The country of Haiti has had a vicious, tumultuous and revolutionary political history that has included a slave led revolution for freedom and subsequently two hundred years of political instability that can be measured by the thirty-two regime changes by political coup d’etat. In the 1980’s a novel form of government was introduced to Haiti through the influential support of its northern neighbor the United States, as well as the United Nations. The new democracy that was created through a new constitution in the 1980′ s would in turn lead to the presidential election of 1990 and subsequently the populace would elect a new leader, Jean- Bertrand Aristide. He was elected on a party platform of revolutionizing the political, social, and economic composition of Haiti. Aristide was elected with the support of the innumerable peasants and impoverished workers of Haiti to institute these changes for them. Unfortunately for Aristide and the impoverished peoples of Haiti, he was unable to complete these changes because of his deficiencies in political diplomacy, his lack of sensitivity to the fundamental socio-economic problems, and due to influential factors outside of his control. Aristide’ s legacy ought to be one of prestige and dignity as the first freely elected Haitian president. Instead he will be seen as a grandiose visionary who dreamed beyond the clouds, instead of keeping his feet, eyes and ears on the ground.
Open Source Archives
We strive to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of progressive and participatory research methods, with the goal of generating tangible, durable changes in the way research about Haiti is conceptualized, implemented and applied.
ABOUT US
Research Hub & Open Source Archives
EKO HAITI Research Hub is a research and knowledge mobilization platform focused on creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and associated research-based learning. We aim to become the intellectual “home” for research about Haiti by creating and providing open access to the largest crowdsourced research archive dedicated to Haiti, by fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation, and by providing support for progressive research in the form of contextual expertise and training.
“The trees fall from time to time, but the voice of the forest never loses its power. Life begins.”
Jacques Alexis, Les Arbres Musiciens (Paris, 1957)
ORAL HISTORIES
Oral histories are a powerful tool in developing historical understanding
Oral history offers an alternative to conventional history, filling gaps in traditional research with personal accounts of historically significant events or simply life in a specific place and time. Oral histories do more than provide charming details to dry historical accounts. In fact, oral histories help others recapture lived experiences that are not written down in traditional sources.
> Transcripts archive
" Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l "
The tallest tree says that it sees far, but the seed that travels says that it sees even further.
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As an independent institute, we rely on crowdsourcing and donations to continue expanding the depth and scope of our archives. Your contribution enable us to provide open access to a vast collection of ethnographic and research material which in turn aims at fostering further research and contribute to a better understanding of the country.
