TROUBLE THE WATER
What People are Saying
Overview
Read an Excerpt
Buy the Book
Reader's Guide/Book Club Questions

THE SPIRIT OF SWEETGRASS
What People are Saying
Overview and Origin
Read an Excerpt
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Reader's Guide/Book Club Questions
Gullah/Sweetgrass links
Recent Progress in Gullah/Geechee and sweetgrass culture

RECOMMENDATIONS
A Partial List of Authors/Books I Adore

books - The Spirit of Sweetgrass

Gullah/geechee and sweetgrass culture progress timeline

• 1987 – The first annual Gullah Festival was held in Beaufort, SC.
• 1988 – Mt. Pleasant Basketmakers' Association was formed to organize the basket makers into a cohesive group with a common voice to promote, preserve, and protect the tradition of sweetgrass basket making.
• 1991 – The Mayor of Charleston formed the Sweetgrass Preservation Society to help the basket makers protect and preserve their craft and tradition.
• 1996 – The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition was formed. Also, the first annual Native Islander Gullah Celebration was held in February on Hilton Head Island, SC.
• 1997 – A historical marker was erected on Highway 17 near the Seven Mile section of Mount Pleasant to commemorate the legacy and history of sweetgrass basket makers.
• 1999 – Marquetta L. Goodwine brought the human rights violations against the Gullah/Geechees and the encroachment upon their homeland before the United Nations' Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland.
• 2000 – Marquetta L. Goodwine was enstooled as "Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation" and elected as the head-of-state (de head pun de body) of the now established Gullah/Geechee Nation. A Gullah/Geechee Reunion was held at Sullivan's Island as a ceremony to ratify the Constitution of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, bring forth the flag of, and swear in the Wisdom Circle Council of Elders of the Nation.
• 2004 – Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina introduced the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act (H.R. 4683) aimed at preserving this endangered culture found in the coastal counties of Georgia and South Carolina.
• 2005 – The first annual Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival was held in June in Mount Pleasant and the inaugural Gullah/Geechee Nation International African Music & Movement Festival was held on St. Helena Island, SC on Labor Day.
• 2006 – Sweetgrass basketry was named the South Carolina State Handcraft. The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act (H.R. 4683) is passed.