N a Sonje document published in 2003

THE "N A SONJE" FOUNDATION AND THE MEMORY VILLAGE:

Reliving the historical encounter of the Americas, Africa and Europe in an interactive living historical village in order to bring healing to the trauma of this encounter.

We Will Remember or What is "N a Sonje"?

"N a Sonje" is a simple phrase in Haitian Creole that translated into English means "we will remember". They are words that bring to mind memories of what was worthy of community value from the past through alluding to lost, forgotten or simply untold histories of the present.

The "N a Sonje" Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in Haiti, which began informally in 2000 and gradually took form to being legally recognized in August 2002. It is based on the re- balancing of history, particularly focused on the tri-continental encounter. This vision has been entrusted to and developed by its three founding members, Harry Nicolas, Carla Bluntschli and Djalòki Dessables who are also associates and founders of DOA/BN[1], an historical, cultural, alternative educational tourism business in Haiti since 1992.

Objectives

Foundation "N a Sonje's intention is to offer a place that encourages understanding based on respectful and equal relationships between peoples of different cultures, particularly the trans-atlantic cultures: Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and their respective descendants around the world. In its continual search for new models of inter-cultural interactions that promote better comprehension, peace and justice, the Foundation emphasizes a more complete memory of historical events that created the current political, economic, interpersonal and international dynamics at the level of nations, communities, families and individuals involved in this history.

On January 1st 1804, after more than 300 years of colonial rule, slavery and genocide of Amerindian and African peoples, the slave population of St. Domingue brought an end to the trans-atlantic slave system and created a free nation. Even after succeeding in a revolution that shook the entire western world's economic and political system to the core, this challenge to established religious and scientifically based "truths" and justifications by the colonizing powers continues to this day.[2]

Because of Haiti's unique position both geographically and historically, it is particularly appropriate for the location of the Memory Village. Therefore in honor of Haiti's 200-year anniversary of independence, the singular success in creating the beginning of the end to slavery on a tri-continental scale, Foundation "N a Sonje" will be offering to the worldwide public, the permanent participatory park, The Memory Village. This long-term vision will draw on the research and discovery of lost or hidden facts of history that will provide sustainability and evolution for generations to come even beyond the 200th anniversary celebration in 2004.

Why and What is "The Memory Village"

"N a Sonje" believes that the day has come when seeing and hearing alone are no longer sufficient to transmit historical truth (such as through traditional reading and documentation), but now more effectively through a more personally direct and dynamic means. "N a Sonje" is offering an opportunity to relive events and conditions of others, if only for a short moment, so that understanding, healing and courage might be forged on a personal level with the hope that this will lead to an eventual impact on a global scale.

The Memory Village is envisioned as a living interactive historical village where people from all over the world will have the opportunity to re-live the three main cultures of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from before the turning point of 1492 through the ensuing 500 years either by vicariously experiencing or by observing the historical re-enactment of capture, selling, shipping and enslaving African people up to the time of the revolution and the 200 years following the victory of independence in Haiti.

Situated on approximately 3-4 acres of land in the rural mountains, the Memory Village will be located in an area called 'Gwo Jan' (a village established by Africans who escaped from the sugar plantations during the colonial era), a provincial community of the city of Petionville, a main suburb of Port-au-Prince. (See maps included below. Please note that on the second map, the location of Gwo Jan in red is approximate and the lettering is out of proportion to the size)

The Experience

A typical day's journey through the Memory Village beginning at 6AM ending approx 7PM involves 7 main references that include these different sites:

1) Preparation:
· Reception, welcome and choosing degree of participation
2) Ancestors:
· Activities in a Native American village, including an exploration of primordial sciences
· Activities in commerce, science and religion in a small Medieval European city
· Activities in an African village during a full celebration (ancestral/religious, agricultural, communal, etc)
3) Slave Trade:
· Capture and imprisonment by slave traders
· Embarkment on a slave ship
· Arrival and sale in a slave market on the island of St. Dominique (Haiti)
4) Slavery
· Submission by means of quarantine
· Work on a sugar cane plantation
5) "Mawon" or Escape:
· Escape to encampments of freed slaves and remaining original Taino people
6) Revolt:
· Re-enactment of the first African Congress meeting of unification to fight for freedom
· Tribute to the "Act of Independence" and first President, Jean.Jacques Dessaline's speech
January 1, 1804
· Walk the "Road of Resistance"
7) Reflection:
· Partake in a bowl of "Independence" soup
· Complete the experience at the meditation monument over a cooling brook for a guided debriefing and personal reflection

Current Status

Here is what has been accomplished to date thanks to the enormous voluntary work and many professional hours. Many friends, family and organizations have graciously contributed either in time, money or materials towards this work along with the sponsoring finance and vision of DOA/BN:
· deposits towards land acquisition for the Memory Village
· topographical study completed

· topographical miniature scale model built of the land
· layout designs for the land and village

· documentary videos

· Haitian radio and television promotion

Major research and financing for the training and education of the local population, theatrical personnel and administrative staff are essential in order to accomplish a true rendering of such diverse cultural histories by building authentic representations and reproductions necessary for deep personal experiences. The "N a Sonje" Foundation is looking for partnerships and support to begin building of the Memory Village as well as preparatory staff training in order to start operating with public access.

Conclusion

We, the members of The "N a Sonje" Foundation, are dedicated to the honor and memory of all African and Native ancestors whose blood and dreams were spilled across the Atlantic Ocean and spanned the entire American continents for over 300 years but most specially those who endured the extremity of horror on this tiny but sacred land of the Arawak/Taino people who wisely referred to as Ayiti[3]. May our lives and dreams give reason and hope for their suffering and for our future.

[1] DOA/BN stands for: D for delegations, groups hosted to provide cultural and historical experiences in Haiti; O for orientations, sessions of lectures based on Haitian perspectives of reality; A for Atizana in Creole or crafts, but more comprehensively promoting all products made by Haitian hands/ Bluntschli, Carla and Nicolas, Harry, founders. http://www.haititravels.org/

[2] Religious justification by church authorities of the 17th and 18th centuries, the most ferocious period of slavery, used the "black legend" from the story of Noah and the curse of Ham as justification of black slavery as well as a providential means to "evangelize" the cursed race. The science of anthropology at the time led by the famous French philosopher, Buffon, puts forth the theory that there is an apparent hierarchy of the races of humanity. In this pyramid of races, blacks challenge the orangutans for last position with the white at the high-test pinnacle of ethical, aesthetic and physical perfection.

[3] One translation of the word Ayiti in the original Taino language says it means "the land that enables one to rise to one's higher self".

excerpts from N a Sonje's first letter announcing the vision

In 1998, we (DOA/BN www.haititravels.org) hosted 40 pilgrims during their week-long spiritual journey in Haiti of "The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage" as they traveled the slave history of the United States, through the Caribbean and South America, finalizing their pilgrimage in Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa. The pilgrimage’s objectives were (abridged): 1) To offer prayers for the spirits of people of African descent, 2) To open the way for all whose lives have been affected 3) Reverse historical patterns 4) Offer multifaceted educational opportunities 5) Transform the thinking that spawned racism. This has been a great inspiration to us and for this future vision.

The Interfaith Pilgrimage Of The Middle Passage Retracing The Journey of Slavery United States – Caribbean – Brazil – West Africa – South Africa May 30, 1998 – May 31, 1999

“If we do not acknowledge our history we cannot learn from it. The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage is a remarkable opportunity to confront the rality of the horrors of slavery both in context of the times when slavery was common practice, and in examining our attitudes and prejudices in the present day.”-the Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus and Chairperson Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Objectives

“Raison d’Etre”

We, of DOA/BN together with many others, believe that the time has come for humanity to call upon the treasury of still existing, but rapidly disappearing, cultures today in order to respond to the challenges of the 21st century. Unfortunately, the cultural riches of the Natives, Africans and their descendants are, in reality, the objects of distortions and destruction; their splendour before colonization and their enormous contributions to the current cultural riches of humanity are seemingly being erased from contemporary memory. In order to restrain the total loss of this ancient memory, conscious efforts by many are needed, but the genocide of the Native peoples as well as the commerce and enslavement of the Africans on a worldwide scale for over 3 centuries has left a subconscious traumatic scar in all the ensuing generations of each continent of peoples that were involved. This trauma and the accompanying amnesia has struck the Native American peoples, the Africans, the Europeans and their respective descendants.
For the future health and well-being of humanity, it is vital that this inter-cultural trauma be treated very carefully, not to simply make superficial cosmetic reparations, but rather a deep and profound, therefore potentially painful healing process take place. In order for this process to occur, the horrific truths should be consciously recalled in detail to the collective memory and living experience from which it has been suppressed. To contribute to this treatment the Cultural Foundation “N a Sonje” has been created. It is in humble admission that this can only represent a piece of dust in the universe of pain that has been suffocating so many souls over too many centuries in the history of our world. Nevertheless, it is offered in quiet and yet expectant hope.
Haiti’s particular position in the history and evolution of the slave trade, where slavery has been described as the most ferocious, and where the tortured majority drew upon spiritual forces transported from Africa to win a whole country’s freedom and political independence makes it the ideal place for this recognition and reparation to begin. Haiti was deliberately demonised for its audacity in taking this liberty thus destroying the most profitable business in the world at that time and continues to spurn the negative propaganda through her people’s long-suffering of the past 200 years to this day. Not only for Haiti is this hope born, but for every nation and people who have endured this criminal history.

Mother Haiti holds out the bosom of her tears to those unafraid to be bathed in them and then wrapped in her tender solace for a cleansed tomorrow. For this reason she has accepted to call “N a Sonje” to her.

N a Sonje philosophy

"N a Sonje" Foundation Objectives

1.-Memory
Contribute to the reconstruction of the collective historical memory of the ancestral splendor of African and Native *American cultures and their enormous contribution to the current heritage of humanity, for the education and conscientization of present and future generations.

2.-Truth
Contribute to revealing and transmitting the political, economical, social, cultural and spiritual consequences of the history of colonization, the slave trade, the enslavement and genocide of the African and Native American peoples, highlighting facts deliberately hidden or disguised, to serve as a base for reflection and corrective action addressing these imbalances, anywhere in the world.

3.-Reliving
Revisit, in person, the historical conditions connected to slavery and genocide up to the revolution and forming of the nation of Ayiti, who at the time of its birth, was the only nation to openly challenge this worldwide system of exploitation.

4.-Acknowledgement
Facilitate personal and collective acknowledgement of damages and both historical and current responsibilities whether, conscious or unconscious, that support the innumerable privileges and injustices of contemporary societies.

5.-Respect and Dignity
Contribute to the rehabilitation of respect and dignity to the African, Native and Creole peoples as well as their respective cultures, both for themselves and in the eyes of other nations.

6.-Reparations
Investigate means to determine practical or symbolic reparations for the damage done.

7.-Healing
Investigate new models of cultural, social, political and economic interactions in order to produce relationships that are just, free, amicable, respectful and egalitarian among peoples and nations.

*American meaning the Americas, South, Central and the Caribbean.