We Will Remember Haiti - In Their Voice

What a privilege and honor to present another episode of dear colleague and guardian angel, Rocky Paurice. He’s a friend and co-founder of N a Sonje Vèt which has dedicated its work to the same philosophy of permaculture which is to take care of the earth and take care of people, whenever we are! N a Sonje

This is a very special episode for us as it is with our very special colleague, close friend and confidant, Rocky Paurice. His mother, unbeknownst to her, is also included, with her permission, her personal story of Rocky’s birth. This is our offering together with Rocky and his mother, full of interesting details and explanations of life here from these awesome people whose hearts glow even in the midst of these extremely dark and difficult times here in Haiti but entire world. It is an honor to Rocky’s and his mother’s voices with a few bars from another of our dear friends, Najee’s original song “Lamou” or love. N a Sonje

Remembering once again the tragic day January 12, 2010. 15 years ago but still trembling in the societal fallout today in 2025. Perhaps children lost in the rubble searching for parents, family members in that quake, have become the lost bandits of today wreaking havoc, creating quake after quake of devastation that was so engraved in their brains on that fateful day so many years ago-perhaps. Or perhaps its just the continuation of the catastrophe that civilization is wreaking on our planet? Our show notes include the total translation of the abridged audio of Mona Augustin's original song composed right after the earthquake "Haiti in Mourning" as well as our standard notes. N a Sonje! Haiti in Mourning  When Ayiti was dancing All her children were thinking She was dancing a dance of hope Their hearts had a folklore joy Their lips had a galaxy smile And their eyes contemplated another life But in a very short time Ayiti was beaten down on her knees It was Mr. Catastrophe Crushing, wiping out, killing Haiti in mourning Her children are boiling leaves So they don’t die They are so traumatized Haiti Is sick Please come and clothe her She is trembling She is biting her nails She can’t any more She saw too many children die She’s going crazy She calls out for help With her father, the sun Who always gives the best advice And who said to her She’s in trouble The enemy is making war With her mother who is the earth The sun says my child I’ll give you light To bring your mother out of her sadness  Now call your mother’s other children To come help you and your children Haiti did that And they came in willing to help They said, you are our aunt We owe you love  Here, we’re helping you To help yourselves Because today it’s your turn And tomorrow it may be ours Your problem could be ours too  Haiti is remade Because it understand Mother earth Who smiled Life isn’t over Now it’s to work Even the night gave the unemployed work She did that Because she’s behind Haiti is pregnant It’s the time she needs more strength For her to give birth To many children  She called Father Sun Who always give her good advice To ask for more energy To replace those that were lost On the earth, our dear mother ⁠⁠our Youtube channel⁠⁠   The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating) The link to ⁠⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠⁠Women⁠⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠⁠album⁠⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠⁠" links The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago"

We believe finishing the year with wisdom, knowledge and yet together with the anguish that exists so close to all of us will help bring more understanding to where we are for a new year to be lived with more compassion. Noam Chomsky is world renowned for his pioneering in linguistics but also his very astute study and experience of the world and in particular the US’s relationship to Haiti so his 96 years on the planet are extremely valuable and important! I tried to translate not just the words but the desperation from the voices of the women who ran from their homes the night of November 13-14 2024. May their voices tear at our hearts to take action so that no more illegal weapons smuggled out of the US! Excuse the less than perfect sounds and volumes of the audio, I’m still learning, and the environment is very active here and definitely not sound proof! Blessings to all! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

Part 2 of an episode featured on Earthkeepers podcast done with Ron and Carla during their forced "exile" The music from the stars recorded in space and sent to earth from Polaris Dawn crewmember and violinist  @Gillis_SarahE invites you to enjoy this music moment in support of @StJude & @ElSistemaUSA   http://polarisprogram.com/music Paypal: nasonje@gmail.com  ⁠our Youtube channel⁠   The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating) The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

An episode from an another podcast with permssion from Earthkeepers podcast from 2022, more of Ron and Carla's own personal story still relevant in 2024, unfortunately. Music from the stars on the Polaris star craft orbiting the earth accompanied by the youth orchestra in Haiti as well as in several other countries around the globe. Paypal: nasonje@gmail.com  ⁠our Youtube channel⁠   The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating) The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

This episode brings more on the ground context to the cultural and political context of today’s extreme crisis, but also take a listen to the previous episode before this one, season 2 number 5, to get information about what you can do to help through democratic participation to the struggle to stop the smuggling illegal weapons into Haiti. You will hear our beloved staff member, Yaya (who has 3 previous episodes), another friend of ours of 40 years who’s been through it all as a peasant leader, and then a former cabinet member of a previous government all speak about the situation from their perspective. And the sweet greeting from my market lady friend and neighbor who used to sell vegetables to me from her donkey. She also provides her take on the situation as well. The very troubling and devastating loss of the young man who used to come every day and help me in the kitchen, of his untimely demise as the ultimate price paid every day by hundreds if not thousands of vulnerable young men and women, all because of the GUNS!!! A special tribute to Toto Bissainthe who sings the chilling song called “Dey” which means mourning or grieving as well as to the songs of the peasant farmers of the Artibonite.  ⁠our Youtube channel⁠   The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating) The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

“Join Us in Calling On The U.S. Government to  Stop Illegal Arms To Haiti”  This is a special edition to inform our listeners to a webinar, plus our own opinions about the disastrous policies that are causing the dear Haitian people to seek safety and work in a place they "thought" could give them those dreams for themselves and their families, all driven by the senseless destruction by heavy, sophisticated automatic weapons manufactured in the United States and primarily smuggled from Florida! Listen to learn how you can also participate in pressuring congress through your own representatives to create more logical and just legislative proposals into real law and practice  These are links to learn more from one of the sponsoring organizations doing most of the logistics for this advocacy that will be happening in DC on Sept 25th and 26th Here are some links as well as a shout out to Welele Dabout, for his drumming tracks that you can find the links to purchase his album on his episod Quixote Center, P.O Box 1950, Greenbelt, MD 20768 301-699-0042 www.quixote.org  https://jcor2030.org/stop-illegal-u-s-arms-to-haiti-advocacy-days/ You’ll find a summary of weapons trafficking proposal  from June 2024  Guns and ammunition research: https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/report-united-nations-office-drugs-and-crime-pursuant-paragraph-9-security-council-resolution-2692-2023-s202479-enarruzh Guns and ammunitions manufacturing in the US: https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/guns-ammunition-manufacturing-industry/ The links to our regular portions of our episodes are: The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating) The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

Links to videos mentioned in all of Yaya's episodes: A ⁠video⁠ of Bertine singing and dancing while showing a group of visitors how to roast and pound coffee. The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠website⁠ (in desperate need of updating) A short ⁠video⁠ of Jutith’s commerce thank you.   Manno’s ⁠video⁠ on our Youtube channel  The ⁠N a Sonje Foundation YouTube channel⁠  The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠ Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links And the English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

The episode photo is of Yaya, his birth mother Clairdora Véillard or as affectionately called "Dodo" and myself at Yaya's going away to college party in 2016. All nicknames in Haiti originate from loving relations who grow up knowing that giving respect in this tender way makes one's nickname very special. Here are some links to see Yaya in action in a video and other supporting links: Yaya and I doing a fundraising video to rebuild our "beloved" choukoun The historical mime/drama "3 innocents and a spirit" from our 5 year anniversary celebration on our Youtube channel, though Yaya was already away at college in the US at the time. The N a Sonje Foundation, our home and Yaya's community on google maps location The link to the “Memory Village blog” that we started when the idea came about in 2002 where you can see a slide show of the vision. A short video of Judith’s commerce thank you. The link to Najee's Etsy shop Our band's award winning song "Women" video on our YouTube channel Our band's album on Spotify Folk band "Chouk Bwa Libète" links And the English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje": "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

Links to some videos with Yaya: fundraising for the choukoun: 3 innocents and a spirit YouTube (even though Yaya is not in this particular presentation as he was already at college in the US) The N a Sonje Foundation, our home and Yaya's community on google maps location. And a link to the “Memory Village blog” that we started when they idea came about in 2002 that Yaya mentions. A short video of Judith’s commerce thank you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

The episode photo is in the Bluntschli home at the N a Sonje Foundation center in Gwo Jan with Yaya in the back right with children from the local youth organization along with our 2 grandchildren in the mix. Here are some of the links I refer to in the episode: To see Yaya's mother/aunt in fine form on our YouTube channel here Yaya and I making a fundraiser for our "choukoun" or meeting house gazebo in the middle of the N a Sonje Foundation center. To visit the site of the school, LKM where Yaya is curerently employed. And just to see the area of Gwo Jan in relation to Port-au-Prince on this internet map. Of course credits to our songwriter Mona Augustin and band 2 Rasin for the song "N a Sonje" with the English translation below here and music video of UN award winning song "Women". The band Chouk Bwa Libete And our Etsy shop showcasing Najee's original art for sale and remember our listener support button to keep our friends and colleagues alive during this brutal time! Here's the English translation of the theme song, "N a Sonje" "We will remember, and not forget what happened Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood. Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America Who lost so many in the years long ago" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

We're back for season 2! We thought we would have been able to go back to Haiti before this so we put a hold on our podcast thinking it would be disrupted if we were to go back but we're still waiting with hope! For more info about the music in the other sections of the podcast go to the episode "Ground Zero" but still a shout out to Mona Augustin and our 2 Roots band as well as "Chouk Libète". Peace and blessings to all! Here are the lyrics and the link to the awesome little reggae song by a dear friend who came to visit us in Haiti so he came to know us and our home where we actually do have a fire that we use to cook on! Lyrics Old man Ron with his locks so long Inna the world, he stand up strong - strong-willed Carla by his side with her sweet, sweet tone Humming songs to make their house a home Everyday, she shines her love, oh yes [Refrain] Ron, he's rough inna this town Lion soup on the stove a-simmer low Carla’s love, it make the hard man glow With his dreadlocks swayin’ he ain’t movin’ fast But with his Carla by him, their love's built to last [Verse 2] 'Round the fire, Carla plays her strings Songs of love, of life, of all simple things Past the fields where the wild irie blows Through the trials, their love only grows - grows strong Old man Ron with his heart on his sleeve Finds his calm in the tunes Carla weaves Inside, their spirits, they soar, endless bliss [Refrain] Ron swears he's a warrior, tough as the stone He's like the oak and she's the gentle breeze Carla’s care, it puts his mind at ease - ease his rage Smooth as the sea, her melody flows In the kitchen, where that lion soup's in rows [Rhythmic Bridge] Ron may be stern, but he's her anchor, her charm In Carla's arms, there's no need for alarm --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

The women of our community spoke about their reality in a recording I did in 2022 but still is relevant if not even more so in 2024! Enjoy the variety of ages and stories from their lives in this episode. We, of course, feature our band's award winning song "Women I'm Defending Women". It is a music video as well that you can see at this link And you can also find that song as well as the songs from the Intro and Outro portions of each episode at this link on spotify or on amazon here or at apple.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

Looking for some unique and original music for your Valentine's Day? Take a moment to listen to Mona Augustin's songs that our band, 2 Roots (2 Rasin (ra-seen in Haitian Creole) recorded a couple of years ago and Najee's beautiful song about the essence of love! We hope your day was filled with the love that is embued in our universe, we just have to tap into it! The music in the intro is from our album with the UN award winning song "Women, I'm Defending Women" as the title song which you can see our ⁠music⁠ video here and about our album ⁠2 Roots album.⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

This is/was a surprise edition dedicated to co-host Ron Bluntschli for his 69th birthday. Enjoy the diversity of voices, songs, wishes, and wisdom from our home community in Haiti, Canada, the US, the DR and even Costa Rica! Ron's guitar makes the day! The video Djalòki refers to is one that our granddaughter made while Ron was making his ritual ramen and egg breakfast, it's quite a hoot! Things you do when in exile! Blessings and many thanks to all the voices and well wishes from everyone and to those who take the time to give a listen. It's good to be connected even virtually! N a Sonje! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

To be educated, what does that mean, especially in Haiti, what does it take? Amazing stories from our community and this is just the tip of the iceberg. As always we believe that each life and each story on our podcast represents thousands of others as well. Dieuny is staff with the N a Sonje Foundation and the photo for this episode is Dieuny, me and Mackencia in costume for a history presentation we were giving to a university in the Dominican Republic. In Dieuny's story he tells about the play he saw for the fist time and then became a staff person himself. There is a video of this play called "3 Innocents and a spirit" that was filmed for the Foundation's 5th anniversary celebration. And remember the listener support for this episode will go to help Dieuny finish his dissertation to finally get his degree! I hope you feel taken to location as you hear the children play and the wind blowing from time to time in Dieuny's story as he sits outside to record on his phone since the internet connection wasn't strong enough to do a direct conversation. 2 Roots music, uncut plays another song as intro and outdo to Dieuny's story. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support

January 12th 2010 - 14 years ago a more than deadly earthquake hit Ayiti. As a memorial to the day, we offer this episode to the memory and the miracles that happened not ever forgetting the instantaneous death that has haunted the streets of the capital for years and perhaps to this day as we will share these stories of our community with you. To see the actual ⁠Discovery channel YouTube⁠ that I refer to and the damning evidence for the extreme level of death and destruction of "Goudougoudou" (Haitian's nickname for the earthquake) watch the video we watched even as we reeled from the effects in our own community and the psychological fall out of this event just a month afterwards.  Hear in full Mona singing and mournful howling out the anguish of this event in his song "Ayiti an Dèy" or ⁠"Haiti in Mourning⁠" that our band performed at the French Institute about a year or so after the quake. Here are his poetic words: "Haiti in mourning" (poetry is difficult to translate all of the cultural meaning, but I believe the beautiful expression of the spiritual and hopeful feeling comes through)   When Ayiti was dancing All her children were thinking She was dancing a dance of hope Their hearts had a folklore joy Their lips had a galaxy smile And their eyes contemplated another life But in a very short time Ayiti was beaten down on her knees It was Mr. Catastrophe Crushing, wiping out, killing Haiti's in mourning Her children are boiling leaves So they don’t die They are so traumatized Haiti is sick Please come and clothe her She is trembling She is biting her nails She can’t any more She saw too many children die She’s going crazy She calls out for help With her father, the sun Who always gives the best advice And who said to her She’s in trouble The enemy is making war With her mother who is the earth The sun says my child I’ll give you light To bring your mother out of her sadness  Now call your mother’s other children To come help you and your children Haiti did that And they came in willing to help They said, you are our family We owe you love Here, we’re helping you To help yourselves Because today it’s your turn And tomorrow it may be ours Your problem could be ours too Haiti is remade Because it understands Mother earth Who smiled Life isn’t over Now it’s to work Even the night gave the unemployed work She did that Because she’s behind Haiti is pregnant It’s the time she needs more strength For her to give birth To many children She called Father Sun Who always give her good advice To ask for more energy To replace those that were lost On the earth, our dear mother --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tantka/support