Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association Celebrates 5 Years at Penn Center, Inc.

Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ July 3, 2015 ♦ 1 Comment

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 St. Helena or Hunting Islands.  Annually, they have a community celebration to engage more Gullah/Geechee fishing families in their efforts and to celebrate with supporters of the association.  This year, their celebration will be “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at Penn Center, Inc.”  The event will take place at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District in conjunction with 2nd Saturdays at the York W. Bailey Museum on Saturday, July 11, 2015 from Noon to 4 pm.  

“Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day” will be an event for all ages which will include FREE tours of the museum, a Gullah/Geechee fish fry, music, and Gullah/Geechee crafts and family fun.  The event is open to all!   For more information, call (843) 838-1171 or email GullGeeCo@aol.com.  

De Gullah/Geechee say,

“De wata bring we and de wata gwine tek we bak fa tru!  So, cum fa yeddi frum we bout de wata and we culcha tuh!”