The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s (DOE) Division of Cultural Education invites the community to attend the first conference of its kind: “A New Vision: Traditionalist and Preservationist Culture Bearers Impacting Students’ Learning.” It will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29, at the Curriculum Center on St. Croix; it will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, in the ACC first floor Conference Room at UVI St. Thomas.
According to Valrica Bryson, director of cultural education, the inaugural conference is designed to bring culture bearers together with the goal of sharing Virgin Islands culture with local youth. The one-day gathering will feature a host of workshops and is open to persons with the following skills:
· Fish pot builders
· Chicken coop builders
· Basket weavers
· Makers of local candies
· Teachers of quadrille and quelbe music
· Mocko jumbie
· Stilt walkers
· Storytellers
· Cariso singers
· Cooks of local foods
· Pottery makers
· Woodworkers
· Carnival costume makers
· Tie-dying
· Macramé
· Bamboula dancers
· African dancers
· Float builders
· Masqueraders
· Makers of local instruments (such as the wash pan bass and others)
· Knowledgeable of local bushes and plants
The event is free and lunch will be served.
Register for the Aug. 29th conference on St. Croix, by calling 773-1095, ext. 7032; register for the Sept. 2nd conference on St. Thomas, by calling 774-0100, ext. 2806.
