In Search For Plas Sesenne: A Critical Reconfiguration of Cultural and Heritage Development in Saint Lucia.

There is increasing recognition in academia that the colonial legacy can have untold psychological consequences. Yet, the extent of these consequences and their absolute reality has not been fully explored, in the context of Saint Lucian cultural and heritage development and grassroots NGOs. Although cultural trauma theory has set out to remedy this, the full potential of cultural trauma theory has not been realised, both in critical heritage studies and in discerning heritage development in Saint Lucia. This research aims to investigate through utilising a decolonial cultural trauma lens, to determine and understand cultural and heritage development, in relation to Saint Lucians' perception and engagement of it. The research focuses on the Folk Research Centre, a Saint Lucian grassroots NGO and their heritage project of Plas Sesenne. To examine why the Folk Research Centre has not been successful in establishing valorisation and cultural consciousness, among the Saint Lucians and...Show moreThere is increasing recognition in academia that the colonial legacy can have untold psychological consequences. Yet, the extent of these consequences and their absolute reality has not been fully explored, in the context of Saint Lucian cultural and heritage development and grassroots NGOs. Although cultural trauma theory has set out to remedy this, the full potential of cultural trauma theory has not been realised, both in critical heritage studies and in discerning heritage development in Saint Lucia. This research aims to investigate through utilising a decolonial cultural trauma lens, to determine and understand cultural and heritage development, in relation to Saint Lucians' perception and engagement of it. The research focuses on the Folk Research Centre, a Saint Lucian grassroots NGO and their heritage project of Plas Sesenne. To examine why the Folk Research Centre has not been successful in establishing valorisation and cultural consciousness, among the Saint Lucians and why Saint Lucians do not express interest in such developments. Based on the review of key literature on cultural trauma theory and grassroots NGOs in a global context, an ethnographic methodology was adopted to carry out data collection. Key methods such as immersive participant observation and conversational semi-structured interviews were utilised, as well as having a varied sample group. Detailed analysis of the qualitative data demonstrated that to best understand the research problem, is to see the key factors as part of a larger entanglement, one influencing the other. The key findings can be described as; internal, external and historical. The challenges faced by the Folk Research Centre and the apathy experienced by Saint Lucians, point to a shared experience of the postcolonial condition, shaped by the cultural trauma induced by the colonial legacy. The findings indicate how incorporating a decolonial cultural trauma theory into the postcolonial condition, would allow for better discernment of the issues that exist. In a more practical sense, this would provide insight into how the Folk Research Centre could overcome these challenges, in order to establish valorising heritage projects that resonate with the Saint Lucians on a more fundamental level.Show less

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In Search For Plas Sesenne: A Critical Reconfiguration of Cultural and Heritage Development in Saint Lucia.