National Heritage Month Events in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Festival: Part 4 in a five part series about National Heritage Month in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Even in paradise, life can be a challenge. At least it was many years ago before the Turks and Caicos Islands became one of the world’s most loved vacation destinations. Islanders depended on the resources of the land and sea around them to earn a livelihood.
During the third weekend in October on North and Middle Caicos Islands, the Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Festival celebrates this history of struggle, perseverance, and integrity. This is part of a series of annual events in the Turks and Caicos Islands occurring at a variety of locations and featuring many activities, all with a common thread expressing national pride.
“If not for our forefathers, we would have been wiped out like many others. But because we were so strong and we knew how to use the environment effectively, we are still here,” said Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams, Executive Director of the National Trust in an interview with Rebecca Bird in the Turks and Caicos Weekly News.
The name of the festival points to three important pieces of Turks and Caicos history. Sponge, cotton and sisal were all key cash crops grown, harvested and exported. In the 1930’s sea sponge farming was successful until a fungus disease dramatically impacted the industry. Production of cotton and sisal crops were key to the economy. Sisal was an ideal crop for the Turks and Caicos because it was resilient to dry weather and wasn’t susceptible to deterioration due to long storage.
It was used to make twine, rope, paper, and cloth. The industry thrived for many years, but by 1919, there was stiff competition from better quality manila hemp being produced in the Philippines. With the exception of a short production revival period after World War II, sisal production pretty much stopped.
It was incredibly hard work farming any of these crops. Day to day life meant long hours, punishing physical toil, and often an unforgiving dependence on mother nature. Perseverance was key, and history shows the people of Turks and Caicos had no shortage of it.
Donte Francis, the 2014 Youth Ambassador to the islands in his address on the Radio Turks and Caicos website says, “We must be proud of our indelible spirit to overcome any challenge that comes our way.”
Heritage Month Events on North Caicos
There is no better way to honour this spirit than by hearing about stories of the past. On Saturday night on the stage at Horse Stable Beach, North Caicos there is a ‘Remember When’ show in which narratives and commentaries from the elders of the community are shared, along with ripsaw music and cultural performances.
During the day there are various activities happening such as the Heritage Trail Walk. Participants can literally go on a walk through history as they hike between historical points on the island. There is a beach picnic at Bamburra Beach, a beach made famous because of a slave ship that wrecked in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This beach takes its name from the African village that was home to these slaves who made their way ashore and discovered to their joy that they had arrived on islands where slavery had been abolished. They settled down and became some of the founding families of Turks and Caicos society.
There is another event which combines travelling along historical sites with the popular modern activity of photographing yourself. The Heritage Selfie Contest gives people the chance to take as many selfie photos as they can along a heritage trail set up along 40 sites from Sandy Point, North Caicos to Lorimer’s Creek, Middle Caicos. The winner of the contest who will receive a cash prize is the person who has taken the most photos in the allotted time.
Echoing the Salt Festival and the Seafood Festival in previous weekends, there will be performances by the Gospel Pioneers, a group well known to the Turks and Caicos community for their gospel music. Performances will take place on Sunday afternoon at Conch Bar Community Centre and during the evening at Horse Stable Beach stage.
It’s a weekend heritage celebration where there’s something for everyone, no matter their age.
The original sea sponge boats might be long gone and the early plantation buildings and implements are only remnants now. The number of elders still living who can recount the past are dwindling. But the Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Festival represents a vibrant way to re-connect with the past, to celebrate it and bring islanders together in national pride.
