Traditional knowledge, the Kwéyòl language and public policy in a small nation state

The document examines the marginalization of traditional knowledge and the Kwéyòl language in Saint Lucia's public policy, often driven by a bias toward modernization and Eurocentric development models. It highlights the role of the Folk Research Centre (FRC) in documenting and promoting these cultural assets through initiatives like Jounen Kwéyòl and the development of Creole orthography. The author contends that while some progress has been made, such as the use of Kwéyòl in parliament, the language is still excluded from formal education and business. The paper concludes by advocating for the official recognition of Kwéyòl and the mainstreaming of cultural analysis in policy, similar to gender and climate change, to achieve more sustainable lifestyles.

• Public policy in Saint Lucia has historically undervalued traditional knowledge due to a bias toward modernization and the belief that traditional agrarian sectors were 'backward'.
• Prejudices against the Kwéyòl language are rooted in race and class issues and have been codified in institutional statutes, such as those of the Saint Lucia Banana Growers Association, which required English proficiency for leadership roles.
• The Folk Research Centre (FRC), established in 1973, has been a primary driver of cultural preservation, creating the Jounen Kwéyòl celebration, publishing dictionaries, and developing Creole orthography in collaboration with the Bannzil Kreole group.
• Despite the 2000 National Cultural Policy, the Saint Lucian government has largely left the conservation of traditional resources to non-state agencies and hobbyists due to underfunding and low priority.
• The tourism industry in Saint Lucia often commoditizes traditional culture for visitors, which the author argues undermines the intrinsic function of traditions in daily life.
• The author suggests that a 'back to the roots' movement utilizing sustainable traditional lifestyles could be a viable alternative to the high carbon footprints associated with modernization.

APA

Charles, E. (2019). Traditional knowledge, the Kwéyòl language and public policy in a small nation state. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/traditional-knowledge-the-kweyol-language-and-public-policy-in-a-small-nation-state/

Chicago

Charles, Embert. Traditional knowledge, the Kwéyòl language and public policy in a small nation state. World Association for Christian Communication, 2019. https://waccglobal.org/traditional-knowledge-the-kweyol-language-and-public-policy-in-a-small-nation-state/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Charles |first1=Embert |title=Traditional knowledge, the Kwéyòl language and public policy in a small nation state |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=11 August 2019 |url=https://waccglobal.org/traditional-knowledge-the-kweyol-language-and-public-policy-in-a-small-nation-state/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{charles2019traditional, author = {Charles, Embert}, title = {{Traditional knowledge, the Kwéyòl language and public policy in a small nation state}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2019}, month = aug, url = {https://waccglobal.org/traditional-knowledge-the-kweyol-language-and-public-policy-in-a-small-nation-state/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }