'Interview an Elder' initiative launched to preserve VI's history
This new initiative was launched on Monday, October 21, 2024, coinciding with National Heroes and Foreparents Day.
Bernadine A. Louis, Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute, told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) that this was conceptualised by herself and staff last year; however, they had to go through the process of conceptualising, formatting and marketing it before its launch.
Family history important to overall VI history
Family history, Louis added, is an important part of the Virgin Islands story. “Most times our cultural values, our traditions, our family life as we know it before all of our ongoing development is dying or is basically unknown. It gives a fuller and rich picture of the development of the Virgin Islands, it helps us to especially the younger generation to understand how different people, families and communities experience events in our Virgin Islands and world history.”
Louis added it was therefore important to launch this project so as to not lose the VI’s history.
This project will be an ongoing one for the institute and Louis encouraged everyone to be a part of this oral history initiative.
Meanwhile, the flyer released by the institute gives a guide to the interview process following which people are encouraged to share them with the institute.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) called the project a “wonderful initiative” during the Twentieth Sitting of the First Sesson of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Friday, October 18, 2024.
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