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'Interview an Elder' initiative launched to preserve VI's history

- new Virgin Islands Studies Institute initiative part of oral history initiative
The Virgin Islands Studies Institute’s Interview an Elder Initiative launched on October 21, 2024. Photo: Virgin Islands Studies Institute
Bernadine A. Louis, Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute said family history is an important part of the Virgin Islands’ story as Interview an Elder Initiative was launched in October 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Bernadine A. Louis, Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute said family history is an important part of the Virgin Islands’ story as Interview an Elder Initiative was launched in October 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
A flyer released by the Virgin Islands Studies Institute give a guide to the interview process for the Interview an Elder Initiative which was launched in October 2024. Photo: Virgin Islands Institute
A flyer released by the Virgin Islands Studies Institute give a guide to the interview process for the Interview an Elder Initiative which was launched in October 2024. Photo: Virgin Islands Institute
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Virgin Islanders have been called upon to assist in the documenting of the stories of the Territory’s elders in a newly launched Oral History Initiative dubbed ‘Interview an Elder’.

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.

5 Responses to “'Interview an Elder' initiative launched to preserve VI's history”

  • Changing Paradigms (22/10/2024, 15:47) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lovely. Generational Enrichment Initiative.
  • TALLY (22/10/2024, 16:32) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just completed my Interview of Mr. Ran Pickering of Road Town. Where do I get a full copy of flyer so I can edit my interview accordingly?
  • smart (22/10/2024, 18:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I highly recommend interviewing Ashbel Lettsome of East End. He has many a story....
  • Theodore Springette (22/10/2024, 19:15) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a great initiative and project to record our past for our future to be able to know about. I can think of many elder Virgin Islanders who we ought to Interview- Jacoly Dawson, Malcom Peters, Earl Wheatley, Ezra Faulkner, Julian Hodge, James George, Mark Davies and Francine Hamm just to name a few.
  • Norris Turnbull (23/10/2024, 06:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope they interview people who will not try to rewrite history


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