This commentary was submitted to the US National Park Service and Secretary of the Department of the Interior to support St. Croix, Virgin Islands being selected and designated as a National Heritage Area.
"Our land, resources, historic treasures, flora, fauna and environment of these beloved, pristine and culturally-enriched Virgin Islands are for, by and of the people into perpetuity and must be protected, conserved, preserved and healed for future generations!"
1. What benefits and concerns do you think a National Heritage Area designation would bring to your community?
Response: The benefits of the cultural isle of St. Croix being designated as a National Heritage Area are many to include the positive and respectful national acknowledgement of the ancestral, indigenous, native and transmigrated traditions, values, mores, living practices shared among our multi-cultural and multi-dimensional natives, residents and visitors to this community. Several benefits may include: a) Support for indigenous Native Ameridian cultural heritage and its' integrated impact upon the ancestral, pre-industrial and contemporary lifestyle practices of the people of St. Croix and the preservation (although limited) of the archaeological artifacts available for exhibition and further study for generations to come; b)Genuine respect for the global, national and regional contributions of Afraka and her people to the isle of St. Croix's labor, cultural, agricultural, social, educational and tradition-bearing resources that have influenced virtually every vestige of Crucian traditions, familial lineage, folklore, fine & performing arts, social developments, humanitarian values and much more that are still apparent in the 21st century; c) Support for the preservation and heritage initiatives for young natives, residents and visitors to engage in educational excursions that highlight Crucian culture, arts, spirituality and technology as they have influenced, changed and enhanced the social, economic, political and human resources & manifestations therein of the mainland United States, the entire Caribbean region and international affairs pre-Columbian interaction through to the present;and d)Enhance and ascend the respect, unique importance, cultural heritage, preservation-centered intrinsic values and pride of the people of St. Croix who are linked to St. Croix by ancestral, indigenous, extended spiritual, permanent residence, physical work, respectful alliance or some other manner.
The community's concerns of a NHA designation for St. Croix may be based on how will this transformation impact on the day-to-day lifestyles of the residents and natives (via ancestral, indigenous, birth-right, extended family linkages et.al.). Most folks are struggling to survive the major socio-economic changes on St. Croix in 2008 and have little interest or time to discuss yet another study on the life, history, heritage or whatever of St. Croix. Hence, many may not elect to participate in the community outreach initiated at this time in the form of town meetings for a multiplicity of reasons although many share their comments on radio shows and informally in the community. St. Croix people like personal attention which requires that we go out to the PEOPLE and inquiry and integrate their blood, sweat, tears and interests into the very core of this new feasibility study. Another principal concern is who will operate, manage and coordinate the affairs of this new NHA designation and whether or not the local residents and native stakeholders will genuinely benefit from this shift or will it be another project that primarily benefits external or temporal residents.
Note: This form needs to be made readily available to the greater populace of St. Croix via newspapers/ads/brochures immediately.
2. What traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife set St. Croix apart from all other places?
St. Croix has historically been regarded as the cultural breadbasket of the US Virgin Islands. During the heights of the TransAtlantic Enslavement Period, St. Croix represented the agricultural and labor breadbasket of the Caribbean. St. Croix's traditional folklore, spiritual mileaux, cultural heritage customs and traditions are highlighted as international & Caribbean crossroads of commerce, trade, history and survival that has endured centuries of external influence and internal modifications that have insured the historic "kallaloo" or melting pot existence of our community.
Several traditional practices that provide exemplary justification and rationale for St. Croix's NHA designation include yet are not limited to: a) The traditional cultural dances and music of St. Croix that have endured the test of enslavement, social banning, internal ostracization and disrespect for Afrakan rooted traditions; b) Caiso, cariso, quelbe,"scratch" and fusion musical traditions share the folklore and traditional heritage orally through music; c) Bamboula, mokojumbies, maskaraiders, quadrille and related interpretive dance step styles have endured so much social and public criticism that it's primarily the dance traditions that were historically accepted and legally allowed by the former colonial leaders and enslavers of Afrakans along with indentured Europeans that have become regarded as "acceptable" cultural tradition practices up to 2008. St. Croix's versions of these dances are uniquely set apart from how they are practiced in other Caribbean isles and abroad including St. Thomas; d) The medicinal folklore and traditions of the herbalist and natural health practitioners "bush women" or "Bush doctors" and others who historically used traditional agricultural remedies for the ills of the community pre-enslavement to the present along with those that integrated the conventional medical practices to excel in the fields of medicine, science, botany, agrisciences and much more. Note: St. Croix has different flora, fauna, animal and mineral life than our surrounding isles which needs to be highlighted, celebrated and preserved; and e)St. Croix has a unique historic relationship with Afraka which needs to stop being addressed apologetically and needs to celebrated within all levels of our social blocks of our community which may be enhanced with proper planning and respectful informational supports within the NHA designation process.
St. Croix's NHA designation may serve as a catalyst of the resurgence of social interpretation and public acceptance of the sacred and spiritual Afrakan traditional dance, music and folkloric practices of St. Croix. This will be extended to the inclusion of living villages where the historic traditions, cultural heritage and preservation of folkloric lifestyles of St. Croix may be enacted and exhibited in select areas on St. Croix so that visitors, residents and natives may share in a genuine glimpse and embrace of traditional experiences first-hand in an ethnographically and historically accurate manner.
3. What are the unique natural and cultural sites that tell the nationally important stories of St. Croix? Please explain why they are significant.
As their are a multiplicity of documents that share the unique qualities and significance of respective natural and cultural sites on St. Croix, this response will first recommend the entities or agencies that may be directly interviewed or recommended for inclusion in the St. Croix NHA Feasibility Study outreach. Organizations/Groups to obtain additional information from include yet are not limited to: a)St. Croix Landmarks Society; b) St. Croix Environmental Association; c) CAMP/SUCCEED (which represents multiple St. Croix based NGOs and NPOs interested in preservation, environmentalism, cultural heritage, holistic health, historic traditions et.al.); d) Per Ankh Institute; e) CHANT; f) St. Croix Public Land Trust (which select members of our community elect to keep "hidden" yet they need to be introduced to the general populace so that the positive components of whatever they are doing for the people are known); g) Our Town Frederiksted (OTF); h)Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA);i)Guardians of Culture; j) Caribbean Dance of the VI; k) West End Maskaraiders; l)St. Croix Sankofa for the Cultural Arts; m) many of the local cultural traditional musical groups/bands; and many others who may or may not have been asked to contribute to this study to date.
Several unique sites that celebrate the culture and natural resources of St. Croix include yet are not limited to the following: a)Maroon Sanctuary Park (Annaly Bay & Maroon Ridge community areas on northside); b)Baobab Tree in Estate Grove Place; c)Historic Ruins in Estates Oxford, Mt. Victory, Wills'Bay, Mt. Stewart, Williams & Punch; Prosperity (Plantation Estate house) and most other plantation sites that may be restored for exhibition and preservationist purposes; d)Kai & Marie Laweatz Museum; e) Whim Estate Museum Grounds (STXLS); f)Canary Mansion & Rail Tracks in Estate Whim (corner of Mahoghany near Fleming/Henry Estates); g) Restoration of Frederiksted Enterprise Zone properties; h) Sites of historic events: VI Emancipation 1848 (Fstd & Cstd Forts and select Centerline Road sites); Maroon Village 1780's to 1890's (Caledonia/Annally/North Hall/et.al.);Select grave sites throughout St. Croix; Native Ameridian sites in Salt River/Williams & Punch/Great Pond/Jacks Bay et.al.);Target Wall (Fstd Dorsch Beach Area); Salt Ponds in east & west; and many more sites that the NPS, DPNR and many others; i)Queens of St. Croix & Fiyahbun Trail (1878);j)North Hall/Creque Dam (Oral Histories from John Tranberg et.al.); and many more.
Note: Additional information will be given directly to the Office of the VI Delegate to Congress Dr. Donna Christensen.
Thank you
Dr. ChenziRa Davis Kahina
drchenzira@gmail.com
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