BBP in Brief, Issue 3, October 2004

A Student’s Account about Ethnographic Research in the Exumas
Tavarrie Smith (University of the West Indies)

As a student from the School of Social Sciences of the College of The Bahamas (COB), I was selected to be one of four Bahamian Students to work with the team from the University of Arizona (UA), led by Dr. Richard Stoffle, a researcher with The Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP). I came to the team with some experience in working with survey instruments, but joining the BBP was truly a new experience for me. Outside of meeting new and lifelong friends, the importance for marine conservation was the primary lesson for me. Our team was mainly composed of anthropologists and social scientists from both UA and COB. Research activities led us to the Exuma Cays where we listened to people talk about their traditional knowledge of the land and sea. This information was seen to be very relevant, as some of the marine protected areas planned by The Bahamas Government may directly affect fishing communities that have depended on these fishing grounds for their livelihood through generations. Throughout the project, we learned how the Exumians came to navigate and benefit from the oceans as well as farm the surrounding areas. As a Bahamian on the team, the experience was extraordinary if for no other reason than to have been enlightened on the development and traditional lifestyles of Bahamian societies.

As a recent graduate of COB and a first year law student at the University of the West Indies, I hope that in the near future my experiences and continued efforts on this project will help steer The Bahamas in the direction toward land reform and sea/land preservation methods, always first considering the people who may be affected directly or indirectly. Special thanks to Mrs. S.J Plumridge and Ms. Jessica Minnis for recommending me for this project and to Dr. Stoffle for welcoming me on the team.