Category Archives: Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association
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!”
Celebrating St. Helena De Gullah/Geechee Epicenter
Interestingly enough, I never drew the connection between helping write and establish the Cultural Protection Overlay District law and the fact that it took place the same year that I made world history by taking the human rights of my people before the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland until I just typed out the year. I did reflect on the fact that on my UN anniversary this year (April 1st), I was leading the “Coastal Cultures Conference” and sitting amongst national leaders focused on assisting with protecting the rich environment of St. Helena Island and helping the island to be even more resilient. The Gullah/Geechee Nation Sustainability Plan calls for us to ensure that the mission of the Gullah/Geechee Nation is adhered to and that we protect our people by enhancing their quality of life. We can only do this by protecting and improving the land and water quality and lessening the stress of them having to fight to keep protecting themselves and their homeland. Yet, as our ancestors did, we find ourselves on a battlefield once again protecting our rights as was done during the US Civil War, the Jim Crow Era and the Civil Rights Movement. I am proud to be in the number leading the human rights movement!
Protecting St. Helena Island’s Gullah/Geechee Serenity by Queen Quet
With the coming of this destructionment there is not only environmental degradation, but higher land taxes and cultural degradation and erasure. I went before the world in 1999 to sound the alarm about this attempted genocide of native Gullah/Geechees and I have not stopped going to the world to keep them aware of our on-going need for their support to protect our cultural heritage and continue our cultural traditions in our homeland. I knew that my living was not in vain and that people had heard and continue to hear us when I saw the outpouring of the crowd that were Gullah/Geechee and non-Gullah/Geechee that showed up at at the Protect St. Helena Rally to help us fight to keep the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay District zoning law in place and to strengthen it so that it will continue to exist for centuries to come as will Gullah/Geechee culture.
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.
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.
Governor of South Carolina Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week Statewide
Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina has joined the massive number of coastal elected officials from North Carolina to Northeastern Florida that have proclaimed “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.” SC Representative Shedron Williams proclaimed the celebration in his district in previous years. However, the Governor’s proclamation now makes this a statewide celebration. South Carolina is the first state to join the numerous coastal counties and townships that have proclaimed this celebration within their jurisdictions over the past decade.
Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week 2022
From North Carolina’s Town of Leland down to Jacksonville, Florida, the coastal counties and numerous townships in the Gullah/Geechee Nation have proclaimed July 30-August 6, 2022 as “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.” This marks the 10th anniversary of the Gullah/Geechee Nation wide celebration of authentic Gullah/Geechee culture. The week launches on historic St. Helena Island, SC at the St. Helena Park at Noon on Saturday, July 30th with “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day
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.”