Queen’s Chronicle: Healin #GullahGeechee Land & Holdin pun de Culcha

Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ August 1, 2019 ♦ 2 Comments

by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com)

For over two decades the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.GullahGeechee.net) has sponsored my annual world tour to save the Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Disya year de theme da “Healin de Land.” “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” is a centerpiece of not only the annual tour, but also the United Nations International Decade of People of African Descent activities. During this week, we expand the theme to “Healin de Land & Holdin pun de Culcha.” De theme ain drylongso. Disya wha hunnuh chillun da do ef hunnuh da wok wid we and cum tru.

Millions of people journey to the Sea Islands, Lowcountry, and Coastal Empire of the Gullah/Geechee Nation annually. The majority of those visitors are unaware of the existence of Gullah/Geechee culture or have a legendary or mythological story about us in mind. So, it is not surprising that they tend to stay in, frequent, and economically support places and spaces that are not Gullah/Geechee owned and operated and take tours that are provided by people that are not natives to the area, but have simply become part of the mechanisms of exploitation of the culture and our community. The massive impact that this has on our infrastructure leads to rising taxes that Gullah/Geechees have to pay in order to sustain our communities and the roads that run through them.

In addition to the impact of tourism, the Gullah/Geechee deal with the impacts of environmental degradation daily. We are currently in the midst of a legal battle to prevent the use of seismic guns and to prevent offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean where we literally reside. As I made clear to those that came to Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at Mosquito Beach, emojis and sad comments on social media when postings are made regarding the legal battles that we are in to keep our people on our land and to stop the criminalization of cultural heritage traditions such as fishing and palmetto rose making are in the news does not help us win any cases. In order to heal the land, we must continue to keep our land first. This has required us to fight for and against many laws and to go into courts repeatedly. You MUST have a lawyer represent you in master in equity court and lawyers that work on Gullah/Geechee land issues require money. Going to international levels of law takes going to international arenas and that also takes money. So, holdin pun de culcha tek money.

Holdin pun de culcha happens pun de land. If we are taking a stand for land in order to keep Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage alive on it, it requires a significant intellectual, spiritual, and financial investment. So, as much as “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day” is a fun raiser it is also a fundraiser. We call on all those celebrating “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” that truly appreciate the work that is on-going that allows us to still live on our coast and to keep our culture alive here to contribute to the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Fund” at GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund

We are seeking to reach the $10K mark by the conclusion of “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” on Sunday. So, those that will be present at the closing event at Scott’s Grand in North Charleston entitled “Celebrating 400 Years of History” can also bring a donation there at 3 pm. Fa all wha dun gee, we hafa say, Tenki Tenki fa supportin we een healin de land and holdin pun de culcha fa tru!

In an effort to further educate themselves on how to hold on to their property, a number of native Gullah/Geechees will spend August 2nd & 3rd at the Center for Heirs Property Preservation’s “2019 SC Rural & Limited Resource Landowner Symposium” in Charleston, SC. (https://www.heirsproperty.org/event/2019-sc-rural-limited-resource-landowner-symposium/). We are encouraging those that are in the county to also assist with literally helping on the land by being a part of Preserve the Gullah’s Oyster Reef Rebuild and beach sweep at Mosquito Beach from Friday, August 2nd from 1:30-4:30 pm. To sign up to assist, go to:

There will be no place for the Gullah/Geechee to stand if we do not have our land! So, fa all hunnuh chillun wha stand wid we, Tenki Tenki! Gladdee hunnuh jayn we fa keep disya land wha da we legacy!

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If you are interested in hosting a event to raise funds for and awareness of the Gullah/Geechee Nation in your community no matter where you are located in the world, please go to www.QueenQuet.com and click the “Booking” link in order to get details on how your location can be added to Queen Quet & De Gullah Cunneckshun’s world tour schedule. As Queen Quet consistently says, “Hunnuh mus tek cyare de root fa heal de tree.” Supporting this annual world tour provides the tools needed to get to the root of numerous things that have impacted the Gullah/Geechee Nation.