Fritz Gerald Louis
Ravine-à-Couleuvres is the place where the first battle took place in 1802 between the indigenous army and Rochambeau’s troops as part of the slaves’ struggle for the general liberation of blacks, which led to independence and the founding of the Haitian nation on January 1, 1804. The Ravine-à-Couleuvres is located on the Lacroix-Périsse dwelling in the commune of Estère and was the scene of a bloody event that has marked and continues to mark the Haitian memory. In this sense, it symbolizes pride and represents an affirmation of identity for the Estériens. As a place of memory, this site raises a lot of attachment, either to tell its importance in the history of Haiti, or to exalt the various practices. Faced with this observation, this study is part of the immateriality with the problem of the development of history and memory. Thus, the path taken stops first on the richness of the collective memory, then on the erection of monuments that allow to highlight the symbolism of the place and the cultural aspects serving to build the Aesterian identity in the department of Artibonite.
