Tribal Wisdom Foundation

At Tribal Wisdom we support Traditional Knowledge Holders and Indigenous Wisdom Keepers to keep transferring their knowledge. This year we are campaigning for Dinah Veeris' Herb Garden, Den Paradera in Curaçao. Like other places in the world, this small, arid island in the Dutch Caribbean has a rich tradition of using local plants as medicine and boosting health with plants that are (or were) readily available in gardens and the 'kunuku' (the local word for the bush).

For many decades, Dinah Veeris has cultivated indigenous herbs, plants and trees of the island, which were commonly used for medicinal purposes. As a true 'Wisdom Keeper', who learnt from her 'Elders', she in turn, shares the knowledge with the locals and tourists who visit Den Paradera, and she has written several books, wishing for a wide spread of knowledge and to spark the enthusiasm for herbal remedies you can grow in your own back yard. She is known also for her active revival of local traditions, such as cleansing rituals celebrated around New Year's and to ward off negative energies. In her shop she offers all-natural products ranging from teas and incense ('sensia') to healing salves and oils. Her big porch is a gathering place for those who wish to learn and be a part of a community of like-minded people, young and old.

As one of the after-effects of the lock-down, the income she was able to make from visitors and sales in the shop next to her house and herb garden has plummeted and the nursery and garden are now in need of a boost to keep growing all the plants, some of which are hard to come by on the islands these days. From the income they will also be able to upgrade the windmill and repair the watering system from a traditional well. Klimate change has brought a lot of drought to the island, which has inevitably affected the garden as well.

The Tribal Wisdom founder, Jessica Wawoe, has a special bond with the island and considers Dinah Veeris as an 'exemplary Grandmother': a brave pathmaker, who spends all her energy for this precious knowledge to be passed on to the next generations. Having met each other two years ago, they vowed to help each other in their missions.
We are grateful to be able to help Dinah with the herb garden with this fundraiser and wish that the herb garden Den Paradera be an exemplary initiative for other places in the world. Let's celebrate these lively learning spaces where traditional knowledge is honoured, and indigenous practices are revived.

Campaigns

Let's support Curaçao's Indigenous Herb Garden Den Paradera

Den Paradera was founded in 1991 with the aim of preserving and sharing the knowledge, traditions, and customs of the older generations of Curaçao. During that time, these practices of the elderly were undervalued, despite the wealth of experience and expertise they possessed. The garden now includes over 300 medicinal herbs that we use for the production of our nurturing and medicinal products, which we sell in our store. We also provide various informative tours through the historical and botanical garden, catering to both tourists and locals. Currently, we are facing several challenges in Den Paradera. The garden has suffered from prolonged drought and heavy rainfall. Consequently, many of the herbs have been damaged, along with the name tags that identified them. So sadly, these are in need of replacement. The garden's waterfall, once an oasis of peace and quietness for birds and visitors, is no longer functioning and shows cracks due to the drought. Another area of concern is the lack of an efficient system for recycling organic materials. Additionally, the mill has been damaged by strong winds and requires restoration. This historical mill is a great added value in the garden because it pumps water, which contributes to the irrigation of the garden. During the times when Den Paradera was bustling with visitors, we were able to reinvest a significant portion of the earnings in the garden. However, in recent years, we have unfortunately faced various setbacks, such as tax increases, very low income due to COVID-19, and a large number of locals moving to the Netherlands in hopes of better living conditions. Every donation will mean a lot to us. At this moment, our top priority is the development of a circular composting system that will contribute to Den Paradera's sustainability. Due to periods of extreme drought alternating with heavy storms, the herbs must be particularly resilient to withstand these weather conditions. When we possess a sustainable composting system, our waste is converted into nourishment for the plants. This will reduce waste within Den Paradera and enhance the resilience and health of the herbs. A healthier garden is not only more attractive to visitors but also beneficial for production. Should there be any budget remaining after the realization of this project, I would like to allocate it to creating new name tags for the herbs in the garden. This would greatly enhance the visitor experience in the garden, as they can then learn more about the herbs. In summary, the core problem includes both the garden's damage and the unmet need for sustainability, further complicated by limited financial resources due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations are crucial to help Den Paradera recover and secure a sustainable future! Dinah Veeris is born in Curaçao in the Otrobanda neighborhood and is now 84 years old. "As a child, I always wanted to become a teacher, and when I was seventeen, I stood in front of a class for the first time. I subsequently worked in Curaçao, St. Maarten, and the Netherlands. In addition to my passion for teaching, I became fascinated by medicinal and nurturing herbs. In my free time, I delved into herbs and their medicinal properties through studies, workshops, conferences, and conversations with the elderly who had expertise in herbs and other aspects of physical and mental health. With all this acquired knowledge, in 1991, I founded my own herb garden: 'Dinah's Botanic and Historic Garden Den Paradera."

Let's support Curaçao's Indigenous Herb Garden Den Paradera