By Camille Ross (Camille Ross is a first generation Canadian of Guyanese heritage. A recent graduate from the School of Journalism at Ryerson University, she is the creator and host of Guyana Beat, a weekly television programme in Toronto, Canada.)
I wasn’t born in Guyana, or raised in Guyana, and hadn’t been to the country until I was 10 years old. Yet, here in Toronto, I developed a true Guyanese identity. I had Guyanese friends throughout school, and knew the music, the food, the sayings and more. As a child, my favorite meal was dhal and rice, and we always got excited for Tamarind Balls and Sugar Cake. Growing up in Toronto, I didn’t just live with my brother and sisters; I also lived with my grandmother, aunts, uncles and other extended family. My parents brought this culture with them from their homeland and passed it on to my siblings and I. This puts us in an important position.
I take my role as a first generation Canadian very seriously. Perhaps, I hold the role with such importance because when I think about the future, I wonder about the retention of our Guyanese culture. For me it was easy because my parents were so involved in the Diaspora when they first came to this country. They both migrated to Canada in the 1970’s and met here before getting married. Dad was a country boy from 41 Village Berbice, and Mom, a city girl from Kitty, Georgetown.
We are all among the 250, 000 other Guyanese living across Canada. But after the first few waves of immigrants, I question whether our zestful Diaspora will preserve its strength. The current Diaspora had a need to connect in a place that was unfamiliar, but what happens to generations after that who are born into the Canadian culture? This is why our role as first generation Canadians is so important; we are the ones who answer this very question with our day to day actions and activities.
I studied journalism at Ryerson University and always had a particular interest in community reporting. While volunteering with a community television station, I learned they were searching for ethnic programming to reflect the various cultures in Toronto. When I found out that they did not have a Guyanese program- I pitched them an idea for a show, and they loved it.
I knew that with our active Guyanese Diaspora there would be more than enough content for a fresh and informative show twice a month. Given the diversity of Guyanese people, I decided to stay away from religion and cover the culture and activities of our nation’s six peoples as they live here in Toronto.
Guyana Beat takes viewers inside the lively culture of the Diaspora in the GTA. Each week we go around the city to learn about the cuisine, entertainment, history, politics, social life, and more surrounding the community. The events that are put on by the Guyanese community each month are endless, Guyana Beat takes its viewers behind the scenes for a sneak peak. The show also features success profiles of members of the Guyanese community who are making their mark in Toronto. I’ve profiled some of the greatest; Auntie Comesee, Captain Gerald Gouveia, and Bing Serrao and the Ramblers.
Through Guyana Beat’s Culture on Location segment – I test my hand at playing the Tassa drums, Indian and African dancing, Guyanese cooking and even cricket. Usually, it’s my Canadian-ness and lack of coordination that affect my performance!
The innovative reports that in a way document our development as a Diaspora have become very popular internationally. Guyana Beat has become a forum for effective dialogue about our Diaspora as well as issues affecting Guyana.
For instance, after the massacre in Lusignan, the show covered a high energy community forum where attendees brainstormed ways to make change in Guyana. Participants took action immediately by signing petitions to be published in the national papers. We received an overwhelming international response to the video.
While adults tend to focus on issues affecting Guyana, youth are focused on learning about their culture. Recently, I completed a profile on the Guyanese Social Club (GSC) at one of the main University campuses in Canada. It offered some insight into the mindset of first generation Canadian youth. Members of the club are so energetic and proud to be Guyanese. While most of them were born here they go the extra mile to ensure their Guyanese culture remains a part of their socialization and that of their children.
The Guyana Beat Team has also had a chance to track the way our community has made its way into the realm of public policy. Fareed Amin is a Deputy Minister with the Ontario Government and acts as an advisor to two Ministers and the province’s leader. In our talk, he stressed the important role that his education from the University of Guyana played in his pursuit of a career in public policy. He has been back to Guyana and lectured for students at UG.
When it comes to our culture- wonderful people like Auntie Comesee are here to share their wisdom with us Canadian-Guyanese. She shed light for our viewers on the importance of retaining our creolese language. She taught me how to get my intonations just right. Luther Hansraj, a Guyanese entertainer and comedian taught me the Guyanese alphabet- don’t forget, C is for Sea Wall!
In hosting and producing this program I have learned that there is no shortage of successful good hearted Guyanese in Toronto. This production shows young Guyanese what others have done, and what they can do too.
Through the website, people from around the world can view the various segments for free. Future projects include a profile on a traditional queh queh and even West- Indian nightlife in the city. Please take some time to visit www.guyanabeat.com and click on “previous shows” to see the videos. Please take some time to sign our guestbook afterward.
We are embarking on a new Generation of Guyanese – hyphenated Guyanese. For me, I’m a Guyanese-Canadian and couldn’t be more proud.
(This is one of a series of fortnightly columns from Guy-anese in the diaspora and others with an interest in issues related to Guyana and the Caribbean)
