Preserving Bonaire’s Heritage: The Proteha mi Project
The "Proteha mi" project, an initiative by the Bonaire Archaeological Institute (BONAI), has been awarded significant grants under the Faro Initiative of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Mondriaanfonds. Developed in collaboration with archaeologists Daudi Cijntje (Archol BV) and Maaike de Waal (Leiden University, ARGEOgraph), this project aims to safeguard Bonaire’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring strong community involvement and local leadership.
The Vision Behind Proteha mi
The name "Proteha mi" translates to "Protect me" in Papiamentu, reflecting its core mission of preserving Bonairean heritage. Cijntje, one of the project's key figures, explains: ‘Our project is called Proteha mi: protecting the Bonairean heritage. I’ve been excavating on Bonaire since 2016, and through our findings, we realised that much of the island’s cultural heritage is at risk of being lost due to the rapidly increasing number of construction projects, as well as the impacts of erosion and climate change. This project emerged from discussions on how best to protect it.’
Lauriane Ammerlaan, President of BONAI since 2023, highlights the importance of local engagement: ‘We knew that this project had to have a Bonairean identity. It was crucial to involve the community in shaping how we protect heritage sites, especially as tourism and development expand.’
A Community-Driven Approach
Unlike traditional archaeology projects where external experts take the lead, Proteha mi prioritizes local involvement. De Waal underscores this distinction: ‘A common problem in Caribbean heritage management is that outside archaeologists come in, conduct research, and leave. That usually doesn’t lead to heritage research, management and protection that is widely supported by local communities. This project is different because it engages local communities. They are put on the forefront, the project is about their questions, collecting their stories, and ensuring their voices are heard and their ideas about heritage management are recorded.’
One of the major goals is to work towards an archaeological policy map for Bonaire. The island already has a predictive map for archaeological sites, but a policy map is needed as well,’ De Waal notes. ‘Too much destruction happens unnoticed. By identifying and documenting sites at risk, we can then start taking steps to protect them.’
Protecting Endangered Heritage
Bonaire’s history spans millennia, from the temporary camps sheltered under habris or in caves by the island’s first inhabitants to entire Indigenous villages with graves in the middle of the houses, petroglyphs, remnants of plantations from the era of slavery, World War II sites, and much more. However, these locations face threats from both human activities and natural erosion. ‘One of the questions we are addressing is how to protect sites not only from human destruction but also from climate change,’ Cijntje explains. ‘Many sites are endangered by erosion. It’s crucial to document and preserve what remains.’
Ammerlaan echoes this sentiment, emphasising the challenges posed by land sales and development: ‘We are not trying to stop construction but rather ensure that significant sites are documented before they are lost forever. Local knowledge plays a vital role in this effort.’
Workshops and Oral History Documentation
A key component of Proteha mi is its focus on education and oral history. Four workshops will be held, covering topics such as ancestry, genealogy (organised by Centrum voor Familiegeschiedenis), and archaeology. ‘These workshops will collect stories and experiences from the local community,’ De Waal states, ‘visiting sites of interest and evaluating them together. The results will be compiled into a book, ensuring that the knowledge remains accessible.’
Cijntje highlights the importance of documenting unheard stories: ‘There are many stories about enslavement and heritage that need to be shared, not just among historians but within families and communities. These stories should live on, not be forgotten.’
Long-Term Goals and Sustainability
Beyond its immediate two-year timeline, the Proteha mi project aspires to have a lasting impact. de Waal envisions a "rolling ball effect". ‘We hope to develop a model that can be adapted for use on other islands as well. By training volunteers and involving locals at every step, we create a foundation for sustainable heritage management.’
A Future Built on Heritage
The Proteha mi project not only seeks to protect the past but also to empower Bonaireans in shaping their own heritage narrative. As Cijntje aptly summarises: ‘We want to instigate a spark that leads to better archaeology and heritage policies—ones that are truly supported by the community. Our goal is for the government and people of Bonaire to see how much they value their own heritage.’
With its holistic approach to preservation, education, and policy advocacy, Proteha mi will likely make a profound impact on the future of Bonaire’s cultural heritage.