The “Proteha mi” project, an initiative by the Bonaire Archaeological Institute (BONAI), has been awarded significant grants under the Faro Initiative of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Mondriaanfonds. Developed in collaboration with archaeologists Daudi Cijntje (Archol BV) and Maaike de Waal (Leiden University, ARGEOgraph), this project aims to safeguard Bonaire’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring strong community involvement and local leadership.
The name “Proteha mi” translates to “Protect me” in Papiamentu, reflecting its core mission of preserving Bonairean heritage. Cijntje, one of the project’s key figures, explains: ‘Our project is called Proteha mi: protecting the Bonairean heritage. I’ve been excavating on Bonaire since 2016, and through our findings, we realised that much of the island’s cultural heritage is at risk of being lost due to the rapidly increasing number of construction projects, as well as the impacts of erosion and climate change. This project emerged from discussions on how best to protect it.’
Lauriane Ammerlaan, President of BONAI since 2023, highlights the importance of local engagement: ‘We knew that this project had to have a Bonairean identity. It was crucial to involve the community in shaping how we protect heritage sites, especially as tourism and development expand.’