We Will Remember Haiti - In Their Voice

Hear the interview with Valerio St. Louis of Haitian channel Tele Image with now former Transitional Presidential Council member Fritz Alphonse Jean to explain the "back" story of happenings in the international political arena. We selected clips from this long interview in Haitian Creole but if you want to listen in Creole to the full interview, here is click on this ⁠link⁠.

What a privilege and honor to present another episode of dear colleague and guardian angel, Rocky Paurice. He’s a friend and co-founder of N a Sonje Vèt which has dedicated its work to the same philosophy of permaculture which is to take care of the earth and take care of people, wherever we are! N a Sonje

This is a very special episode for us as it is with our very special colleague, close friend and confidant, Rocky Paurice. His mother, unbeknownst to her, is also included, with her permission, her personal story of Rocky’s birth. This is our offering together with Rocky and his mother, full of interesting details and explanations of life here from these awesome people whose hearts glow even in the midst of these extremely dark and difficult times here in Haiti but entire world. It is an honor to Rocky’s and his mother’s voices with a few bars from another of our dear friends, Najee’s original song “Lamou” or love. N a Sonje

Remembering once again the tragic day January 12, 2010. 15 years ago but still trembling in the societal fallout today in 2025. Perhaps children lost in the rubble searching for parents, family members in that quake, have become the lost bandits of today wreaking havoc, creating quake after quake of devastation that was so engraved in their brains on that fateful day so many years ago-perhaps. Or perhaps its just the continuation of the catastrophe that civilization is wreaking on our planet?

Our show notes include the total translation of the abridged audio of Mona Augustin's original song composed right after the earthquake "Haiti in Mourning" as well as our standard notes. N a Sonje!

Haiti in Mourning

 When Ayiti was dancing

All her children were thinking

She was dancing a dance of hope

Their hearts had a folklore joy

Their lips had a galaxy smile

And their eyes contemplated another life

But in a very short time

Ayiti was beaten down on her knees

It was Mr. Catastrophe

Crushing, wiping out, killing

Haiti in mourning

Her children are boiling leaves

So they don’t die

They are so traumatized

Haiti Is sick

Please come and clothe her

She is trembling

She is biting her nails

She can’t any more

She saw too many children die

She’s going crazy

She calls out for help

With her father, the sun

Who always gives the best advice

And who said to her

She’s in trouble

The enemy is making war

With her mother who is the earth

The sun says my child I’ll give you light

To bring your mother out of her sadness 

Now call your mother’s other children

To come help you and your children

Haiti did that

And they came in willing to help

They said, you are our aunt

We owe you love

 Here, we’re helping you

To help yourselves

Because today it’s your turn

And tomorrow it may be ours

Your problem could be ours too

 Haiti is remade

Because it understand Mother earth

Who smiled

Life isn’t over

Now it’s to work

Even the night gave the unemployed work

She did that

Because she’s behind

Haiti is pregnant

It’s the time she needs more strength

For her to give birth

To many children

 She called Father Sun

Who always give her good advice

To ask for more energy

To replace those that were lost

On the earth, our dear mother

⁠⁠our Youtube channel⁠⁠  

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠⁠Women⁠⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠⁠album⁠⁠⁠ on Spotify

Folk band "⁠⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠⁠" links

The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin":

"We will remember, and not forget what happened

Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see

How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them

It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers

Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing

This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood.

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago"

We believe finishing the year with wisdom, knowledge and yet together with the anguish that exists so close to all of us will help bring more understanding to where we are for a new year to be lived with more compassion.

Noam Chomsky is world renowned for his pioneering in linguistics but also his very astute study and experience of the world and in particular the US’s relationship to Haiti so his 96 years on the planet are extremely valuable and important!

I tried to translate not just the words but the desperation from the voices of the women who ran from their homes the night of November 13-14 2024. May their voices tear at our hearts to take action so that no more illegal weapons smuggled out of the US!

Excuse the less than perfect sounds and volumes of the audio, I’m still learning, and the environment is very active here and definitely not sound proof!

Blessings to all!

This episode, unfortunately held up by the low internet, includes a reposting of renowned Haitian historian, ⁠Eddy Lubin⁠ as he recounts the worldwide fateful events of November 18th-19th 1803 because it was the last battle for independence that all Haitians believe they continue to pay for their freedom to this day. It is quite detailed, enjoy the drama Eddy provides! We also include a very recent short speech by now former Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mdm Dominique Dupuy as she decries the violent and forceful eviction of Haitians who had fled the terror the gangs in their homes to try and find refuge in the DR.

Here are our links as well: (check other episodes for more links)

⁠⁠our Youtube channel⁠⁠  

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠⁠Women⁠⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠⁠album⁠⁠⁠ on Spotify

⁠⁠

Part 2 of an episode featured on Earthkeepers podcast done with Ron and Carla during their forced "exile"

The music from the stars recorded in space and sent to earth from Polaris Dawn crewmember and violinist 

@Gillis_SarahE invites you to enjoy this music moment in support of @StJude & @ElSistemaUSA

  http://polarisprogram.com/music

Paypal: [email protected] 

⁠our Youtube channel⁠  

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify

Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links

The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin":

"We will remember, and not forget what happened

Let’s take a look back into the world gone by and we’ll see

How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them

It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers

Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing

This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood.

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago"

An episode from an another podcast with permssion from Earthkeepers podcast from 2022, more of Ron and Carla's own personal story still relevant in 2024, unfortunately. Music from the stars on the Polaris star craft orbiting the earth accompanied by the youth orchestra in Haiti as well as in several other countries around the globe.

Paypal: [email protected] 

⁠our Youtube channel⁠  

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify

Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links

The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin":

"We will remember, and not forget what happened

Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see

How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them

It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers

Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing

This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood.

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago"

This episode brings more on the ground context to the cultural and political context of today’s extreme crisis, but also take a listen to the previous episode before this one, season 2 number 5, to get information about what you can do to help through democratic participation to the struggle to stop the smuggling illegal weapons into Haiti. You will hear our beloved staff member, Yaya (who has 3 previous episodes), another friend of ours of 40 years who’s been through it all as a peasant leader, and then a former cabinet member of a previous government all speak about the situation from their perspective. And the sweet greeting from my market lady friend and neighbor who used to sell vegetables to me from her donkey. She also provides her take on the situation as well. The very troubling and devastating loss of the young man who used to come every day and help me in the kitchen, of his untimely demise as the ultimate price paid every day by hundreds if not thousands of vulnerable young men and women, all because of the GUNS!!! A special tribute to Toto Bissainthe who sings the chilling song called “Dey” which means mourning or grieving as well as to the songs of the peasant farmers of the Artibonite. 

⁠our Youtube channel⁠  

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify

Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links

The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin":

"We will remember, and not forget what happened

Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see

How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them

It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers

Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing

This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood.

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago"

“Join Us in Calling On The U.S. Government to 

Stop Illegal Arms To Haiti” 

This is a special edition to inform our listeners to a webinar, plus our own opinions about the disastrous policies that are causing the dear Haitian people to seek safety and work in a place they "thought" could give them those dreams for themselves and their families, all driven by the senseless destruction by heavy, sophisticated automatic weapons manufactured in the United States and primarily smuggled from Florida! Listen to learn how you can also participate in pressuring congress through your own representatives to promote more logical and just legislation to put into real law and practice. 

Here are links to learn more for this advocacy that will be happening in DC on Sept 25th and 26th as well as a shout out to Welele (see his episode to know more), for his drumming tracks he so graciously gave me!

Here's contact for one of the sponsoring organizations for the advocacy days you can contact for more info of how to get involved: Quixote Center, P.O Box 1950, Greenbelt, MD 20768 301-699-0042 www.quixote.org 

https://jcor2030.org/stop-illegal-u-s-arms-to-haiti-advocacy-days/

Where you’ll find a summary of legislature proposals for weapons trafficking from June 2024. 

The links for the guns and ammunition research:

https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/report-united-nations-office-drugs-and-crime-pursuant-paragraph-9-security-council-resolution-2692-2023-s202479-enarruzh

https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/guns-ammunition-manufacturing-industry/

The links to the regular portions of our episodes are:

The N a Sonje Foundation YouTube channel

The N a Sonje Foundation ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ (in desperate need of updating)

The link to ⁠⁠Najee's Etsy shop⁠⁠

Our band's award winning song "⁠⁠Women⁠⁠" video on our YouTube channel

Our band's ⁠⁠album⁠⁠ on Spotify

Folk band "⁠⁠Chouk Bwa Libète⁠⁠" links

The English translation of our theme song "N a Sonje" by Mona Augustin performed by our band "2 Roots or 2 Rasin":

"We will remember, and not forget what happened

Let’s take a look back Into the world gone by and we’ll see

How our ancestors were in Africa before they carried us away to America

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago it wasn’t the natives of this land that did that to them

It was another nation who had as their mission to make others slaves, making so many cadavers

Pillaging, killing - Indians and Africans in making them work for nothing

This is how their countries became powerful by spilling so much blood.

Ref: Sing for Africa, Sing for America Honor for Africa, Honor for America

Who lost so many in the years long ago"