ORANJESTAD- A cross-section of the community of St. Eustatius recently convened at the ELMA Building to deliberate on the activities leading up to the reburial of the sixty-nine ancestral remains excavated from the 18th-century Golden Rock Plantation Site in 2021. 

The event was organized by the Statia Cultural Heritage Implementation Committee, in collaboration with the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation and other stakeholders.  

Community members emphasized the necessity of public awareness regarding the upcoming ceremony, acknowledging the diverse perspectives within the community.

The event was organized by the Statia Cultural Heritage Implementation Committee, in collaboration with the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation and other stakeholders.  

Participants envisioned the reburial ceremony as an event where attendees wear traditional African attire, paying homage to the ancestors’ cultural heritage. The importance of conducting the ceremony based on traditional practices of the ancestors, such as libations, was underscored.

The discussion extended to isotopic and artifact analysis and the use of historical records to gather more information about the ancestors, following an informational video by Dr. Aja Lans, Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology at John Hopkins University, who explained the purpose, methodology, and alternatives to isotopic analysis. The opinions varied. 

Some participants were open to conducting isotopic analysis on a select few remains, while others questioned the necessity of this destructive form of analysis.

Moreover, participants explored various elements of Statian cultural heritage worth protecting in a local ordinance. 

The protection of historical buildings was a frequent topic, despite debates on the relevance of structures owned by the Dutch Government and the European architectural styles. Additionally, community members highlighted the need to safeguard local fruit trees, herbs, spices, oral traditions, string band music, wells, shorelines, and beaches.

In conclusion, participants expressed that future reburials should also occur at the site where the Golden Rock ancestors will rest. The ongoing conversation around heritage preservation will continue within the community and extend into educational institutions.