Visiting Fulbright Scholar Leads UB Students on Studies of Cat Island Heritage Sites

1st November 2021 

Cat Island is a treasure trove of culture and history, attracting scholars interested in connecting the dots between the past and the present to ensure a future for generations yet unborn. Dr. Allan Meyers, visiting Fulbright Scholar attached to the Faculty of Social and Educational Studies at University of The Bahamas (UB) led a team of thirteen UB students to Cat Island in an ongoing cultural heritage project as a part of the SOCI 390 field studies course.

Stationed in Port Howe, the group’s activities were concentrated on the southern part of the island. Dr. Meyers and the students surveyed the ruins of two historical settlements and interviewed community members with longstanding family ties to local heritage landmarks. They also met with tourism and public education officials, and visited Mount Alvernia, the highest elevation in The Bahamas.

“I’m deeply honored to have been part of this remarkable experience. The students engaged directly with methods and technologies that professionals use to document heritage sites.

“They explored different models for cultural tourism focused on the African Diaspora. The trip was immensely rewarding, and it has given us all a deeper appreciation for the roots of modern Bahamian society,” Dr. Meyers said.

Engaged in archaeological research on Cat Island for the last decade, Dr. Meyers welcomed the opportunity to introduce UB students to an area that has such relevance to understanding the history and culture of the country. The students were also fascinated by the island’s historical and cultural diversity. The group’s expedition happened during the mid-semester break.

“I had always known that there were plantation sites on different islands but seeing the remnants of them made everything real. The cultural and historical aspects of the trip were equally matched with the excitement of visiting hidden treasures within the island,” Sachin Lewis, an engineering major, said.

Durnique Bostwick, a sociology major, was equally as thrilled to be a part of the field activities and connect directly with Cat Islanders.

“I learnt so much about the generational wealth that these historical sites have and got to understand the background of what they were used for. The passion the Cat islanders of Port Howe have was something never experienced by myself before,” she said “To see how willing and eager they were to show their heritage and bring awareness to the importance of preserving these historical artifacts was astounding.”

For mathematics major Shakia Major, being up close and personal with cultural heritage sites was a welcomed adventure.

“It was an opportunity to go beyond the same old slogan of Columbus finding a new world. I got a chance to see exactly where my ancestors lived, and the way they communicated through ship drawings on the wall is indeed mysterious,” she said.

The Jane and Marcus Bethel Travel Award made it possible for many of the students to participate in this field work. The UB community has extended its gratitude to the family of the late Jane and Marcus Bethel for establishing a fund that enables students greater access to their cultural and historical capital.

This was psychology major Dylan Miles’ first time travelling abroad for a UB class and he said it was a profound experience.

“It was my first time really getting to examine a Family Island from more academic and research-based perspectives. Heck, it was my first time even getting to know my own classmates’ names: a surprisingly rare privilege these days.

“But even outside of all the firsts, it was just an incredible, hands-on experience, where I felt right at home doing something genuinely and undeniably important: the study of our past,” he said.

UB students will continue to be engaged in these kinds of experiences as they continue to connect theory to real-world situations.

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Chartered on 10th November 2016, University of The Bahamas (UB) is a beacon for national transformation. Approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the University of The Bahamas system which includes campuses and centres on New Providence, Grand Bahama, San Salvador and Abaco, as well as UB online education. UB’s diverse academic programmes, research engagements, athletics and leadership development experiences equip our students to become global citizens in a dynamic world. For more information, visit www.ub.edu.bs.