‘A Story of Bones’ protagonist Annina Van Neel visits St. Eustatius

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustasius -- Annina van Neel, protagonist of the documentary 'A Story of Bones' is visiting St. Eustatius for three weeks to co-host a number of activities with the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance. Annina van Neel is currently CEO and founder of the "Tiekie Box" project which helps worldwide cultural rights activists and preservationists, like the Alliance, working to protect their heritage.

During November 2024, the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance (in short 'Alliance') hosts a number of events on St. Eustatius. A key element is the connection between the people of St. Eustatius and their Afrikan ancestors' history, legacy, and cultural heritage. The events include three screenings of the award-winning documentary 'A Story of Bones'.

The documentary 'A Story of Bones' shows striking similarities with the fight to preserve the Afrikan Burial Grounds on St. Eustatius. It tells the story of Annina van Neel as she works to reclaim the neglected history of St. Helena after the remains of thousands of formerly enslaved Afrikans are uncovered on the remote island. The last screening on Statia is scheduled on Tuesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Heritage House on Paramiraweg.

Annina van Neel: "Having screened the film to communities over the world, never have I experienced the universal healing power of memory more than here on Statia. The immense significance of connecting storytelling with the sacred act of reclaiming your heritage and restoring your ancestral ties is overwhelming. It transcends all notions of disconnect and acts of cultural erasure." 

Screening as part of interactive community gathering

The screening of the documentary kicks off the interactive community gathering at the Heritage House. After the screening, Raimie Richardson, the Statia's government's heritage inspector, will give a tour showing and describing the artifacts excavated with the Golden Rock ancestors. A libation in honor of the Golden Rock Ancestors is part of the gathering. The ancestral remains of the 69 unearthed ancestors are housed in the Heritage House until their reburial.

The event aims to find out how the people of the community see reburial of the Golden Rock ancestors and how they may participate in developments and decision-making affecting their ancestral history. The event is planned in cooperation with the Statia Cultural Heritage and Implementation Committee (SCHIC), and other cooperative partners.

Podcast series, exhibition, and "Remember Statia" Magazine

To introduce its members to the community and further discuss the project background, the Alliance ran a podcast series on Statia Radio FM that are now available on the Alliance website: http://steustatiusafrikanburialground.org/media and on its YouTube @SE_ABG. On November 12 and 13, the Alliance also held an exhibition of Frederick Calmes' artworks in the public library as well as on Statia Day, November 16. Additionally, copies of the exclusive AFRO Magazine edition "Remember Statia" were transported to the island.