Cayman Brac’s heritage arts widening through CTAHA programmes

School students and adults alike on Cayman Brac are enjoying varied instruction on Caymanian arts, culture and heritage thanks to the Cayman Traditional Arts Heritage Arts programme, spearheaded by Brac Coordinator Simone Scott.

Now in its second year within the Spot Bay Junior and West End Primary primary schools, the Heritage Arts programme has this year been broadening its scope to find new and exciting ways to showcase heritage to the younger generation.

“Last year we taught the old traditions of wattle and daub, thatch plaiting and so on. This year we have fully embraced the local community into the programme to have them instruct the youngsters on vital aspects of their heritage,” Ms Scott advises. “Renowned storyteller Quincy Brown came and gave duppy stories and the students were so inspired by his stories that they were eager to make up and share their own during the storytelling workshop.”

Decades ago Mr Johnny Scott was one of the most important boat builders on Cayman Brac and his 40 year old boat is still being used today. He enthralled the youngsters with his discussion of catboats, schooners and other square stern boats, Ms Scott says.

School students were also taken on a tour of Walton’s Mango Manor, a unique site where Mr George and Lynn Walton have turned an old caboose in their backyard into a shrine for his parents, Mr Albert and Celeste.

“The students heard about the Walton’s unique backyard caboose and learnt how to cook and then ate fish and fritters,” Ms Scott says. “It was a great day out.”

Ms Scott confirms that students were also taken to West End Community Park where expert guides Wallace Platts and Tenson Scott took them around on a tour of the nature trails, helping students to identify the different trees.

“They noted which were safe and which were poisonous. The trees are labeled on the nature paths by numbers and a tree identification card is available at the Department of Tourism office on the grounds,” she explains. “Students were also shown how to build a calavan or bird catcher by Mr Sheldon Scott and then divided into teams to see which team could actually build one the fastest. They then tried to catch birds at the park.”

But youngsters are not the only ones benefitting from all the heritage instruction. The Heritage Arts Programme also runs a thatch class twice a month every second and last Thursday at the Heritage House from 7pm to 9pm for the community at a cost of $5 per person for materials. Ms Scott gives a short PowerPoint presentation of the Silver Thatch industries of past and mum Starrie Scott teaches the group thatch plaiting.

“The attendees are mostly visitors and repeat visitors, but one or two residents do join in as well,” Ms Scott says.

The Cayman Traditional Arts Heritage Arts programme is sponsored by the Ministry of District Admin, Tourism and Transport, the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Culture.

Photo: Brac students at Mango Manor Building: The first square stern fishing boat Mr Jonny Scott ever built 40 years ago and still being used today by Mr Paul Ritch