Family
Heirlooms
Cat Island, Bahamas

In a house in Cat Island, three generations of women have lived a traditional Bahamian life. Common ailments were treated with freshly picked bush leaves and children played on a homemade straw rug.

Matriarch Mrs. Iva Thompson taught her family. Now, mother and daughter Sheena Woodside and Peggy Johnson pass on these treasured traditions.

Intro Inset
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“Tradition is what you leave behind when you’re gone.”

— Sheena Woodside

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Since she was a girl, Sheena has been taking dried straw leaves and plaiting them, turning the palms that grow just outside of her home into handmade works of art—handbags, rugs, baskets.

Peggy’s Passion for bush tea—natural remedies made from brewing local
plants like cerasee, breadfruit,
and guava—comes from a
place of love. Both for the island
that raised her as well as the traditions that shaped her.

Intro Inset

Cat Island

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Mt. Alvernia
Arthur's Town
ATC
TBI
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Mt. Alvernia

The highest point in The Bahamas measures 206 feet and is located on Cat Island. Known to locals as Como Hill, Mount Alvernia is crowned by The Hermitage, a monastery built by a Roman Catholic priest named Father Jerome in 1939.

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Arthur's Town

Arthurth's Town is the capital of Cat Island and the birth place of Academy-Award-winning actor and diplomat, Sidney Poitier. The town is served by nearby Arthur's Town Airport.

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Arthur's Town Airport

A regional airport, Arthur's Town Airport serves the northern end of Cat Island.

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New Bight Airport

Cat Island’s New Bight Airport, located near Mt. Alvernia, welcomes international travellers with Customs and Immigration services.

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