More than 30 Caymanians have joined forces to voice their concerns about the diminishing of traditional arts, crafts and Cayman culture.
Reina Jefferson, alongside her co-chairperson Debra Barnes-Tabora, led the Wednesday night meeting of concerned artisans, who turned out from all corners of Cayman, including the Sister Islands.
‘Our traditional crafts and way of life are not known by many of our children,’ Mrs. Jefferson said.
‘We need to work to promote our past and culture. Our traditions and customs are being threatened and we don’t want our way of life changed. We need to hold on to our traditions.’
Mrs. Jefferson also expressed concern over the number of traditional Caymanian artefacts lost in Hurricane Ivan when the National Museum was damaged.
‘Although they [museum employees] have worked hard to salvage many pieces, I was shocked to see how little was left. This prompted me to say the time has come to take the bull by the horns and form an association, which will work to save our traditions.
‘We want to save and make sure we never lose our traditional arts and crafts. We don’t want them to become history.’
Formation of the group is an historic moment and a step in the right direction that would lead to Cayman’s arts, crafts and culture being saved for future generations to enjoy, she said.
Many at the meeting want to see traditional arts and crafts taught in primary schools as part of the national curriculum and not as non-compulsory after-school activities.
The cutting down of Silver Thatch palms, which the group was informed are not protected by law even though they are Cayman’s national symbol, was also discussed.
‘As an association we can work to protect Silver Thatch palms and prevent them being pulled down,’ Mrs. Jefferson said.
She outlined the objectives of the association, taking suggestions from those present.
‘We need to have a list of why the association exists,’ Mrs. Jefferson said.
The group, whose members have a wide range of skills, including woodcarving, thatch making, quilting, straw work, Cayman doll making, rope making and crochet, agreed the association would work to protect all traditional Cayman arts and crafts. The first step is to establish what a traditional Cayman craft is.
In the last few months, she, along with Mrs. Barnes-Tabora and. Ray Banker, organisers of the proposed association, had looked for a lawyer to assist them with the legal process of forming the association, which requires a minimum of 10 members by law.
Mrs. Jefferson said she wants the association fully set up and registered by the end of the year. A final meeting is slated in June.
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