Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week 2026: Hunnuh Mus Tek Cyare de Root fa Heal de Tree

Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ July 24, 2026 ♦ Leave a comment

Throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation stretching from Jacksonville, North Carolina down to Jacksonville, Florida and inland to the St. Johns River, lies a rich cultural legacy that has endured for centuries. Every year during late July and early August, communities across the region come together to celebrate Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.

Led by Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, this week is more than a celebration—it is an international movement dedicated to self-determination, land retention, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation.

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De Roots of Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week

To understand the importance of Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week, one must look at the pivotal moment when the Gullah/Geechee people formally declared their sovereignty.

On July 2, 2000, at Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, descendants of indigenous Americans and enslaved West and Central Africans—who created and continued unique linguistic, culinary, artistic, and spiritual traditions—officially established the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Following a year-long voting process, Marquetta L. Goodwine was elected and enstooled as the first Chieftess and official spokesperson for her people. She officially became respectfully known as “Queen Quet” on that day.

Building on years of global advocacy—including Queen Quet becoming the first Gullah/Geechee person to speak before the United Nations in Geneva—municipalities and counties throughout the Southeast began issuing proclamations honoring the Gullah/Geechee heritage and culture. Queen Quet also received keys to multiple cities.

In 2012, Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week was formally instituted. Since then, local governments—from North Carolina to Duval County, Florida—have routinely passed resolutions proclaiming the week to honor the historical and living legacy of the Gullah/Geechees.

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Why Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week Matters

Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week serves several crucial purposes for both lowcountry natives and visitors worldwide:

• Sovereignty and Self-Determination: It honors the ongoing journey of self-determination and human rights protection for Afro-indigenous descendants on the Sea Islands.
• Land and Environmental Protection: Sea Island ecosystems face intense threats from climate change, rising sea levels, gentrification, and destructionment. The week highlights efforts to keep ancestral lands in Gullah/Geechee hands and protect coastal areas.
• Cultural and Economic Empowerment: It encourages economic support for native Gullah/Geechee businesses, artists, and historic landmarks.

“Hunnuh mus tek cyare de root fa heal de tree”

• Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation

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How the Week Is Celebrated

Throughout the week, Queen Quet and the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition host events across the coast and online:

• Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day: The week typically kicks off with the official global family reunion of native Gullah/Geechees. This will take place at the Penn Center National Landmark Historic District in the epicenter of Gullah/Geechee culture this year with a pre-Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day reception and then Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day on July 24th and July 25th respectively:

This will be followed by worship services on Sunday and then the St. Helena Community Cookout:

Monday, July 27, Nassau County Proclamation Celebration in Florida

Tuesday, July 28th & Wednesday, July 29th Tour Gullah/Geechee Historic Sites

Thursday, July 30th at 6 pm Protecting Sacred Sites Private Workshop

Friday, July 31st-Sunday, August 2nd Live Camp Geechee Event for the Youth at Penn Center

Register here: https://campgeechee.org/courses-curriculum/

• Economic Support Days: Each day different businesses are posted at the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s Facebook Fan Page: www.Facebook.com/GullahGeecheeWEBE. People are encouraged to buy from these native-owned eateries, artisan shops, online stores and tour operators and to visit the historic sites that are highlighted.
• Fundraising to Protect Gullah/Geechee Land Ownership: Fundraising for the Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Fund and done throughout the entire celebration in order to ensure that native Gullah/Geechees can continue their land ownership. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has won numerous legal battles to protect Gullah/Geechee land and they are currently leading such efforts to continue to keep St. Helena Island the Gullah/Geechee epicenter. Donations can be made via CashApp to $GullahGeecheeNation and via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gullah-geechee-land-and-legacy-fund

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How You Can Support the Legacy

You don’t have to live on the Sea Islands to participate in keeping this culture alive:

1. Learn the True History: Read books by Gullah/Geechee authors (www.GullahGeechee.biz) and support authentic, native-led historical organizations. Subscribe to www.GullahGeechee.tv.
2. Support Gullah/Geechee Owned and Operated Businesses: Patronize Gullah/Geechee-owned culinary spots, tour companies, websites, and artisans.
3. Advocate for Climate & Land Justice: Support initiatives aimed at climate resilience, coastal conservation, and anti-displacement policies protecting coastal heritage. Become a member of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition at www.GullahGeechee.biz.

To learn more about upcoming events or support ongoing cultural continuation efforts, visit the official Gullah/Geechee Nation Website. Tenki Tenki fa wokin wit we fa mek sho we tek cyare de root of de Gullah/Geechee tree!