EVENTS

Current Events and Programs

August 22-Garifuna Protest in front of Honduran consulate in Seattle

"Vivos los llevaron, vivos los queremos". 4 Garifuna leaders were taken out of their homes by Honduran military agents. Till today Triunfo De la Cruz, a Garifuna community at the cost of Honduras, has not hear or seen their love ones and they are asking for their returns in a Global protest. They are also asking for assistance from the international community. It's not the first time this happens. The government of Honduras keep terrorizing Garinagu and other indiginous groups for their land and natural resources.

"Protestamos las injusticias del Gobierno de Honduras. Necesitamos nuestros lideres Garifuna vivos asi como se los llevaron"

Protest

Previous Events and Programs

Fund Raising Drive-thru BBQ

Fund Raising to help our brothers and sisters at the community of Triunfo de La Cruz, Tela Honduras. This comes after 4 Garifuna villagers were rapped from their homes at gun point by Honduras military and have not been returned.
bbq1

Kick-Off Event to Our Language and Art Workshops

Once again we are kicking off our language and arts class of 2019. Please come and join us, starting with our kick-Off EVENT this Saturday, September 14 at Casa Latina starting a 4PM. We will have Garifuna food and also special guest speaker. We will also have our Garifuna dance group "Hagucha Garinagu" presenting.

No se pierdan este inicio de talleres de lengua y arte. Este Sabado estaremos en la CASA LATINA dandole un inicio a nuestros talleres. Todos estan invitados. Tendremos comida tipica Garifuna y tambien invitados especiales. Tambien tendremos presentacion del grupo Folklore Garifuna "Hagucha Garinagu".
Kick-off event

Garifuna Language and Arts Workshops/Talleres de lengua y Arte Garifuna

Once again, Garinagu Houngua starts our language and arts workshops for all. These classes are for everyone; FREE and open to the public. These will be held on Saturdays(2-4pm) and Sundays(3-5pm).
Workshop Flyer

Computer Literacy Class

Starting on Feb3, 2019 Garinagu HounGua is holding the Second series of computer literacy workshops in La Casa Latina(317 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98114). This is free and open to the public. Hours: Fridays(6-7:30pm) and Sundays(1-2:30pm). Please come and join us; we are providing the computers to all students.
Computer Literacy

Garifuna Settlement Day Celebration

Saturday April 14, 2018 we will be celebrating Garifuna 222 years in Central America. Please come and join us in this free event where we will be celebrating Garifuna Heritage and Settlement in Central America. We will have food, drinks, music and a special performance by a Garifuna artist.

Garifuna Settlement Day

Cultural Language Teaching WorkshopsJoin us, bring your children and all the family to learn about the Garifuna culture and language as we exchange with Panama Folklore and their art.


Gariguna Language and Culture Exchange. Kick Off Event.


Join us in our teaching workshops. It's free and open to all. This is currently takin every Sundays from 3 to 5pm in La Casa Latina. The address: 317 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA.


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We are extremely proud to be, if not the only, one of the few African descendent groups in the Americas that have preserved almost intact their traditions, language, and culture. Now, we can't ignore the fact that our culture faces enormous challenges trying to remain current and stable. The Garifuna language faces the threat of being diluted; these workshops are designed to combat this threat .
Garifuna dance presentation
We envision a better constructed and more solid Garifuna heritage for our future generations. We are committed to the poltical, social, and economical development of the Garifuna community in the countries in which they reside.
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Teaching our kids about their culture; that is a top priotity for Garinagu HounGua.


Garinagu HounGua seeks to solidify the Garifuna heritage by passing on to our kids the traditions, customs, and language that are a representative of our culture and our overall identity. We strive to form a sense of pride in our kids. A sense of belonging. We believe these workshops are going to help us to reinforce the values and mores that are a distinctive of our culture. We also believe this type of events are a great tool to engage Garifuna parents in the cultural education of their kids. They will appreciate more the importance of teaching their kids the history of where they come from, but more importantly, the plan for their future as Garifuna leaders.

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Upcoming activities: Workshops and Festivals.

To preserve the Garifuna religious customs and culture, and to assist immigrant families, Garinagu Houngua will be implementing several programs. Garinagu Houngua will be seeking donations and grants to support their programs.


Cultural Workshops and Events:


... Description: These workshops include cuisine classes, traditional dance classes and song classes, and history lessons. Garinagu Houngua offers workshops to teach the youth or anyone that wants to learn how to cook Garifuna’s most popular meals and snacks. The Garinagu have a very extensive menu. As part of understanding and learning about the Garifuna culture, these youth can learn and enjoy cooking traditional meals like Machuca ("hudutu"); Fish boiled in coconut milk, called "serre", served with mashed plantain called "hudut", is a delicious rich meal.


As a cultural tradition, Garifuna communities around the world celebrate the arrival of our ancestor to the Atlantic coast of Central America back in 1797 after being exiled from St. Vincent. Garinagu Houngua will host this event each April to give the public a chance to learn about the Garifuna people and experiences their traditional music, dances, and cuisine.


... Who conducts the activities: These workshops and other events are conducted by volunteers.


... When are the activities conducted and where: These workshops and events are held in public libraries, at least twice a month.

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Mission/Vision


Mission:

Contribute to the social, economic, and cultural development of the Garifunas living in the Seattle area. We strive to secure the social welfare of the Garifuna community, and to strengthen the cultural bonds within the group.

Vision:

We are a transnational non-governmental, non-profit organization conformed by Garifuna men and women dedicated to the integral development of our community. We are committed to defend our socioeconomic, political, and cultural rights, while improving the accessibility to the basic financing needs.

Board of Directors

Wilbor Guerrero, President.
President of Garinagu HounGua. Originally from San Juan Durubuguti Bey Bey Honduras and currently residing in Seattle, WA.

Ginsy Connor, Secretary.
Secretary of Garinagu Houngua. Born and raised in Seattle, WA with parents from Honduras

Martha David,Treasurer.
Treasurer of Garinagu Houngua. Originally from Triunfo De la Cruz, Tela Honduras and currently residing in Seattle, WA.

Yoelin Connor, Vice President.
Vice President of Garinagu HounGua from Agua, Santa Rosa de Aguan, Honduras. Currently resides in Seattle, WA.

Paulina Valerio-Guerrero, Fiscal.
Fiscal of Garinagu Houngua. Originally from Tela, Atlantida Honduras. Currently residing in Seattle, WA.

Projects

Prospective Cultural Projects:

Cultural Awareness

With workshops and activities aimed towards the general public, we are out to bring to the society and understanding of who the Garifuna people are and what type of cultural values, beliefs and our background. With this awareness, we could also help the newly migrated Garifunas to the northwest area, of the opportunities and challenges that they might face as part of their cultural shock and the awareness of other cultures. As a cultural tradition, Garifuna communities around the world celebrate the arrival of our ancestor to the Atlantic coast of Central America back in 1797 after being exiled from St. Vincent. Garinagu Houngua will host this event each April to give the public a chance to learn about the Garifuna people and experiences their traditional music, dances, and cuisine.


Teach the Language (Garifuna)

As a culture with it is own structure and language, Garifunas around the world tend to speak at least two to three languages. Garifunas primary language is call the same; "The Garifuna Language". Because of migration to different lands, mainly to the United States, the Garifuna people are now becoming Americanized and are assimilating other customs and languages and forgetting about their forefather's tongue, the Garifuna Language. Garinagus are no longer teaching their offspring's their native language and some just don’t have the time to do so because of their busy life. This program will remind Garifunas about the importance of teaching their children the Garifuna Language. This program will also provide teaching sessions to children of the Garifuna decent. This sessions will be thought by a fluent Garifuna, who will be able to translate words from Garifuna to English and Spanish and vice versa.


Gastronomy

This program will in tell in teaching the youth how to cook Garifunas most popular meals and snacks. The Garifunas have a very extensive menu. As part of understanding and learning about their culture, these youth grasp and enjoy cooking traditional meals like Machuca; which is a Garifunas delicacy made with fish and mashed plantain.


HIV/AIDs Awareness and prevention

Teaching about HIV/AIDS and the prevention measures is a very important task. This program will bring speaks/teachers and instruct the community about getting tested and about how to prevent being infected with HIV. this will also present programs available in the community to those infected with this virus.


References



Wikipedia contributors. "Garifuna people." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Jul. 2015. Web. 31 Jul. 2015.

Girma, Lebawit Lily. "The Hidden Beauty of Garifuna Belize." CNN. Cable News Network, 20 Aug. 2013. Web. 31 July 2015.

Post Rust, Susie. "Fishing Villages along Central America’s Coast Pulse with the Joyous Rhythms of This Afro-Caribbean People." National Geographic: Images of Animals, Nature, and Cultures. 2001. Web. 31 July 2015.

Griffin, Wendy. "Garifunas in Seattle and How to Find Out About Their Culture." Internet Para Hondureños. 24 Mar. 5014. Web. 31 July 2015.