Cultural Competency: A Student’s Examination of Haiti By: Heidi Dotson May 5, 2011 Lippitt Hall Room 402 3:30-4:45 Thank You for coming!

Outline Timeline Introduction My Methods Haiti’s Story What can be done? What I learned? My presentation will proceed across the timeline of Haitian history

Timeline Treaty of Ryswick Haitian Independence U.S. Recognition Final Payment of Debt January 12 Earthquake Hurricane Jeanne Hits Aristide into 2nd Exile Begin U.S. Occupation Francois Duvalier Jean-Claude Duvalier Baby Doc into Exile Jean-Bertrand Aristide 4 Natural Disasters Hit 1697 1804 1862 1883 1915 1957 1971 2010 2004 1990 1986 2008

Introduction What do we know about Haiti? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_6sHxzmLM Beyond the numbers Political Strife, Earthquake, Disease First minute of Video Beyond the numbers – a people’s story: history & culture: religion, family, economy

My Methods History Interviews Literature News Reflections

Colonization Spanish Colonization 1697 Treaty of Ryswick 1751 First Slave Rebellions Spanish decimated native populations to near extinction, survivors pushed to mountains 1503 Spanish brought over Africans to work as slaves on plantations 1697 Spain ceded western third of Hispaniola to France in Treaty of Ryswick French creulty – Every Haitian Believes in Vodoo – 75-80% population is Catholic, extreme faith Growing Mulatto Class 1751 First Slave rebellions in Northern Saint- Domingue begins revolution

Revolution “In overthrowing me they have only felled the tree of Negro liberty… It will shoot up again, for it is deeply rooted and its roots are many” -Toussaint L’Ouverture “If something is not done, and soon done, we shall be the murderers of our own children” –Thomas Jefferson 1804 Dessalines declares Independence The proud history –First black republic – every schoolchild knows this story Toussaint L’Ouverture, Henri Chrostophe, Jean-Jacques Dessalines America’s unrecognized younger brother Salvery in American South Paradox France was poor and forced to sell Louisana – Louisana Purchase – U.S. profited

International Recognition 1862 US recognition 1883 Repayment of debt to France Abraham Lincoln recognizes Haiti as independent nation in 1862 President Lysius Salomon repays Haiti’s debt to France for independence Debt was 150 million Francs (21 billion US dollars) reduced in 1838 to 60 million Francs to be paid over 30 years 2010 French government was urged to repay the money to Haiti to help them rebuild after the earthquake – government response was that this was "morally, economically, and legally unassailable“

U.S. Occupation “The United States is at war with Haiti. Congress has never sanctioned the war. Josephus Daniels has illegally and unjustly occupied a free foreign land and murdered its inhabitants by the thousands. He has deposed of its officials and dispersed its legally elected representatives. He is carrying on a reign of terror, brow-beating, and cruelty, at the hands of southern white naval officers and Marines. For more than a year this red-handed deviltry has proceeded, and today the Island is in open rebellion” -W.E.B. DuBois 1915 U.S. Occupation begins – lasts 19 years Shut down press, took charge of banks and customhouses, compulsory labor for poor Haitians – Slavery or “road building”? U.S. Marines under William B. Coperton Josephus Daniels – President Woodrow Wilson’s Secretary of the Navy 1933 Treaty to withdraw U.S. troops and end the U.S. occupation – leave in 1934

Distrust of Foreign Intervention

Duvaliers’ Dictatorship 1957 Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier “Haitians have a destiny to suffer” – Francois Duvalier 1971 Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier 1986 “Baby Doc” flees Haiti 1964 consititutional amendment makes Papa Doc President for Life 1970 Mass Diaspora 1971 Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier Tonton Macoutes – based off of childhood tale – denim clad bogeyman who stole unruly children away in Gunnysack to eat for breakfast 1985 consititutional amendment creating Prime Minister position 1986 Baby Doc flees Haiti Terror against Macoutes

A Priest in Power 1990 Jean-Bertrand Aristide 1994 U.S. reinstalls Aristide 2000 Aristide reelected 2004 Aristide flees into exile again Well-known for helping the poor U.S. reoccupies Haiti in 1994 under sanction by the United Nations – Aristide is reinstalled – U.S. hands over military control to UN, but maintains effective control of occupation 2004 Left and quoted L’Overature

Modern Struggles 2004 Hurricane Jeanne 2008 Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna, and Hurricane Ike January 12, 2010 earthquake October 21, 2010 Cholera Epidemic 2004 Hurricane Jeanne kills over 1,900 people 2008 4 disasters in 1 month – 800 dead, quarter of economy decimated 2009 Bill Clinton appointed as United Nations special envoy to Haiti – to reinvigorate country’s economy January 12, 2010 a 7.0 richter scale earthquake October 21, 2010 CDC confirmed Cholera Epidemic 1 year post earthquake 5% of rubble cleaned up; 1 million refugees living in tent cities

What can be done? Haiti vs. United States Education , Healthcare, Role of Women, and Racism HOPE What can URI do? Revolution; Slavery; Hurricane Jeanne vs. Hurricane Katrina; September 11, 2001 vs. January 12, 2011 Restaveks, 50% children receive no education, most don’t proceed past 8th grade distrust of western healthcare, Hougans – vodoo doctors, midwives not trained to handle complications in childbirth – tradition to have first child at home Women rule the family, polygamy- changing family style, women holding women back Racism determines social status, wealth, education, political ties HOPE and Faith are the people’s greatest virtue Housing, Nursing, Teaching – but they must understand this country first “Do-gooders” vs Haitians helping Haitians – community involvement is the key

What I learned We are so alike in many ways Understanding a people’s history and culture is key to understanding how to help them Cultural Competency can be applied to all fields My professional career I was shocked by how many similarities there were between Haiti and the U.S. Theme of understanding and community involvement in successful aid projects When working with people, it is important to remain sensitive to cultural differences Much needed skills in healthcare community