Standing in Solidarity with the Gullah/Geechee Nation & Protecting St. Helena Island

At the Inner G Wellness Institute, our mission goes beyond holistic healing—it’s about honoring heritage, uplifting communities, and protecting sacred spaces. That’s why we proudly stand with the Gullah/Geechee Nation in their ongoing effort to safeguard St. Helena Island’s cultural legacy through the Protect St. Helena initiative.

Why It Matters

St. Helena Island holds deep cultural roots—it’s home to one of the largest concentrations of Gullah/Geechee people and landowners, a community whose traditions of fishing, farming, and ancestral storytelling have withstood generations

Since the 1990s, a Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) has stood as a critical zoning tool, prohibiting developments like golf courses, gated communities, and resorts, which threaten to erode the Gullah/Geechee way of life. 

Recent attempts to weaken these protections—particularly over 500 acres of Pine Island—sparked widespread opposition, community organizing, and ultimately led to the CPO being reinforced in 2023 

A compelling overview of the tension between preservation and economic development can also be found in The Guardian, highlighting both the cultural stakes and the community’s fight for self-determination

Our Stance

The Inner G Wellness Institute stands firmly in support of:

• Upholding the Cultural Protection Overlay in its entirety to ensure it continues defending Gullah/Geechee land, access to waterways, and rural livelihoods.

• Elevating community leadership—especially voices like Queen Quet, who has championed cultural resilience as the enstooled chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation 

• Honoring the historic legacy of institutions like Penn Center, whose educational mission traces back to 1862 and remains a beacon of Gullah-centered learning and preservation 

How You Can Help: Take Action Today

Inspired to make a difference? Here’s how your voice and actions can support the cause:

1. Advocate Through Correspondence

Write letters to state and federal officials urging them to uphold St. Helena’s CPO:

• SC Sen. Chip Campsen, SC Sen. Tom Davis, SC Sen. Margie Bright Matthews

• SC Rep. Michael Rivers, SC Rep. Shannon Erickson

• US Congressman James Clyburn, US Congresswoman Nancy Mace 

  Gullah/Geechee Land+11Protect St Helena Island+11Protect St Helena Island+11

  
  

2. Write to Local Media

Submit Letters to the Editor or op-eds to raise awareness:

• The Island Packet (btolley@islandpacket.com)

• The Post & Courier (rbehre@postandcourier.com)

• The Island News (theislandnews@gmail.com)

• The Bluffton Sun (editor@blufftonsun.com) Open Land Trust+3Protect St Helena Island+3Coastal Conservation League+3

  
  

3. Support Organizations & Campaigns

• Sign & share petitions from Penn Center or the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition Open Land Trust+15Gullah/Geechee Nation+15Coastal Conservation League+15.

• Follow and engage with @protectsthelena on social media YouTube+14Protect St Helena Island+14Instagram+14.

• Stay informed and aligned with the Coastal Conservation League Open Land Trust+4Protect St Helena Island+4Coastal Conservation League+4.

4. Attend Events & Demonstrations

• A special demonstration was held on August 20, 2025, ahead of a Beaufort County Council meeting to oppose Pine Island development Gullah/Geechee Nation+2Coastal Conservation League+2.

• Stay alert for future community gatherings or Council sessions through the Protect St. Helena site www.protectsthelena.com

  
  

5. Volunteer & Engage Locally

• Reach out to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition to volunteer or participate in community preservation efforts Gullah/Geechee Land.

• Engage with environmental education projects like landscape resilience training and living shoreline initiatives led by community leaders like Queen Quet www.gullahgeecheenation.com

In Conclusion...

At Inner G Wellness, we believe that cultural wellness and environmental harmony go hand in hand. Preserving places like St. Helena Island means preserving community memory, rootedness, and a way of life that teaches us how to live with balance, reverence, and resilience.

Join us: speak out, support deeply, and stand tall in solidarity with the Gullah/Geechee Nation.