Our goal is to document for future generations, the oral history and traditional practices of our island home.

Who's involved:
Project leader: Raison Compton

Main partner: Paget Farm Sports Cultural and Environmental Organization

Other organisations:
- R.I.P.P.L.E.S.
- National Trust
- Bequia Heritage Foundation
- Ministry of Culture
- Agency for Public Information
- Bequia Radio Project

Timeframe:
December 2006 - October 2007

Theme:
Life and Love on Islands

Objectives:
- Record various local traditions such as farine production, corn grinding, salting and drying fish and whale;
- Get the aging population of Bequia to pass on their stories of island living, including stories passed on to them from their forefathers, and traditional herbal medicines;
- Promote and record interaction between the youth and the elderly in cheer-giving activities to allow for the direct transfer of folklore;
- Record the work of the youth involved in the Paget Farm Sports and Cultural Environmental Organization and RIPPLES project.

Activities:
- Purchase video camera and train youth to use the camera;
- Organize and conduct at least ten cheer-giving visits by the youth to elderly persons in their homes in Bequia and to videotape the elderly as they tell their stories;
- Organize and videotape a minimum of five local traditions to include farine production, corn grinding, salting and drying fish and whale, use of traditional herbal medicines;
- Edit the video footage and prepare a 30-minute video illustrating the Folkways of Bequia;
- Organize a viewing of the video by the elderly and general community of Bequia
- Publicise the project through local radio, television and newspapers, and air some of the interviews with the elderly on Bequia Community Radio;
- Evaluate the impact of the activity by asking a minimum of 20 involved youth to complete a survey at the end of the project on how they view local traditions and stories;
- Investigate and report on ways of continuing cheer-giving sessions with the elderly after the project.

Progress Reports:
29 October 2007
"We have already sent the news items to the newspapers and television but because this was a very busy time for them it was not possible for them to include them in the Independence issue and program. Most likely the upcoming week.

An article was sent to the TV station and national broadcasting corporation as well as the information for the newspaper articles (read this article).

The extraction of the audio for the Bequia Radio station is also being taken care of together with the production of the video, and the planning for how the stories will be aired is well on the way. Mrs. Vernette Ollivierre of the Bequia Community High School has been working along with us on that part of the project." - Kenora Bynoe

25 September 2007
"Our project is entering its final stages. Late August/September was not as productive as we had hoped because of other commitments.

We have footage of the cheergiving/interviews, corn grinding, traditional medicines (we have to do over the filming of the actual plants).  This week we will be continuing to film the implements like the juke board for washing, flambeau, and others mentioned during the interviews.

Next week on Monday the 1st or Tuesday the 2nd October, two persons from the Agency for Public Information will be coming down to help us as we get ready to put all that information we have together in one shortened version." - Kenora Bynoe

11 May 2007
"So far we have taken footage from 2 of the cassava production sites. We are working with the Agency for Public Information for training and consultation. We have also done a cheer-giving exercise and the project is taking shape. Here are some digital photos from the Friendship cassava producers and the Jellizeau producers." - Kenora Bynoe

Downloads:
Project Proposal
Workplan
Promotional article for television and radio

For more information:
Contact Kenora Bynoe: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it