Category Archives: Environmental Justice
Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month 2022
For those that are intrigued by the traditions of native Gullah/Geechees, there are two major times of year that folks should engage in the events and postings of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” takes place from the final Saturday in July until the first Sunday in August annually and “Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month” which is October. A series of events hosted by native Gullah/Geechees takes place throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL are held annually. The celebrations combines online posting via http://www.Facebook.com/GullahGeecheeWEBE, @GullahGeechee on IG and Twitter, @GullahGeecheeNation on TikTok and releases of new programming on http://www.GullahGeechee.tv and Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio with live in person events.
Tenk GAWD fa de Wilderness!
“How did you feel hen you come out the wilderness?”
The response to this call in the spiritual circles of the Gullah/Geechee Nation could be “singing,” “clapping” “shouting” or “running.” Unfortunately, the world beyond our boarders has literally taken to the latter response as the wildfires increase due to tremendous drought brought on by climate change and then the irresponsibility of human beings which often includes how they threw a lit cigarette or firecracker into an extremely dry area which led to the forest fires that end up burning thousands of acres of land and hundreds of edifices that were built in the areas where the fires spread to. Some fires are caused naturally when lightning strikes and the wildness ignites. Controlled burns are used by forest management professionals to emulate this and to maintain certain vegetation while clearing others annually in order to create a fire break to prevent the spread of fires to areas where humans are. The question becomes “Where are the humans?’ Where are people learning to care for the earth so that the earth will continue to care for us?
Gullah/Geechee & the EPA: Cultural Collaboration & Environmental Restoration
St. Helena Island is one of the many Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and is home to numerous sacred and historical sites that the community wants to protect from sea level rise. The health of the environment is critical given that Gullah/Geechee culture is inextricably tied to the land. Therefore, the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s leaders and the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition are encouraging people to come out and be a part of the workshop. They look forward to owners of properties that have such tanks attending so that they can help them get the tanks removed at no cost via this collaboration. In order to obtain more information or to register in advance, email GullGeeCo@aol.com.
Join Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and Other Faith Leaders for the “Faith Communities & Climate Resilience Summit”
Join Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and other faith leaders for an evening of discussion and workshops on building climate resilience and restoring our communities to places of safety, justice, and prosperity. Learn how faith communities, academics, and government officials from across the U.S. are finding new and creative solutions to climate challenges.
Gullah/Geechees Defeat Bay Point Destructioneer!
“The decision to uphold the Beaufort Board of Zoning Appeals’ original decision to deny the building of an exclusive luxury resort on Bay Point is an outstanding way to conclude not only Oceans Month, but to also conclude a month that has been filled with celebrations of freedom for us in the Gullah/Geechee Nation,” said Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. “We have continued to fight for our sacred ancestral lands and the waters that surround us because these are the places that have allowed our families to be self-sufficient for generations and we want these places to remain safe and healthy for future generations to do the same.”
Gullah/Geechee Human and Land Rights: Ending Racism and Injustice to Bring About Environmental and Cultural Equity
Join Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition for a joint meeting of the Unitarian Church in Charleston’s Racial Justice Coordinating Team and Green Sanctuary Team.
The evening will allow the audience to engage in an interactive dialogue at the Unitarian Church of Charleston’s Gage Hall on May 20, 2022 at 7 pm centered on “Gullah/Geechee Human and Land Rights: Ending Racism and Injustice to Bring About Environmental and Cultural Equity.”
Queen Quet of Gullah/Geechee Nation Presents for Fordham Mosaic Environmental and Climate Justice Panel
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation will be a featured panelist for the Fordham Mosaic Environmental and Climate Justice Panel. Join us for a discussion on the impacts of environmental and climate change sponsored by the MOSAIC affinity chapter and the Office of Alumni Relations. The conversation will surround how these environmental issues disproportionately affect certain populations due to income, race, geography or economy. These effects can have severe outcomes ranging from interrupted telecommunications and transportation to devastating losses including shelter, food, energy and ultimately life. This conversation will bring together voices from the Fordham alumni and faculty as well local leaders and experts in the field.
Coastal Cultures Conference 2022: Sea Island Coastal & Cultural Heritage Sustainability
The Gullah/Geechee have lived on the Sea Islands since the 1500s and have been able to sustain their cultural heritage and their coastal homeland through their own traditional indigenous knowledge practices. They are melding these practices with modern technology as part of their climate action and cultural continuation strategy. Cum fa yeddi bout disya wid we!
Fa Mama Dem een de Gullah/Geechee Nation: A Legacy of Gullah/Geechee Female Freedom Fighters
Every Women’s Herstory Month / Black Women’s Herstory Month, I reflect on the blessed harvest of knowledge that GOD has allowed me to cultivate by not simply reading about or watching videos of these powerfilled Gullah/Geechee female freedom fighters. I give thanks for the abundant harvest that has been part of my life because they each saw fit to plant seeds of knowledge into my mind and soul. They showed me tools to use at the right time to cut out things that would not be beneficial nor uplifting to me or to the movement for the rights of women, Black people and especially those that are Gullah/Geechee. They knew how and when to cut just as my mother does and all her mothers before her did. I am thankful that they placed the knife in my hands in the field.
Queen Quet of de Gullah/Geechee Receives Community Star Award from EPA and DHEC
Director Daniel Blackman of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Region joined South Carolina Department of Environmental Health and Control (DHEC) Director Myra Reece on historic St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation to present Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) with the “Community Star Award.” DHEC’s Community Star Award recognizes a business, community organization, collaborative partnership, or individual that goes above and beyond environmental requirements in order to build better community relationships, promote environmental sustainability and resiliency, and/or improve quality of life for communities.