DSC Students Help Preserve Stories of Resilience from Dominica’s Farming Communities

Stockfarm, Dominica — November 2026 — From the hills and valleys of Dominica’s East Coast, farmers are sharing stories of perseverance, adaptation, and a deep connection to the land as part of the Dominica Farmer Resilience Project, a community-engaged oral history initiative being undertaken in collaboration with Dominica State College (DSC).

Led by Adriana Gonzales, M.S., a DSC research affiliate and Mexican-American PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley, the project seeks to explore the pasts, presents, and futures of agriculture in Dominica by recording and preserving the life histories, knowledge, and traditions of the island’s smallholder farmers.

The project focuses on farmers along the East Coast, from Atkinson in the north to Delices in the south—an area known for its rugged terrain and vulnerability to climate-related hazards.

Through interviews, farm visits, and community engagement, farmers are sharing their experiences of navigating some of the major challenges that have shaped Dominica’s agricultural landscape, including Hurricane David, the decline of the banana industry, and Hurricane Maria.

These stories provide an opportunity to learn not only about the challenges farmers have faced, but also about the knowledge, creativity, determination, and community spirit that have enabled them to continue farming and adapting through changing circumstances.

DSC Students at the Centre of the Research

An important component of the project is the involvement of six second-year students from Dominica State College:

• Gabrielle George – Business Management
• Danté Graham – Agricultural Science
• Chayse Hilaire – Business Management
• Kaylee Norris – Agricultural Science
• Jerusha Olivaccee – Accounting and Business Finance
• Faith Sylvester – Agricultural Science

The students have been trained in oral history ethics and methods, Dominican history—with particular emphasis on agriculture and the East Coast—audio and visual recording, and interview transcription.

Several times each month, the student team travels to the East Coast to participate in farm tours, conduct interviews, and visit sites that help provide context to the stories being documented.

For the students, the project offers an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom. They are developing practical research, interviewing, documentation, communication, and community-engagement skills while contributing to the preservation of an important part of Dominica’s agricultural heritage.

Preserving Knowledge for Future Generations

At the heart of the project is the belief that farmers are more than producers of food. They are custodians of knowledge and traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next.

By documenting their experiences, the project aims to create a resource that can help younger generations better understand Dominica’s agricultural history and the resilience of the communities that have sustained it.

The project also seeks to encourage greater interest in agriculture among young people and to highlight the important role of farmers in food sovereignty, community resilience, and national development, both in Dominica and across the Caribbean.

This focus is particularly relevant as Dominica continues to strengthen the resilience of its agricultural sector in the face of climate-related risks. Agriculture remains closely connected to livelihoods, food security, and the resilience of rural communities.

A Community Effort

The project has received valuable support from DSC administrators and lecturers, Agricultural Extension Officers of the East and Southeast Region, and communities throughout the East Coast.

Special appreciation is extended to Ms. Valda Joseph, Mr. Massicotte, and Dr. Schuyler Esprit, Director of Create Caribbean, for their support and assistance in advancing the initiative.

Create Caribbean has a longstanding connection to student research at Dominica State College. Its work has included creating opportunities for DSC students to engage in research and connect academic work with the wider community.

Most importantly, the project team extends its sincere gratitude to the farmers who have opened their gardens, communities, and stories to the students.

Their willingness to share their experiences is helping to ensure that the knowledge and lessons contained within these stories are not lost.

Sharing the Stories

The oral history interviews are expected to be made publicly available as educational resources in early 2027.

Once shared, the materials will provide students, educators, researchers, farmers, and members of the wider community with an opportunity to engage with firsthand accounts of Dominica’s agricultural history and the experiences of the people who have helped shape it.

For Dominica State College, the project represents the value of connecting student learning, research, community engagement, and national development.

As these stories are recorded and preserved, they offer a reminder that some of Dominica’s most valuable knowledge can be found not only in classrooms and books, but also in the gardens, farms, and lived experiences of the people who continue to cultivate the land.

Dominica State College is proud to support the students, researchers, farmers, and community partners contributing to this important effort to document and preserve Dominica’s agricultural heritage.

Stay tuned for the release of the oral history resources in 2027.