The Alliance will officially launch its first book publication, St. Eustatius: Restoring Our Ties – The Voices of Statians Making A Difference, during a public event on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the GJB Public Library in Oranjestad, St. Eustatius.
Developed through research, interviews and community engagement by cultural anthropologist Dr. Artwell Cain, the book documents reflections from members of the Afrikan diaspora community in St. Eustatius and contributes to ongoing conversations about remembrance, recognition, and historical justice.
At the center of the publication is a call for acknowledgment and action regarding the 69 excavated Afrikan Ancestors who are still awaiting reburial since 2021, the recognition and preservation of Afrikan burial grounds, and the importance of ensuring that community voices remain central in shaping how history is remembered and represented.
Dr. Artwell Cain
“Restoring Our Ties is about creating space for the voices of Statians to be heard and documented on their own terms,” said Dr. Artwell Cain, author of the publication. “This project reflects community perspectives and contributes to broader conversations about memory, heritage, and cultural continuity.”
Dr. Artwell Cain, cultural anthropologist, was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and after many years in the Netherlands, he currently lives in Aruba for his extensive scientific work and contribution. Dr. Cain is the director and researcher at the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Knowledge. He previously served as the director of NiNsee (the National Institute of Dutch Slavery Past and Legacy) from 2009 to 2012 and is also the author of numerous books, including “A Sense of Belonging,” as well as various academic articles and essays.
Program of the book launch
The launch event will feature an interactive program with Dr. Artwell Cain, author of the book, and Mr. Marvin Hokstam Baapoure, publisher, educator, journalist, founder and Chief Editor of AFRO Magazine, and Executive Director of the Broos Institute, Europe’s pioneering Afrocentric academic institution. Several interview participants whose experiences helped shape the publication will also join the evening’s discussion. Mr Hokstam Baapoure, former journalist of The Daily Herald in St. Maarten, worked in previous projects with the Alliance and published the AFRO Magazine “Remember Statia” edition.
The event will be hosted by Mr. Kenneth Cuvalay, President of the Alliance, together with Mr. Derrick Simmons, Alliance member and anthropologist.
The public and media representatives are invited to attend. Entrance is free. At the event, the book will be available for purchase at a discounted rate (limited to one book per individual).
Acknowledgments
This book publication is the outcome of the project under the same name carried out by the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance, made possible with funding of the Slavery Memorial Committee and the Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (CCG) / DNB Call.
Dr. Artwell Cain will also speak at the Emancipation Day commemoration in St. Eustatius, together with Guyanese-born Prof. in Africology Kimani Nehusi, Mr. Marvin Hokstam Baapoure, and other guests. The Alliance is organizing this event for the first time, in collaboration with the Statia Roots Festival and other local NGOs.