Category Archives: Emergency Resources and Storm and Disaster Preparation and Restoration
Queen’s Chronicle: Living to Heal Gullah/Geechee Land
“Do LAWD! Please don le mi libin be een vain!” I have cried out and stated many times in my life which can often seem like the “tedious journey” that I have sung about hundreds to thousands of times. I give thanks in those moments when GOD sends that one person to tell me how something I said or did changed their lives or was just what they needed at a critical moment. That’s when I know that GOD is confirming that my life’s work is of value to somebody. That makes my soul sing “Feel Like Journey On!” Hallelujah!
Celebrating de Gullah/Geechee and Healing de Land & Family
March is “Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month” and “Women’s Herstory Month.” Those that are interested in celebrating both and participating in events that are centered on healing can join Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation on historic St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation for “Gullah/Geechee CREATE Day” and again as she provides the keynote at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.
Jayn we fa Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month!
Jayn we fa Gullah/Geechee Volunteert Month! De Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition will host a number of different volunteer activities throughout March 2024. Sign up fa jayn we pun de islands een de sea!
Gullah/Geechee SEA & ME: Celebrating and Saving Coastal Legacy
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has always centered its work on ensuring that Gullah/Geechee land would be in Gullah/Geechee hands for generations to come. When we first started our work over two decades ago, I didn’t realize how true “De wata bring we and de wata gwine tek we bak.” would be. However, it is due the water’s consistency that we have witnessed the erosion of our coastline and also the rising of new collaborations within the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
Celebrate Victory with the St. Helena Island Gullah/Geechee Famlee!
Cum jayn de St. Helena Island Gullah/Geechee Famlee een a victory celebration July 29, 2023!
S.A.L.T.-Saving a Lowcountry Treasure
Salt is not the only thing that adds flavor to the coast of the southeast. Gullah/Geechee culture is also quite flavorful not only due to the way we enhance our cuisine, but because of the vibrance and tastefulness that folks find unforgettable about us when they encounter us. One of the places that you will often find us is amidst the salt marsh casting nets or going after blue crabs or picking oysters to feed our families while breathing in the very air that feeds our souls.  Like the spartina grass or salt marsh that is a major part of our ecosystem, we’ve migrated up and down the waterways and held in place a cultural landscape for multiple generations as our roots go deeper into the soil and we stand tall bringing healing to this land.
Biden Administration Supports Resilience in the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation who was an Expert Commissioner on the inaugural Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission and who served as the General Management Plan Chair will be engaged in several of the projects that will be funded. She stated: “Tenk GAWD fa disya! We land da we famlee and disya gwine keep we coast ya fa de Gullah/Geechee famlee stay ya. We binya and ain gwine nowhey! I have personally been focused on engaging with numerous divisions of the US government and with various sustainability, adaptation and resilience partners for decades in order to have them assist us in making the Sea Islands more resilient especially in the face of climate change. Therefore, I am looking forward to engaging in the numerous projects that NOAA will be funding along our shoreline especially the ‘Gullah/Geechee CREATE Debris Removal Project’ that we will work on with South Carolina Sea Grant which has been a part of the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank since its inception. I’ve worked on living shorelines with SCORE (South Carolina Oyster Restoration & Enhancement) for decades. However, the Gullah/Geechee have truly scored this time! Tenk GAWD!”
Gullah/Geechee Mobilization and Celebration for Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month 2023
Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month 2023 affords the opportunity for people to stand up with the Gullah/Geechee in protecting their land and continuing their culture.
I’m Not Your Entertainment: Black and Indigenous Relevance and Relegation in Climate Action
I am now clear on why James Baldwin articulated clearly, “I’m not your Negro.” I could hear him speaking to my soul as I came to this space to make clear that “I’m not your entertainment.” We will no longer have what is relevant relegated to the side.
Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation Amongst the World Leaders at UN COP 27 in Egypt
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and the Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has presented at several United Nations Council of Parties (UN COP) events since the first one that she attended in Marrakesh, Morocco. She made it back to Africa again this year to be one of the world leaders focused on climate action and will present several times in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.