Future Roots genealogy project to connect descendants of slavery and colonialism with family history

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says the Future Roots program is moving into an important new phase, with a genealogical research project being developed to help descendants of slavery and colonialism trace their family histories across St. Maarten, Saba and other islands.

Gumbs said she will travel to Saba on October 15 for the signing of a memorandum of understanding connected to the genealogy project, which forms part of the wider Future Roots program.

Approximately $700,000 has been allocated to the genealogical research component. Gumbs said the project is intended to give people an opportunity to learn more about where their families came from, how family lines developed across the islands and how those histories are connected to the wider legacy of slavery and colonialism.

The research is expected to include genealogical work across St. Maarten, Saba and other parts of the region. Gumbs also indicated that members of the public may eventually be invited to voluntarily contribute DNA as part of the research process.

The genealogy project is being financed through the Future Roots program, which is supported by funding connected to the Dutch slavery apology and memorial initiative. Gumbs referenced approximately $5.3 million remaining in the broader Future Roots allocation after the $700,000 contribution toward the genealogical research project.

The Minister said Future Roots is not limited to tracing names and family connections. Another major objective is preserving St. Maarten’s oral history and the stories that have traditionally been passed from one generation to another through families and communities.

Gumbs highlighted the importance of documenting those stories while the people who experienced or inherited them directly are still able to tell them.

She noted that much of St. Maarten’s history has traditionally been shared through conversation, whether during family gatherings, meals or informal discussions. Without deliberate efforts to record those accounts, important information can disappear when older generations pass away or change as stories are repeated over time.

The Future Roots program is therefore expected to place emphasis on collecting, documenting and preserving personal accounts, family histories and community stories that form part of St. Maarten’s cultural memory.

The Minister said the objective is to capture those stories as accurately as possible from the people who know them firsthand, ensuring that future generations have access to a more complete record of the country’s history and its people.

A dedicated Future Roots website is also expected to be launched, allowing the public to follow the different projects being carried out under the program and receive updates as the various initiatives develop.

The October 15 agreement in Saba is expected to mark another step in formalizing cooperation around the genealogical research component and establishing how the work will be carried out across participating islands.

Through the combination of genealogy, possible DNA research, oral history and cultural documentation, Future Roots is intended to create a stronger historical record while giving descendants of slavery and colonialism additional tools to understand their family connections and heritage.

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