceremony. As people now enter the island, they will immediately take note of the fact that this is the home of the “American Idol Winner.”

Gullah/Geechee TV captured the entire event at: http://youtu.be/djfHm2pqPZY

Congratulations Candice! We love you!

ARTIST CHRISTOPHER SMALLS PLACES AT MOJA JURIED ART EXHIBITION! PG 8

GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE AWARENESS MONTH P. 14

MIDDLE PASSAGE REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AT FERNANDINA! P. 5

Wha Gwine On

October

December

G e t r e a d y n o w fo r t h e “ G u l l a h / G e e ch e e Na t i o n International Music & October 3, 2013 7 pm “Da Beat December 21, 2013 Celebrating Movement Festival™ 2014 in Gwine on Frum Africa ta de the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Charleston & Myrtle Beach, Gullah/Geechee Nation” play at Coalition Anniversary online.

SC! Circular Congregation Church Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ 2014

Charleston, SC, Gullah/Geechee Nation Call 843-572-6788 or go to https://web.ovationtix.com/ trs/pr/926988

“Gullah/Geechee Reunion, Reconstruction & Revival”

Saturday, October 19, 2013 Sapelo Cultural Day Sapelo Island, GA, Gullah/ Geechee Nation

November Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration

Keep up with Gullah/Geechee events and activities daily at the Gullah/Geechee Nation Facebook Fan Page.

Tweet us @GullahGeechee --------------------------------------------------

If you are having a Gullah/ Geechee event or news, please send it to GullGeeCo@aol.com.

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St. Helena Island, SC November 7-9, 2013 Call (843) 838-2432 www.penncenter.com

To get weekly news updates, make sure to subscribe to “Gullah/ Geechee Riddim Radio” via iTunes or BlogTalkRadio.

Also, subscribe to “Gullah/ Geechee T V Nayshun Nyews” on YouTube. Disya da whey hunnuh kin yeddi bout who webe! Hunnuh kin git disya FREE!

August 1-3, 2014 Charleston & Myrtle Beach, SC www.gullahgeechee.info

(843) 838-1171•GullGeeCo@aol.com

www.gullahgeechee.info

Links to Gullah/Geechee Living Culture 1.

G u l l a h / G e e c h e e Nation H e a d q u a r t e r s www.officialgullahgeechee.info or www.gullahgeecheenation.com

2.

Gullah/Geechee Nation Blog http:// gulla hgeecheenation.com/a bout/ gullahgeechee-blog/

3.

Gulla h/Geechee Angel Network www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com

4.

Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition www.gullahgeechee.net

5.

Gullah/Geechee Traditional Crafts, Workshops and To u r s www.gullahgeechee.biz

6.

Gullah/Geechee TV™ (GGTV) www.youtube.om/AMPTurnItUp or www.gullahgeeche.tv

things with the name “Gullah” or term “Geechee” attached to them. However, many of these things are

7.

Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio http:// www.blogtalkradio.com/ gullahgeechee

being marketed by those that simply see “Gullah/

8.

Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association www.gullahgeecheefishingassociation. com

9.

the people that can afford to pay for the promotions that

Gullah/Geechee Nation Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/ pages/GullahGeechee-Nation/ 66574769035

others get and/or Gullah/Geechees that are not covered in the mainstream media because they are speaking the

10. Gullah/Geechee Folks on Twitter www.twitter.com/gullahgeechee

truth about what has taken place and what is taking place to exploit the people that live the traditions while

11. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/ Geechee www.QueenQuet.com

often promoting those that simply write papers and

12. Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info

Jayn wid wi wha lib wi culcha!

•••

The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has worked for many years to insure that there are accurate sources of representation in regard to Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture. Since the Coalition began leading this effort, many things have come into being that “sell”

Geechee” as a “hot item” to be the next thing to exploit.

So, we continue to work with entities and individuals to help insure that the world is aware of of the things that are done by Gullah/Geechees themselves that are not

books about the people (even if those books and papers are inaccurate).

Tenk Gawd! Over the years, many have contacted us seeking sources that would allow them to directly

13. Gullah/Geechee Doula Association http://www.gullahgeecheedoula.com/

connect with living links to Gullah/Geechee culture and traditions.

So, in this special edition, we wanted to share current links to sources that will connect you to our living culture and not simply that which is being packaged and marketed as our culture. Please support these and pass the word on.

We kno who webe and disya gwine git hunnuh ta we!

Middle Passage Remembrance Ceremony at Fernandina Florida in the Gullah/Geechee Nation The Middle Passage Remembrance and Port Marker Project Organization brought the Fernandina Florida community together to pay tribute to the African ancestors that were brought in to the port at Fernandina and enslaved.

De drum called de communitee!

Peck Ensemble brought forth the sounds of the ancestral voices through the spirituals!

See ceremony: http://youtu.be/ LKAjI7pyqeo

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/ Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) led the libration and ancestral tribute ceremony.

QUEEN’S CHRONICLES

Tenk Gawd fa de Alcorn Universitee Famlee!

Mi bin dun tek disya journee plenee time ta Mississippi. Mi always gladdee fa be een de land whey we kno e da mo Gullah/Geechee. Mi lun sey mi people wha dey dey ain nebba bin had um easee. Dem ain nebba tek well ta dem wha da Geechee.

The Alcorn University Office of Educational Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Global Programs invited me to keynote in Mississippi and I looked forward to going back to the state to visit some of my folks there that I hadn’t seen in years. As Representative Glenda Simmons-Jenkins and I were coming down in the plane and I looked over the landscape, I remembered my first drive there through the Natchez

Gwine Home ta Mississippi!

Queen Quet is the Chieftess of and the Head of State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com ). She is proud to see her royal purple and gold are also the official colors throughout Alcorn University in Mississippi.

Trace and how I felt the energy of strange fruit hanging from the trees in the darkness as I made it in just before daybreak. I remembered the first libation poured at a plantation now run by the US NPS and how the local folks looked on and had to be encouraged to join in. I then recalled the traditional African ceremony done to welcome me led by Ser Shes Hetep Boxley. I felt like I had hundreds of years of history flash before me in the minutes before we touched down. I had no idea how much more history would greet me on the ground.

Just before presentation time at Alcorn, the auditorium filled to capacity and not long after introductions the Alcorn Gospel Choir ushered the Spirit in! I was ready to come out shoutin! Oh, believe me, when I did get my shout going on stage, the family was right with me! We went on a journey through ourstory from the Sea Islands to Mississippi. We brought the drums back like they were during Freedom Summer!

After the keynote and lunch we got to tour the campus and surrounding area. As we prepared to head out, a tweet came saying that the president of the university HAD TO see me! So, we went back on campus and straight to his home and when he got to the door, I knew I was home for sure! Dr. M. Christopher Brown was a native of Charleston, SC and a Gullah/Geechee fa tru! Ain da no play play ya! Well, suh! E bin a time een de house ya!

I know from now on that when I go to Mississippi, I am not going there to speak or just to be seen or to see. I gwine home ta Mississippi! Tenki Tenki Alcorn Universitee! Hunnuh chillun da famlee!

Also, tune to the entire episode of Gullah/Geechee TV coverage of Queen Quet’s keynote address: http://youtu.be/PBAbZ0SZu28

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/ Geechees

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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.” (http://fnd.us/c/07Wl6) The funds will assist with the completion of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Center and our land fund. Please use the form at the end of this ezine or go to in order to financially contribute to the fundraising efforts that are currently under way which will finalize the first phase of the building.

The “wish list:” • 12 1T or 2T Apple Compatible External Drives • Apple Mac Pro • Apple compatible server • New Brother Laser Printer/Copier/Scanner • Archival boxes and poster holders 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!

PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAYS OPENS EXHIBITIONS

And the Award Goes to...

October 2013 Native St. Helena Island Folk Artist, Sam Doyle will be featured at the York W. Bailey Museum with a special exhibition of student art inspired by this world renown folk artists will be on display in The Shed.

November 2013 •Cassandra Gillens is the featured artist of the year for the Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration. A special exhibit opening with the artist will take place at Penn Center, Inc. on Thursday, November 7, 2013 as part of the Heritage Days launch.

Call (843) 838-2432 or go to www.penncenter.com

Christopher Smalls is a native of Saint Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation took third place in the 2013 Moja Juried Art Exhibition. While growing up Christopher was always surrounded his mother, Victoria Small’s art, African art and the Gullah/Geechee folk art of the region. He now studies at Winthrop University and is in his senior year concluding his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a concentration in jewelry/metals. Inspired by culture, folklore and ancient civilizations, the art he makes explores two dimensional and three dimensional art.

Christopher Smalls’ work can be viewed at ChristopherSmalls.com and on Facebook at Christopher Smalls Arts Blog. Inquiries about exhibitions and to purchase pieces can be sent to Info@Christophersmalls.com.

Congratulations Brother Christopher Smalls!

We too proud a hunnuh ya!

Call (843) 838-2432 for weekend all access pass rates, ticket prices, RV rates, and sponsor and vendor packages.

For the entire schedule go to http://penncenter.com/public-programs/heritage-day

The Gullah/Geechee Story Stands Through Historic Markers in SC! The Preservation Society of Charleston included the 1969 Hospital Workers Strike march location in their list of “7 to Save� and erected a marker at MUSC.

Tune to coverage of the ceremony featuring strike leader, Mary Moultrie at http://youtu.be/ RKCVqJBK8Es ------------------------->

Hilton Head Island got a new marker on Beach City Road to honor the legacy of the Cherry Hill School!

Tune in to the HHI ceremony: http://youtu.be/vSp2yGJ5niA

Queen Quet and Elder Louise Miller Cohen as well as the mayor of Hilton Head were there for this special moment.

The Progressive Club on Johns Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation is also part of the Preservation Society of Charleston’s “7 to Save.”

Bill Saunders who was an active part of the Progressive Club spoke during the marker unveiling ceremony.----------------------------------->

Tenk Gawd de time dun cum win peepul da hona wha de Gullah/ Geechee bin tru fa stan fa we rights!

Tune in to the ceremony coverage: http://youtu.be/TBOVUU2M2og

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/ Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) holds the Progressive Club sign at this historic site the day of the ceremony.

During Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month-October 2013, people will begin to see the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor signs along highways and will see banners at federal sites as well as the Gullah/Geechee Nation flag held high by our citizens. Tenk Gawd fa who webe!

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.

Gret Camp Meetin Centa!

The Gullah/Geechee International Camp Meeting Center 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. The next major fundraiser for the project will be the Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info.

For more details on coming productions, fundraisers, tours, assisting with the project, or contributing, call (843) 572-6788 or go to www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com

The Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association The Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association is open to traditional and commercial fishermen and women and seafood industry workers of African descent in the United States southeast and the Gullah/Geechee Nation. It is the official fishing association of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

Mission 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 Goals Lift restriction that currently prevent the continuation of fishing by Gullah/Geechee and African American fishing families.

Revisit and create new laws regarding subsistence and traditional fishing.

Increase the numbers of Gullah/Geechee and African Americans that have the ability to create the needed implements for sea work including boat building and net making and that fish, shrimp, harvest shellfish, etc.

Establish locations from which the fishing industry traditions can be carried on.

New members are accepted at every meeting. Bring someone out of the water with you!

Disya fa all a wi stay een de sea!

GullGeeCo@aol.com castnet@gullahgeecheefishingassociation.com

Jayn we fa Gullah/Geechee Cultural Awareness Month een de Gullah/Geechee Nation!

Since the passing of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act, there have been many people seeking to undermine the Gullah/Geechee Nation and to push the citizens away from focusing on their own selfdetermination. However, God has continued to open the eyes of many people that are political leaders and they have begun to see the value of assisting with celebrating our culture and ourstory. The City of Charleston, SC had the first Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week and Beaufort County held the first county wide Gullah/ Geechee Nation Appreciation Week with declarations from every town in the county. Now, the Governors of the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia have declared “Gullah/Geechee Awareness Month” and “Gullah/Geechee Heritage Month,” respectively, which is October 2013. This follows Florida’s “Middle Passage Month” which was declared as September 2013 in Fernandina just north of the southern most point of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

During October which we will celebrate as “Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month,” visitors and residents are encouraged to learn about Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture, and to support businesses and events throughout the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor which runs through the Gullah/Geechee Nation. They will easily find their way as the signs and banners for the corridor are mounted along the interstate and highway entry points in and out of each of the four aforementioned states. However, dey gwine kno whey e da fa tru win e git ta de haat a de peepol who kno who webe! Folks need to make sure that they get to the Gullah/Geechees themselves who truly live the culture and support the events that they are hosting and the places that they own if they want to truly get into the flow of the culture and help the tide to continue to carry the culture on for many more generations to come.

For the entire article go to: http://gullahgeecheenation.com/2013/09/27/a-sea-of-gullahgeechee-culture-flowsfor-gullahgeechee-heritage-awareness-month/

Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ 2014

“Gullah/Geechee Reunion, Reconstruction & Revival”

August 1-3, 2014 Charleston & Myrtle Beach, SC www.gullahgeechee.info

(843) 838-1171•GullGeeCo@aol.com

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)

I will 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 *New lifetime members and members that also make an additional donation receive a Gullah/Geechee Nation bag.

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 List on the Internet and will also receive discounts on Gullah/ Geechee products.

GULLAH/GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION Post Office Box 1207 St. Helena Island SC 29920

© 2013 Gullah/Geechee Nation © 2013 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.

______________________________

Where did you receive this? ________________________________

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What would you like to see done by this organization?

Telephone: ! ___________________ ! ! !

(Day) _______________________________ ! !

(Eve or Cell)