The Cayman National Cultural Foundation has launched a series of videos inspired by traditional elements of Cayman culture.
The ‘Cayman Makers’ series highlights local “artisans, craftspeople, and cultural icons who explore the unique cultural elements that have shaped our nation’s identity”, according to the CNCF.
“Cayman Makers was inspired by the community and our need to document and preserve traditional practices, ensuring they remain accessible to future generations,” Rita Powell, head of CNCF’s education, research and grants department, told the Cayman Compass.
“Understanding our cultural heritage and the history that informs it is crucial for passing down the values that define our identity as Caymanians.”
A taste of history
Produced and narrated by veteran journalist April Cummings, the inaugural video featured Margaret Powell, who uses her skilled hands to make one of Cayman’s national symbols, the traditional cassava heavy cake.
Remembering the days of old, Powell in the video recalled, “We didn’t have no stoves, didn’t have until 1970, and so all my childhood we cooked on the caboose.”
Although she learned much about cooking and baking in the outdoor kitchen area, she takes viewers through a step-by-step guide on how to make the traditional cassava cake using a modern-day oven, including grating the cassava and blending coconut for milk.
She shared in the video, “Those days it was a struggle to just get things together, but we lived in a community that we shared everything. So, allowing my grandchildren and my children to know about where we came from and where we are now is key importance because that’s their foundation.”
The rope that binds us together
The series also features local cultural practitioner Marlena Anglin, who demonstrates the art of rope- and thatch-making work, which for many years were vital to Cayman’s economy.
Anglin, who has been making rope since she was a little girl, learned how to do the trade from her mother.
She takes us through the intricate processes and shared in the video, “That was our living bread and butter. If we didn’t have 25 fathoms or 50 fathoms of rope every weekend, I would say you didn’t have too much to eat on Sunday.”
She added, “[Silver thatch roping] gave me life. Caymanians … they should never, never forget about thatch rope.”
Along with Anglin, Cayman makers Jeralow Rankine, Billy Banker, Deal Ebanks, Shirley Roulstone and Kaitlyn Elphinstone joined in demonstrating the steps of thatch plaiting and rope making.
Ebanks, who demonstrated making rope, noted a very “cool” and important piece of the process — the cob, used to twist the rope together. He showed viewers a more than 100-year-old cob and a more modern one that was made within the last 20 or 30 years.
With excitement he noted, “I get goosebumps because of it. It’s something when you hold history in your hand; you don’t know how much lives this thing helped save in this island … how many people profited because of it … This is life. … This is part of life Cayman.”
In the video, Banker noted, “It is good for our children to know what we went through … what we done to survive.”
The legacy of master mariner Captain Paul Hurlston is also highlighted in the series, exploring his seafaring journey as a teenager and his contributions to Cayman’s maritime heritage. His survival skills on the open ocean, resilience, dedication and maritime adventures are featured in the series.
“Within the videos, there is a clear message of hard work, resilience and unity that exemplified our nation,” Powell said.
“The ‘makers’ all have more than skills to pass down; they have an understanding of what built our community, and we are so proud to celebrate them.”
CNCF confirmed the first season can be viewed across their social media platforms with full episodes on their Cayman Culture YouTube channel. Other features honour individuals in Cayman’s culinary, fashion and maritime history.
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