Welcome to TulaLives.org, a site where content is provided to educate, inform and - where possible - entertain. 
This website is an initiative of Fundashon Parke Nashonal (The National Park Foundation) of the island of Curaçao.

Be sure to visit our "download section" which includes interesting articles regarding slavery, in 4(!) languages.

The Foundation principally aims to manage, administer and maintain the National Park for the commemoration of the big slave revolt of 1795. This revolt, based on the principles of equality, freedom and brotherhood, was a very important step towards the process of emancipation of the people of Curaçao.

The uprising is widely recognized as the first milestone in the struggle towards the emancipation of the Curaçao people of African origin, now accounting for 85% of the population of the island. The abolition of slavery on July 1st 1863 may be regarded as a second milestone in this process, as slavery is an insurmountable obstacle for self-development.

In commemoration of this struggle the Island government appointed a site in the Rif area, near the centre of Willemstad. This site now contains the monument named “Desenkadena” (Unshackled) which was inaugurated on the 17th of October of 1998.

Other targets of the Foundation are:

• promote knowledge of, and create more interest for, our own history and cultural heritage among the people of Curaçao;
• foster more appreciation among the people of Curaçao for the achievements and assets of their forefathers, while emphasizing the heroic acts carried out during the freedom fight of 1795;
• spread the knowledge of history and cultural heritage of the people of Curaçao across the borders.

These targets should contribute toward creating awareness among our people that freedom runs parallel to the capacity to solve our own problems.

The challenge is now to realize the National Park which will contain art in the form of wall paintings, a playground for children, a stage for presenting cultural activities and facilities for people to sit and relax.