N a Sonje - We Will Remember: An Interview (Part 1 of 7)

Part 1 of a 7 part series. Filmed, conceptualized, and executed by Claire Karoly (tenebrousllama).

For more information, visit http://nasonje.blogspot.com

"N a Sonje" is a simple phrase in Haitian Creole that translated into English means "we will remember". They are words that immediately 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, 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.

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.

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[dpm]

Loud buzzing from about 18 to 2:16 obscures the talk. Was the camera next to some appliance or computer? I retried a few times and I know it's not on my end. Other than that, thank you for a very interesting and enjoyable video of some remarkable people!

[tenebrousllama]

yes, unfortunately the heater in the room was really loud, and i couldn't fix it much in editing :(

[dpm]

Hey, still a fine video! Huggles!

[tenebrousllama]

thankies very much!

[icofbaby1]

Hey guys it's Dan jeune of ICOF, Great info video. I will see in Haiti in December with our team. Hopefully, Friday Dec. 14. Keep in touch.