Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Comes to Life!!!This edition of De Conch features the journey that has been taken to keep alive the Gullah/

Geechee legacy and to honor our homeland. A number of the coming events included will show how you can become actively involved in the process of insuring that Gullah/Geechee traditions

continue on Sea Island land for many generations to come. !!Cum fa jayn we een disya journey fa hol pun Gullah/Geechee land & legacy!!!

www.gullahgeecheenation.com!

Gullah/Geechee Angel Networkpage 8

Queen Quet’s Journey

page 2

Featured Artist Saudra Renee Smith

page 5

Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank

page 10

De ConchApril 2015 Edition

Queen Quet’s Journey Q u e e n Q u e t , C h i e f t e s s o f t h e G u l l a h / G e e c h e e N a t i o n (www.QueenQuet.com) became the first Gullah/Geechee in the history of the world to speak before the United Nations in Genevé, Switzerland on behalf of her people on April 1, 1999! This was the continuation of a journey that had begun more than a decade before that day. Queen Quet has dedicated her life to the continuation of Gullah/Geechee cultural traditions and land ownership.

Queen Quet is not only the founder of the premiere organization for the advocacy of Gullah/Geechee culture and rights-The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.gullahgeechee.net), but is the visionary behind the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank. She serves on numerous national, local, and regional boards and is a permanent representative to the United Nations as part of the Directorate of the

International Human Rights Association for American Minorities (IHRAAM) which is an NGO with consultative status with the UN. She continues to represent the Gullah/Geechee Nation in this arena and others around the world.

Since 1996, Queen Quet has taken trips to various lands in order ot educate the world on Gullah/Geechee living traditions. This world tour has gone from the name “Save the Sea Islands Tour” to the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy World Tour.” Queen Quet & De Gullah Cunneckshun will continue on this tour until the 20 anniversary of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition.

At the conclusion of presentations at each site on the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy World Tour,” guests can purchase authentic Gullah/Geechee items, books, CDs, and DVDs (www.gullahgeechee.biz). To add to the educational products, Queen Quet released her follow-up anthology to “The Legacy of Ibo Landing: Gullah Roots of African American Culture” this past February. The new anthology entitled, “WEBE Gullah/Geechee Cultural Capital & Collaboration Anthology” is selling out during this journey!

Queen Quet is not only shoutin’ due to the success of the latest book, but also due to the continued support of the CDs that De Gullah Cunneckshun has released over the years. The latest one entitled, “Sea Island Soul” was released during the Heritage Days Celebration 2014 which Queen Quet is now co-chairing for the 3rd year in a row. Gullah Roots Productions™ re-released the histo-musical performance troupe’s first CD this year on iTunes and CD Baby and it is now available as a digital download worldwide. The other two will also be re-released this month.

Queen Quet has no intention of stopping this journey any time soon! “As GAWD sho mi whey fa go, da whey I gwine! Disya ain oba fa mi cuz de world ain yet kno bout who webe! Disya da de journey wha GAWD gee mi and mi hafa crak mi teet so oda res yeddi bout de Gullah/Geechee! Ta GAWD mi sey ‘Tenki tenki!’” To this quote from Queen Quet we can only add, “Gwine on Queen!”

1. Gullah/Geechee Nation Headquarters www.officialgullahgeechee.info or www.gullahgeecheenation.com

2. Gullah/Geechee Nation on Instagram http://instagram.com/gullahgeechee @GullahGeechee

3. Gullah/Geechee Angel Network www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com

4. Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition www.gullahgeechee.net

5. Gullah/Geechee TV™ (GGTV) www.youtube.om/AMPTurnItUp

6. Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee

7. Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association www.gullahgeecheefishing.net

8. Gullah/Geechee Nation Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/GullahGeechee-Nation/66574769035

9. Gullah/Geechee Folks on Twitter www.twitter.com/gullahgeechee @GullahGeechee

10. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee www.QueenQuet.com

11. Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info

12. Gullah/Geechee Doula Association http://www.gullahgeecheedoula.com/

13. Gullah/Geechee Nation on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/gullahgeechee/

Links to Gullah/Geechee Living Culture

!The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is the premiere organization on the protection and continuation of the Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture. The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition:

• advocates for the protection of the human and land rights of Gullah/Geechee

• promotes and participates in the continuation of Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, culture, and language.

• works toward Sea Island land re-acquisition and maintenance. !• celebrates Gullah/Geechee culture through artistic and educational means electronically

and via "grassroots scholarship." !The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has successfully carried out this mission since 1996. During which time, they developed the ONLY archive in the world which is TOTALLY dedicated to Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture. The Gullah/Geechee Alekbulan Archive is being upgraded in order to continue to provide access to artifacts, images, documents, books, films, and recordings to future generations of Gullah/Geechees and global researchers. The Coalition host hundreds of students and professional writers each year and it also supports native Gullah/Geechee speakers and presenters traveling to other parts of the world to make sure that accurate presentations on our culture are done in a varied array of venues. !We are calling on all supporters of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition to become dues paying members and to contribute to the “Gullah/Geechee Gold Souls Campaign.” The funds will assist with the completion of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Center and our land fund. Please use the form at the end of this ezine or go to http://fnd.us/c/07Wl6 in order to financially contribute to the fundraising efforts that are currently under way which will finalize the second phase of the building. !The “wish list:” !• DVC tape to digital converter system • 20 Mac Compatible 2T-4T External Drives • Acid free archival boxes of all sizes and types and poster holder • Apple server !For details on how you can host a fundraising event, contribute in any or in all of these ways, please email GullGeeCo@aol.com.

Disya bout geeing frum de soul fa mek sho de richness stay een wi black gold!

GULLAH/GEECHEE GOLD SOULS CAMPAIGN

HELP SAVE GULLAH/GEECHEE LAND!

Any donation that you can make will be greatly appreciated, and publicly acknowledged on the Pan-African Family Empowerment Network website--unless you request to remain anonymous.

Please give as generously as possible. No donation is too small, or too large:).

To donate go to:

http://www.gofundme.com/panafricanfamilyem

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Come meet the Board of Directors, President & CEO, and the International Vice Co-Chairs of the Pan African Family Empowerment & Land Preservation Network, Inc. on Saturday, April 4, 2015 from Noon to 2 pm at their open house!

!PAFEN Headquarters

One Beaufort Town Center

2015 Boundary Street

Beaufort, SC 29902

Gullah/Geechee Nation

!Call 843-592-6076 or email info@panafricanfamilyempowermentnetwork.org for more information and to RSVP.

Hep Mo Angel fa Fly!

Support De Gullah/Geechee Angel Network!

!The mission of the official 501(c)3, non-profit of the Gullah/Geechee Nation,

the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network is

To preserve, protect and promote the cultural heritage of the Gullah/Geechee People who have lived in the southeastern portion of the United States of America from North Carolina to Jacksonville Florida 30 miles inland (known as the "Low Country") for over 300 years. To connect all people, not just in the 50 states, but internationally throughout the Diaspora, Europe, Caribbean and Africa.

Goals and Objectives are achieved by the implementation of the following seven (7) point program:

The Performing Arts: Musical plays, dramatizations, poetry, storytelling, enactments and workshops

Arts and Crafts: Workshops in the production and displaying of traditional Gullah/Geechee cultural items. Demonstrative workshops that encourage the development of functional skills and forms of expression to potentially showcase and stimulate direct participation in the growing ethnic tourism industry, festivals and cultural events.

Educational: The establishment of Cultural Learning Centers designed to foster motivation, achievement and cultural enrichment. Historical/Research excursions from the tip of North Carolina (Cape Fear) to the outlining areas of Jacksonville, Florida.

Scholarships and Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award programs and events recognizing those persons who have given selflessly of themselves, and have done considerable work for the benefits of their particular community as it relates to cultural preservation. Awarding Scholarships to youth who exhibit talent, and are oriented toward developing skills which foster Gullah/Geechee Culture.

The Internet and The Media: Networking with organizations, institutions and groups which focus on Gullah/Geechee Culture. Consistently present positive role models and activities to the low country in particular, and to in the Diaspora in general.

Production, Preservation and Documentation: Production and archiving of Gullah/Geechee video and audio recordings, books, symbols and banners. Radio, television and computer production programming.

Health and Nutrition Awareness: Forums and symposiums which explore lifestyles, food staples, food cultivation and preparation of Gullah/Geechee cuisine, as well as developing holistic programs to promote well being.

Gret Camp Meetin Centa!

The Gullah/Geechee International Camp Meeting Center & Yenna House will host a number of activities and people from around the world and educate people on the living traditions of that exist throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation. The next major fundraiser for the project will be the Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ www.gullahgeechee.info.

For more details on fundraisers, tours, assisting with the project, or contributing, call

(843) 572-6788 or go to www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com

The Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank has held two meetings and hosted the annual “Coastal Cultures

Conference” at the Hunting Island Nature Center in 2015. This team has united in focusing on the water-

ways, seafood, and human health in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. They will host a series of focus groups during

the summer to engage the Gullah/Geechee community. !!www.gullahgeechee.net!!

www.gullahgeecheenation.com !!

Gullah/Geechee Gwine On

April

•Tunis Campbell Celebration in Brunswick, GA April 1-5, 2015

•Pan African Family Empowerment & Land Preservation Network Open House at One Beaufort Plaza in Beaufort, SC April 4, 2015 from Noon to 2 pm 843-592-6076 or email info@panafricanfamilyempowermentnetwork.org

•Gullah/Geechee Living History Series Film at St. Helena Branch Library 1 pm on April 11, 2015 Email GullGeeCi@aol.com

•Second Saturdays at Penn Center, Inc. featuring the works of Gullah/Geechee artist, Sam Doyle www.penncenter.com

•The Gathering at Geechee Kunda April 18, 2015 www.geecheekunda.com

May

•Lowcountry Giving Day May 5, 2015 PLEASE donate to Penn Center, Inc and the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network All gifts made by credit or debit card on https://lowcountrygivingday.org/ from 12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 will be eligible for giving incentives made available by Coastal Community Foundation.

•Opening of McLeod Plantation on James Island, SC as part of the Charleston County Parks May 9, 2014

•Gullah Festival May 22-24 in Beaufort, SC www.gullahfestival.org

June-Black Music Month

•Pan African Family Empowerment & Land Preservation Network Open House at One Beaufort Plaza in Beaufort, SC June 6, 2015 from Noon to 2 pm 843-592-6076 or email info@panafricanfamilyempowermentnetwork.org

•“All White Affair” at Penn Center, Inc. June 6, 2015 Email GullGeeCo@aol.com or call (843) 838-2432 for tickets. Proceeds benefit the “Heritage Days Celebration”

•Charleston CariFest June 11-14, 2015 www.charlestoncarifest.com

•International Symposium on Society and Resource Management www.issrm2015.iasnr.org

!Save the dates! !

Cum fa jayn we een de Gullah/Geechee Nation! !www.gullahgeecheenation.com

GULLAH/GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION

Post Office Box 1207 St. Helena Island SC 29920

I am enclosing my check for!!_____ $45 for the year of membership!!_____ $300-999 supporter (Pledge amount can be sent in monthly installments)!!_____ $1200 for lifetime membership!!_____ $___________ toward the Gullah/Geechee Gold Souls Campaign!!My check is written to the !Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. I know that I will receive a newsletter, event announcements, and will be a subscriber to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Roots Listserve and will also receive discounts on Gullah/Geechee products. !!!!

Mail this to !!Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition!

Post Office Box 1207!St. Helena Island SC 29920!!

Name: ! _________________________!!Address: ! ______________________________!! ______________________________!!Telephone:! ___________________ ! ! ! (Day) ! ! _______________________________ ! ! (Eve or Cell)! !!

What island are you closely connected to? ________________________________!!How?(Circle one) !! ! Family Business! !E-mail address: ________________________________!!Where did you receive this? ________________________________!!What would you like to see done by this organization?

Join the GULLAH/GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION www.gullahgeechee.net

© 2015 Gullah/Geechee Nation!

© 2015 Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition !

ALL rights for photographs and articles are re-served. !

Republishing should not be done without consent from the Gullah/Geechee Nation.