Present | Dominica Story Project
In April 2021 Student Interns from The Create Caribbean Institute at Dominica State College conducted a series of interviews with residents of Loubiere a village in southwest Dominica (Lesser Antilles) that was deeply affected by hurricane Maria in 2017.
The young interviewees (also Maria-survivors) asked questions about:
- earlier storms like Hurricane David, asked how the interviewees lives
- livelihoods and community have been affected by storms
- asked what recovery/healing might mean for their community four years on from Maria
- and asked about their hopes for the future.
The young interviewees (also Maria-survivors) asked questions about:
- earlier storms like Hurricane David, asked how the interviewees lives
- livelihoods and community have been affected by storms
- asked what recovery/healing might mean for their community four years on from Maria
- and asked about their hopes for the future.
Seven Head Monster | Alvin ‘Vino’ Adrien | Creative Repair
‘you that can create things …probably have a vital role to play, to try to have a picture! Not to really think back on what really happen, to the destruction the very bit [every detail], but at least something to give you a little solage [consolation …-
Moving Back, Looking Forward | Michael Lees | Creative Repair
‘Fresh food, water, community, a sense of freedom. These are all things that are integral to being alive as a human being… [I]n Dominica…we have them in abundance’ In this autobiographical piece film maker and photographer Michael Lees reflects on … 
My Country Still Nice | Chris B | Creative Repair
‘Music is my life, music is everything to me’ ‘In Dominica… survival supposed to be in you’ In this short film the renowned calypsonian Christopher ‘Chris B’ Sylvester of St Joseph, West Dominica, tells the story of his hit song ‘My Country …
Liquid Fingerprint | Shadi | Creative Repair
‘Out of the darkness comes something beautiful’ Shadrach ‘Shadi’ Burton, is a visual artist from the village of Wotton Waven, in the Roseau Valley, now based at the RoBurton Gallery in Picard, Portsmouth. His work is inspired by …-
The Nature of Ruins | Carol Sorhaindo | Creative Repair
‘For me nature is the thing that heals, it kind of softens… I think that we still have a lot of healing to be done in Dominica…’ ‘New shoots of growth… documenting growth is my healing’ Carol Sorhaindo is a Dominican artist and … 
A Road to Repair – a Petite Savanne Koudmen (short film)
Road to Repair tells the story of villagers rebuilding a the road to their home, their farms, their livelihoods – a lifeline for a community devastated and displaced by tropical storm Erika in 2015. Shortly after landslides and floods took the lives of …
Cyril | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Cyril talked with Tahj and Jahres, alongside Gabrielle, about Hurricane Maria. …He describes how the hurricane reshaped the landscape, questions to what extent one can prepare for such storms, says how Maria took his modest home and reflects on …
Oggy | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Oggy of Loubiere spoke with Kaila-Ann and Rennick about Hurricanes Maria (2017) and David (1979) He speaks of all that Maria took from him, how the storm affected people materially and his hopes to reinforce his home. Asked about healing he replied: …-
Jeff | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Jeff talked with Mia Bruno, Gibran Esprit & Adom Philogene Heron about how his community came together in Maria’s wake, reflects on how Loubiere has repaired 4 years on and shares his hopes for the future of his village. Co-produced by Samantha Swe … 
Esther | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Esther talked with Tracey, Joanna and Adom about her memories of Hurricane David (1979), the trees that fell and rivers that swelled in her community, as well as how her livelihood and mentality were affected by Maria (2017). Co-produced by Aimee …-
Suzanne | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Suzanne spoke with Tahj, Jahres and Gabrielle about the importance of the river, the sous (freshwater springs) and the power of faith in Maria’s wake. Co-produced by Sam Sweeting. -
Scratchie (Montgomery Richards) | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Scratchie spoke with Tahj, Jahres and Gabrielle about his community and life before, during and after Maria. He asks if one can ever prepare for or heal from a storm like Maria, reminisces on how his community used to be before the storm and his … -
Priscilla | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Priscilla spoke with Mia Bruno and Gibran Esprit of Create Caribbean Research Institute about Maria and Erika. She speaks of divine providence, how the rivers ‘showed themselves’ during the storms, the resilience of Black people and our ancestors … -
Al | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Al of Loubiere spoke with Kaila-Ann, Rennick and Adom about Hurricane Maria (2017) He tells them what Maria taught him about his own mental strength, about the changing river and shoreline, how the storm affected his family and community, as well as hi … -
Rhoda | Loubiere | Dominica Story Project
Rhoda spoke with Mia and Gibran of Create Caribbean about her experiences of Tropical Storms Erika (2015) & Hurricane Maria (2017). She tells them what the storms taught her, shares how they changed her life and community, how she lived with their …
