A Question of Faith: The Journey of Freetown

The Heritage Foundation has been involved in a number of projects over the years.  One which we are especially proud of was completed last year and called, A QUESTION OF FAITH: THE JOURNEY OF FREETOWN.

This video, produced by Mackey Media,  provides a glimpse into the creation of this program and documents some of our explorations related to collecting the stories from the Freetown residents. From Infant View Cemetary, named for the baby that was its first inhabitant,  to Sweetings Cay where we interviewed 104 year old Firstina Baillou; to Water Cay, where we interviewed Hiriam Hield, I invite you to watch it and  to join us in our voyage…You’ll also meet fiber artist Lauren Austin, myself and Chantal Bethel,  Marion Bethel, Bahamian poet and attorney, Mrs. Robin Symonette – wife of Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, Genius Cooper, Freetown patriarch and other Freetown residents who participated in our workshops. 

 A QUESTION OF FAITH: THE JOURNEY OF FREETOWN told the story of the first freed slave settlement on Grand Bahama. Our Artist in Residence, Lauren Austin, a fiber artist now living in China, led our group of multi-generational participants in monthly workshops designing memory quilts. As part of the project, articles of historical/personal interest were brought in to be discussed and documented. The project ended in a well received public exhibition, where the original artwork, historical photographs and Bahamian music were displayed. 

This exhibit is periodically displayed when an opportunity becomes available.  Maybe one day Grand Bahama will have a museum to display its heritage.  This is the dream of the Grand Bahama Heritage Foundation.  But as long as a building doesn’t exist, we will continue to be a museum without walls, developing fresh ways to explore the island’s heritage.