MAROON MEMORIAL

The “Maroon Memorial” project primarily focuses on the older generation of African Maroons in the Netherlands, Suriname and diaspora, to make the heritage more accessible to them. We have already taken a first step in this by:

• Making photo collections accessible in a polyphonic manner for the exhibition and the crowdsource project in collaboration with the National Archives and the Utrecht Archives.
• The texts accompanying the collections of the exhibition ‘Hidden colonial heritage back to the people’ have, in addition to the Dutch language, also been translated into Aukan and described in co-creation with the Aukan community.

This means that cultural heritage is approached from multiple perspectives, something that has never been done in such a way before.

We specifically highlight the older generation because, due to various circumstances, it is often a challenge for them to view/visit (digital) heritage and associated heritage locations. Think about:

• Physical limitations that prevent one from traveling to a heritage location;
• Inadequate digital knowledge, which makes it a challenge for the target group to gain knowledge or look up information on the computer
• Lack of travel options;
• Language proficiency; The language used within a heritage institution and/or at a digital level is not always well tailored to the target group in question.

The younger generation of Aukan Maroons also plays an important role within the project, as they can provide support to the older generation in, for example, acquiring digital knowledge, guiding them to an exhibition location or providing explanations to the elderly about (digitally) exhibited heritage.

In addition, it offers both target groups an opportunity to strengthen the intergenerational bond they have with each other. Ultimately, this contributes to the social geographical cohesion of the Aukan community and offers the older generation an opportunity to pass on heritage to the younger generation.