Gem June 2014

gggggloballoballoballoballobal eeeeeyyyyyesesesesesManitoba African and Caribbean Quarterly Magazine
2nd
QUARTER
June 2014
Sheila
Raye
Charles
BLACK
HISTORY
The Ray Charles
look
TOMORROW’S
LEADERS
Citizenship Equity & Diversity Committee’s Youth Role Model Award 2014
AJOKE OLORUNDARE, ROLE MODEL AWARD
WINNER FLANKED BY MINISTER KEVIN CHIEF
AND COUN. JOHN ORLIKOW
JEREMY ZLOTY
WINNER OF THE
WADE KOJO
WILLIAMS
LEADERSHIP
AWARD
PRESENTED BY
DESIREE
RICHARDS

Global Eyes Magazine June 2014
2
Reflection
Beatrice Watson
Two prominent Civil Right leaders
and entertaiers Dr. Maya Angelou and
the beloved Ruby Dee have left us to
continue their journey elsewhere in the
universe and left us who are here to
continue to bring light to the world with
our contributions to peace and love,
respect and equality of mankind. At
times like these we look to the younger
generation to pick up the banner. Our
young people are carrying on the work
of those upon whose shoulders they sit
but they are doing it in their own way.
Each generation has its own demons to
slay and we cannot expect our young
people to think the way past generations
thought. However somethings that were
of the past are still with this generation
like racism and discrimination based
on the colour of one’s skin or race.
This is systemic and endemic and
needs continued vigilance and
prodding at its roots.
Dr. Maya Angelou and the beloved
Ruby Dee were both entertainers and
teachers. They taught with their craft
and shone light in the dark corners of
the heart of racism in North America
and the world. They were both
blessed with long enough life to see
that what they did made a difference
to people both black and white.
However there is a unifying concept
of human rights and multiculturalism
around which many of today’s youths
of various ethnocultural backgrounds
coalesce and are building common
grounds. Perhaps this is the
evolution of the path that we must
tread that would lead to the
clearing.
Dr. Angelou and Ms Dee have
done their work and have done it
well and we can all be proud of
them. Both worked to the end, they
did not live in the land of
retirement and “do nothingness”
they were cutting down barriers and
clearing fields of ignorance all the
while they were blessed with life. I
think we can all learn from their
lives and learn that no matter what
stage of life you are at, you can be a
contributor.
Hello! My name is Ingrid D.
Johnson. I am a Canadian / Jamaican
artist. I am a poet, spoken word artist,
singer/songwriter, short film/video
maker, and small business owner. I love
being creative and I love making
original music, spoken word, and art
that uplifts and inspires people to
overcome adversity, especially the
impact of childhood sexual abuse.
Something I believe is very prominent
in the black community and in other
communities, all over the world.
Something I believe requires more
public attention and awareness.
I realize everyday that I am a very
small voice among many other louder
voices who create music and art .. but I
have faith that GOD will strengthen my
voice. I have faith that my own personal
story about learning to overcome the
impact of childhood sexual abuse and
other forms of adversity along with the
vision/mission of my small business
www.intheclosetproductions.com, can
and will make a difference in this
world. It will be one song at at time,
one video at a time, one book at a
time, one person at a time, one show,
and one project at a time. It is that
hope ... that inspires me to continue,
despite all of my failures and
setbacks.
Check out her website -
www.inthecloseproductions.com
CONDOLENCES
TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO
HAVE LOST SOMEONE RECENTLY - OUR
SYMPATHIES:
Merline Joy Wedderburn
peacefully on June 5, 2014 at
Health Sciences Centre. She was
born in Jamaica
****
Hubert Benjamin Theodore Young
Peacefully at his residence, on June
16, 2014. He was born on July 8,
1924 in Canaan
****
Ralph McDowell originally from
St. Vincent & the Grenadies
peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital..
Quotable Quote
“I’ve told my children that when I
die, to release balloons in the sky to
celebrate that I graduated. For me,
death is a graduation.” Elisabeth
Kubler Ross
LOCALARTIST NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
Believe in yourself! Have faith in
your abilities! Without a humble but
reasonable confidence in your own
powers you cannot be successful or
happy.
Norman Vincent Peale
QUOTE

3 3
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IN THIS ISSUE
Briefs
Ghana’s Independence p6
Letter to my children p8
Role Model Winners p8
Global Counselor p8
Healthwise 14
June Black Out
LEG UP p15 and more
Volunteers Recognized
Global Eyes is an independent magazine quarterly publication
devoted to promoting cultural awareness of the African and
Caribbean communities of Manitoba and highlighting the
issues and concerns of these communities. It also aims
at promoting cultural diversity and appreciation. Its
It features articles ranging from the achievements of local,
national and international personalities and general information
that are of interest to the African/Caribbean
community. It offers editorials with African/
Caribbean sensibilities and letters to the editor. The
Magazine is produced under a volunteer editorial
committee that assists with proof-reading, publicity and
distribution.
Mail cheque/Money Order to: Global Eyes Magazine (GEM)
671 Rathgar Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3L 1G6
Mr. Jim Ogunnoiki of the African-Caribbean
Association of Manitoba Inc. (ACAM) and
Founder of the Annual ACAM
job fair’s work has not gone
unnoticed. He was recently
recognized for his voluntary
contriubtions to the Province
with the Lieutenant-Governor’s
Award. Family, Friends
coworkers and supporters came
out in large numbers to show
their support and to celebrate
with this community leader.
The gala event was held at
the Convention Centre on April
9, 2014 and honored 31
deserving volunteers with various awards including
Ms Sangeetha Nair who received a Premier’s
Service Award for her work with the Red Cross.
MEET MHRC NEW EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
Congratulations to Azim Jiwa who recently assumed
the Executive Director of the
Manitoba Human Rights
Commission.Azim is a great
addition to the Commission.
He has Bachelor and Master of
Laws, degrees. In a recent
interview with the MHRC
Bulletin Mr. Jiwa said “The
Human Rights Commission has
a dual role. First, it is the place
to turn to when faced with
discrimination and second, its
education mandate is
significant.”

4
GLOBAL
EYES
MAGAZINE
Neil Pitamber,
Lara Badmus, LLB
A prolific writer, poet and owner,
Caribbean Shield
GEM’s Regular Contributors
First Black Mayor
Kwasi Fraser and his family
have every reason to laugh for
beating the odds to become the
Firt Black Mayor of the Town
of Purceville Virgina USA
where the majority of the
population is white.
Distributed to local businesses, and in
Winnipeg and via email to individuals
in Manitoba and former Manitobans in
various parts of the world.
To receive Global Eyes by mail please
send a cheque for $15.00 to:
Global Eyes Magazine
671 Rathgar Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 1G6
Phone: 204-477-1588
globaleyesmagazine@gmail.com
All contents are (c) 2011 and may not
be reprinted without the express or
written consent of the author or Editor.
Editor: Beatrice Watson DIDDIDDIDDIDDID YYYYYOUOUOUOUOU KNOKNOKNOKNOKNOWWWWW?????
Did you know that Queen Victoria
of the
United
Kingdom
(the current
Queen’s
great-great-
grandmother)
had a
goddaughter
who was
once a
slave? Her
name was Sarah Forbes Bonetta, and
her background is quite fascinating.
Her original homeland in southeastern
Nigeria was attacked by King Gezo of
Dahomey — the most notorious slave
trading monarch in West Africa in the
early 19th century. Intent on capturing
villagers and selling them off as
slaves, Gezo’s forces seized the four-
year old-girl. But for reasons that are
unclear, she remained in Gezo’s
possession until a British military
commander named Frederick Forbes’s
arrived in Dahomey in 1849 to
persuade the King to give up slave
raiding and trading. Long story short,
Forbes persuaded King Gezo to give
him the girl as a “present from the
King of the Blacks to the Queen of the
Whites.” So that is how did the little
girl named Sarah Forbes Bonetta
become the goddaughter of the Queen
of the British empire
U.S. Navy history was
made recently when
Admiral Michelle Howard
was officially promoted to
Vice Chief of Naval
Operations(VCNO),
making her the first woman and first Black
person in the Navy’s 236 years to become a
four-star admiral.
Howard’s new rank makes her the No. 2
officer in the Service. Her promotion
ceremony took place at the Women in
Military Service forAmerica Memorial at
Arlington National Cemetery.
While honoring Howard at the ceremony
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus called her a
“representation of how far we have come,
and how far she has helped bring us.”
FIRST BLACK PERSON MAKES NO. 2
OFFICER
Discipline Counsel
The Law Society of Manitoba

5 5
Briefs
When you shop at
orest People Crafts
you are helping forest
people support the
crafters’families.
We’re on the 2nd
Floor
#226 of The Fork’s
Market, One Forks
Market
The Rights of refugees are slowly
being eroded. They longer have the
option of becoming permanent
residents” said Janet Dench,
Executive Director of the Canadian
Council for refugees recently at a
lunch and learn event sponsored by
the Manitoba Interfaith
Immigration Council.
She said there is a gradual but
steady move away from the
Citizenship policy of 2008 that has
left refugees and immigrants more
vulnerable couple with decrease in
services. A refugee is only a
refugee if it is unsafe for them to
return home. A refugee’s status
could be terminated if they returned
home and were no longer at risk
and therefore no longer needed
Canadian protection and could be
returned home. A refugee also risk
losing their status in Canada if they
applied for passports from their
home country. If a youth commits
a crime they can face deportation
and war crimes are extended to
mean if a person worked for a
government.
Ms Dench said Non
government organizations (NGOs)
are asked to do more with less
funding. More onus is being placed
on individuals in a short space of
time to find their way through the
maze of systems and they end up at
NGOs who do not have the
resources to help them adequately.
“Protecting refugees is a
government obligation” she said.
In all of these changes the
forgotten issue is family
reunification which needs to be
higher on the priority list.
Thinking of joining the cottage owners?
Now is your chance to snag some land.
The Manitoba Conservation and Water
Stewardship recently announced 136
lots are available across the province
and Manitobans get first dibs before
opening it up to non residents. Lots
went on sale on June 26, 2014. Non
Manitobans can apply starting October
24, 2014. You can apply in person at
200 Salteaux Crescent from June 26 to
July 9 and thereafter apply by mail.
Ruby Dee - The actress whose career
spanned over 70 years z both an award-
winning film and stage star as well as a
civil rights activist died at the age of 91
in New York City.
Dee was well loved at home and
abroad and she and her husband Ossie
Davis were the talked about lovers. COTTAGE LOTS FOR
SALE
They starred together in five plays
and 11 films. As well she played
alongside such greats as Sydney Poitier
in Raisin in the sun (1961) Buck and
the Preacher (1972) and others.
Dee has finally kept her date with her
late husband. On their 50th anniversary
Dee and Davis wrote a joint biography
which read in this life together. In
keeping with their promise Dee will be
cremated and placed in the same urn as
Ossie with the inscription “In this think
together”.
May her soul rest in peace
Dr. Lois Stewart-Archer was elected
the new President of the Congress of
Black Women at its last Annual
General Meeting in May 2014.
Stewart-Archer took over form
Antoinette Zloty who resigned earlier
in the Year. Best of luck to Dr. Archer
for a successful reign.
REFUGEES
LOSING
IMPORTANT
RIGHTS
NEW LEADER AT THE CONGRESS
OF BLACK WOMEN

6
Can’t find a salon to do
justice to your hair?
Look no more!
Les Touche Salon
will send you satisfied everytime
4-555 Balmoral Ave
Hours: Mon. - Sat.
9 a.m - 7:00 p.m.
Phone: 947-5830
Editorial - Take One
Winnipeggers
need not worry
about the future.
It is in good hands
as demonstrated
by the stellar youths who received
Role Model Awards sponsored by
The Citizen Equity and Diversity
Committee ( CEC ) at the Viscount
Gort Hotel on April 2014. The face
of Winnipeg’s future leaders reflects
our mosaic city. Multitalented
smart, motivated youths are in
waiting to take up the slack when
the time is right.
The recipients of the Role
Model Awards come from across
the cultural and social spectrum.
They were recognized for their
public service, academic
achievements, sports excellence,
religious expressions and
leadership qualities.
The celebratory event was laced
with motivational speeches and
cultural performances including
Hoop dancing, McDonnell Irish
Dancers, Spanish dancing and Fiddling
The Keynote address was delivered by
Hon. Kevin Chief, Minister of Youth
who said he started attending CEC’s
events as a dancer. He praised CEC for
recognizing the contributions of youths
in our community. He said that
everyone needs to feel that they belong
and sometimes they would deny who
they are just to be belong therefore he
encouraged the participants to help
others to feel that they belong.
UNITYTHROUGHARTS
Manju Lodha
and Isam
Aboud two
Winnipeg artists from the Jain and
Islamic traditions art works were
featured at the Mennonite Heritage
Gallery in May 2014 and as part of
the exhibition titled “Perception –
Coming together through Arts “ an
interfaith conversation among
various religious groups including
Baha’i Faith, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism
and Mennonite promoted unity in
diversity. The event was well
attended. Interfaith prayers were
read by Isam Aboud, Dr. Atish
Maniar, Jordan and Meleyna
Bighorn, Dr. Mohinder Singh
Dhillon and Perry Kimmerman.
Speakers included Tony Tavares,
Diversity Education and International
Language Consultant, Dr. Cheryl Pauls,
President of Canadian Mennonite
University, Gerry Labossier, Chair,
Catholic Healthcare and Gary Senfts,
co-Chair, Rotary World Peace Partners.
Sandy Hyman former City Councillor
was the emcee.
Manju Loda
& Isam Aboud
Interfaith Prayer Readers

7 7
The Ghanaian
Union of Manitoba
Inc. (GUM) is a non-
profit community
organization that
brings together people
from Ghana
(Ghanaians) and
people of Ghanaian
heritage living in
Manitoba. GUM was
formed in June 1982
with a small group of
people but it has since
beengrowing
gradually.The
Ghanaiancommunity
is made up of about
1000 people and they
are engaged in various
professions, trades and
a number of students.
The Union has cultural
groups for different age
groups that participate
regularly in the annual Folklorama Festival
held in Winnipeg and it also plays a key role
in theAfrican community through the
African Communities of Manitoba Inc.
Ghana, is a westAfrican country, bounded
on the north by Burkina Faso, on the east by
Togo, on the south by theAtlantic Ocean,
and on the west by Côte d’Ivoire. Formerly
a British colony known as the Gold Coast, it
was led to independence by Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah (first President) on the 6th of
March, 1957. Ghana celebrated its 57th.
Independence Day this year and as part of
the celebrations, GUM organized its annual
Independence Day event inWinnipeg on
Saturday 15th.
March at the City Oasis Hall
at 435 CumberlandAvenue.
MaggieYeboah, President of GUM
welcomed guests at the start of the night’s
celebration which had the theme “Tourism –
Ghana’s Untapped Natural Resource” with
Mr. Jay Stoller as the guest speaker. Mr.
Stoller, a certified travel agent inWinnipeg,
organizes tours toAfrica including
Ghana and he delighted the audience
with a pictorial slide show about his
trips to Ghana and what awaits visitors
to the country including aspects that
visitors may not be aware of. Mr.
Stoller is also known to theWinnipeg
public through theWinnipeg Drum
Café and his drumming lessons and
shows in elementary and high schools
in Manitoba.
The Celebration was graced with the
Hon. Flor Marcelino, Minister of
Multiculturalism and Literacy who
brought greetings from the Provincial
government, Ms. Christine Melnick,
MLAfor Riel ,Terry Duguid of the
Liberal Party and Mrs.TitiTijani,Vice
President of theAfrican Communities
of Mantoba Inc. (Acomi) who brought
greetings on behalf of theAfrican
community.
The event was a delight; grace was
said by Mr.Alex Larmie before guests
were served with a delicious and tasty
Ghanaian cuisine, and there were lots
of cultural shows. Evans Coffie played
the xylophone with his infusion of
tribal traditional and afro-beats creating
a wonderful melody that awakens and
heals the body, mind and spirit. Evans
accompanied by Diane Larvene also
took the audience through the
Ghanaian jungle with their drumming
during the early part of the event.The
cultural performances by the Ghanaian
cultural groups included theAzonto,
Inkormor and Kpanlogo Dances.
AdeliciouslydecoratedIndependence
cake was cut by StephanieArthur
(born on Independence Day – 6th
.
March) and Ras Rico Selassie, a
community leader from the Caribbean
community.
Emcees for the event were
Desmond Sackey andAkosua Bonsu
with Jennifer Indome giving the vote
of thanks. The event was capped with
an all night dance session led by DJs
Kwabena Osei-Bonsu andAlfred
OforiAkuamoah.
By Frank Fidome
GUM CELEBRATES GHANA’S 57TH INDPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Some Ghanaian ladies at the event in their
traditional national attire (the kente cloth)
Guests on the dancing floor
A deliciously decorated Independence
cake was cut by Stephanie Arthur (born
on Independence Day – 6th
. March) and
Ras Rico Selassie, a community leader
from the Caribbean community.

8
Regulars
Letter to my children
Global Counsellor
NOUVEAU
So many things went through my
head
Would I condemn our friendship
By consummating it with a french
kiss?
(Or not) Though I had her by the ex
And hearts were crossed but by no
means
Were we calm and she as the sweeter
sex
Did nothing to really move my arms....
The crack in silence split the time
between
What could have been and
What had come and gone
(So strange)
If I meant nothing
To you at all—
Why did things change?
I suppose I didn’t have to taste you
Or had to take you on
your ‘words’
Your life was coarse and
my tongue
Was fashioned
(Apparently) for the less
absurd...
My dear children
It’s been a hectic few months in my
neck of the woods. Our vacation
together was wonderful, that special
time to bond away from the familiarity
of home and the everyday chores of
cooking, cleaning, making up beds
and enjoying new sights and sounds
and meeting new and interesting
people. Life is good and even better
when we can live in the present
moment and appreciate what is before
us. Life is like a journey in a car or
train, you pass some wonderful
sceneries, sometimes you stop for a
while and then move on and whatever
we pass is gone and cannot be
experienced again except through
our imagination. These memories
have an impact on our lives for
better or for worse, mostly worse.
some of these memories or ame
We relive pain and suffering that
are all triggered by what we choose
focus our attention on.
Many spiritual masters and
religious thinkers have said and I
have proven it to be true that the
here and now is the place where
creation happens. Savour the
present for it is filled with gifts for
you. Being in the present will help
you to live a happier and healthier
life. There is so much to be grateful
for in this moment, enjoy it, be
mindful and be in awe. The
holidays are over and even though
we had such a great time to fill you
minds with memories of that will
steal the present from you. Do not
miss out on today for what is here
will not be there tomorrow. As I
write the sun is pouring through the
window and I can hear the birds
chirping and there’s a cloud
formation that looks like a tiger and
a cub. This moment is precious.
Love you lots, Mom Dr. & Mrs.
Dear globalcounselor,
I am a 25 year old East Indian girl
from the Caribbean community but
I came to Canada when I was 7
years old. I went to school here and
I love Canada’s multiculturalism. I
have friends from all over the world
and we especially in the ethno
cultural community are very close
and there is no difference between
us. My parents are Hindu and I am
in love with a African Muslim man
from Somalia and my parents who
are not practising Hindus by any
stretch of the imagination are
freaking out and totally disapprove
of my relationship even though my
boyfriend is an educated, upright
man who is giving back to the
country for accepting him and his
family as refugees. He is a nice and
decent man and not a fanatical
Muslim but live by the principles.
Even though I see myself as a Hindu
I also see myself as a Christian – I
know this sounds kind of
complicated but I believe it is the
beauty of living in Canada, the
diversity is rich and we are asked to
respect and embrace this policy and
I do. I am so disappointed with my
folks, they are hypocrites – they
preach multiculturalism for those
out there and not in their homes. I
want to say to all those racist,
ethnocentriss people out there
who are parents you’d better start
practicing what you preach; you
tell us to accept everyone and that
we are all equal but don’t mean it.
Those kinds of folks should think
twice before coming to Canada. I
know we are asked to obey our
parents but is this kind of
obedience not destructive? What
do you think?
Vexed
Dear Vexed,
I agree with everything you say.
It’s easy to preach multiculturalism
but harder to live it. This is a
challenge to your parents and an
opportunity for them to open their
hearts. Give them a chance, help
them to get to know your boyfriend
better, invite him to meet your
parents, to chat with them and
maybe he can help them with a little
chore. It is easier to embrace
someone you’ve come to know and
like. Help them to see him as you
see him. I think this could end well.

9 9
Tinking bout dese
world sporting events
dat seem to get bigger
and bigger in grandeur
each go round. Each
trying to outdo de last
host spending
gazillions of dollars on
dese frivolus tings when de people de
serve are starving, cant find jobs an
ting. Tek Brazil for instance, poor
people picketing de waste of tax dollars
to mek tings pretty fuh games when
dey live in shanty towns or favelas in
the most disgusting conditions. Where
is de justice and equality for all. Who
elects dese politicians? Dis is madness,
de gat dere priorities all wrong. It is no
wonda de citizens are rising up like
hurricane all ova de world – dey are
tired wid dese politicians wid de giant
egos which de use de tax payers mney
to prop up. Tings gatta change man,
tings gatta change.
Ankit Bahl, Education and Training,
Chanse Kornick, Advocacy (Sr),
Christina Leask, Creative Arts (Sr)
Elijah St. Germain, Creative arts (JR,
James Wagner, Sports (Jr) Ajoke
Olorundare Advocacy Sr) Rajas
Tipnis, Education & Training (Sr)
Britney Truman, Community
Volunteer (Sr) Charmaine Agsalud,
Community Volunteer (Jr) Jeri-Lynn
Linklater, performance Arts (Jr) Shrey
Gupta, Sports, Jr) Renea Monkman,
Spirituality, Jeremy Zloty, Wade Kojo
Williams Award for Action Against
racism and discrimination;
Kimberly McCarthy Rosalinda
Natividad-Cantiveros Award for
Courage (Jr), Alison Campeau,
Performance Arts Sr) and Lisa
Harper, Rosalinda Natividad-
Cantiveros, Award for Courage (Jr)
Congratulations to all the Winners of the 2014 Role Model Awards
Honouring the Achievements of our Youth
GAFFIN WID BUDDY
Dr. Richard and Antoinette Zloty
proud parents of Jeremy Zloty winner
of the first Annual Wade Kojo Williams
Leadership Award, Jeremy’s girlfriend
and Florence Okwudili, CEC member.
Coun. John Orilikow, Margaret Strachan,
Bonita Karim, RCMP Off.icer David
Ogungbemi & Community member (attendees )

10
DR. RALPH JAMES LIBRARY OPENS FOR BUSINESS
Camille Alleyne is an Aerospace
Engineer and has worked on space
projects at NASA for more than 16
years. She is currently the Assistant
Program Scientist for the International
Space Station. She had a dream since
she was a little girl and was fascinated
with space. She was a star gazer. Her
curiosity about her world continued and
led her to completing the educational
requirement to bring her closer to the
fulfillment of her dream. She holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical
Engineering, and a Master of Science
degree in Aerospace engineering and
she is currenly working on her
Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Camille Wardrop Alleyne is a brilliant
aerospace engineer whose
accomplishments in that field have been
extraordinary. In the highly technical
fields of science and engineering where
women are in the minority, she has
achieved against all odds, being one of
a few women of colour and the only
woman of Caribbean descent in a senior
management position at the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
There’s a new library in town housed
at the Caribbean Cultural Centre at 1100
Fife Street established by the Caribbean
55 plus Horizon Club. Named after Dr.
Ralph James, the late husband of Dr.
June James, who was a writer, publisher
of Carib News and passionate about
Caribbean literature and authors.
According to Dr. J. James, he
never left home without a book
and his favourite place was in a
book store.
Organized by Club members
Diane Dwarka and Joy Bissoon,
the collection of approximately
275 books by Caribbean authors
such as VS Naipaul, Edgar
Mittleholzer, Austin Clark,
Madeleine
Coopsammy, Claire
Harris etc., were
donated by
community
members and by
Kelly Hughes of the
former Aqua Books.
The collection is
comprised of fiction
and nonfiction,
novels, children’s
books and history
books. One of the
children’s books is
the charming Nutmeg Princess by
Ricardo Keens Douglas which he
wrote for his daughter. “Some of
the books are irreplaceable, so
there will be some that could be
borrowed and others would be
reference books.
Dwarka said they hope to grow
the collection by soliciting more
Dr. James and Alexander
and Maxwell (grandsons)
Hon. Flor
Marcelino
Kelly
Hughes
Melanie Wight,
MLA Burrows
Diane Dwarka
CARIBBEAN WOMAN LIVING HER
DREAM
Library.. cont’d on p11

11 11
donations and hope that this
library would encourage
readership in Caribbean literature
Dr. June James and her three
grandchildren unveiled the plaque
of Dr. R. James and did the ribbon
cutting while her two sons and
daughter in law watched on along
with more than 50 community
participants.
With lily white
tablecloth covered
tables topped with
vases of flowers
and a birthday
cake to be cut at
the appropriate
time, The Council
of Women of
Winnipeg
celebrated its 120 years anniversary on
April 20, 2014 at itsAnnual General
Meeting. It is one of the oldest women’s
organizations in Manitoba.
Senator Sharon Carstairs was the guest
speaker at this event and what she said
resonated with the mostly older groupof
womenbutdelightfullyagrowingcropof
youngerwomeninthemix.
She recalled the difficulties women faced
if they wanted credit or employment. She
said she was forced to change her name to
Mrs. John Carstairs as a married woman
because he was ultimately responsible for
her. “I ‘m not naive to think I was elected
into the leadership of the Liberal Party of
Manitoba because of some special abilities I
might have been perceived to have. If the
party was popular I would not have been
elected..... women do not get positions with
real power, women judges are down,
Aboriginal women and visible minorities
women,have never been up.”
The most pressing issue on Carstairs mind
these days is palliative care, the physical,
spiritual and mental quality of end of life
care.
“Ten percent of us would die the way we
like - a massive heart attack. Most of us will
die of degenerative diseases requiring
palliative care” she said and added that the
burden of care
would fall on
women, wives
and other
female
relatives.
“By 2025,
25% of the
Canadian
population would be over 65 and
women will accept the burden of care
because the social workers will guilt
women to accept this responsibility.”
She said women are quick to say
they do not expect their children to be
there for them and that they do not
want to be a burden to their children
“it would not be fair because they
have their own lives to live”.
In spite of that women still scrimp
and save so that they could leave
something for the children. Carstairs
asked bluntly “Why do we feel we
need to give them more? Have we not
educated them?” Women are their
own worst enemy, she said.
Canada’s current acute care system
is much more costly and
inappropriate than theAmerican
hospice system. “Canada’s acute care
program depends on women’s free
labour without which it would be a
failure.
The Institute for International
Women’s Rights – Manitoba Inc.
presented its second annual local
to Global 2014 titled Ä new Age is
Dawning for every Mother’s
Daughter at which Sally
Armstrong, journalist and
advocate for women and girls in
war affected countries was the
guest speaker.
The event attracted a large cross-
cultural audience with Nadia
Kidwai of the Islamic Social
Services Organization was the
emcee.
It was an evening of honouring
women and girls with music,
poetry and silent auction.
Winnipeg duo Renee and Paul
entertained the audience with their
music while Katherena Vermette
Métis writer of power-fiction and
children’s literature whose first
book North end Love Songs won
the Governor general Literary
Award for Poetry and the Lena
Chartrand Award for Activism in
Poetry.
Armstrong’s message was
hopeful. She said for the first time
in her reporting life she was happy
to offer hope. “The state of
women and girls all over the
world is improving “she said and
added that we have to thank the
social media for some of that. She
said that it was the first time in
history that a country has
expended resources to find women
and girls as witnessed in Nigeria
and that it was the pressure of
social media that pushed that
government to act. She cited the
160 girls who successfully won a
class action suite against the
government of Kenya for being
victims of rape. With the Equality
Effect Organization headed by
Canadian Fiona Sampson,
Executive Director successfully
launched a constitutional
challenge against the Kenyan
Police Service and other state
actors among other examples. She
urged women to keep the pressure
up in whatever way they can to
move the momentum forward. All
proceeds from this event went to
charities local and global that help
women and girls achieve equality
including the Equality Effect and
Grands N More and students in
the Global College.
Senator
Carstairs and Judy
Wasulycia-Leis
Library.. cont’d from p10
COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF WINNIPEG CELEBRATES 120 YEARS
WOMEN HELPING WOMEN
Wendy-Ann
Stevenson,
Pres. CWW
Judy Wasylycia-leis
& Sen. Sharon
Carstairs

12
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Maya Angelou
It was a battle of beautiful sounds that had
people clapping and tapping at the Bethel
Community Church on April 2014 on the
occasion of the Gospel Music Extravaganza
“Battle of the Choirs” coordinated by
Jacqueline Sumter and Donna Jacques
descendants of the First Black Loyalist in
Canada in collaboration with Bethel
Community Church to promote Black
Canadian history “our forgotten story”.
The battle was competitive but the Immanuel Church Choir took
home the first prize followed by Truth and Life Choir and
Brotherhood Men’s Choir Pilgrim with second and third prizes
respectively. The other competitors were Pilgrim Baptist Sanctuary
Choir, Bethel Community Church Choir, Praise Choir and Winnipeg
Gospel Choir.
Ms Cynthia Peyson Wahl a graduate of the University of Regina
with a B.Mus. Ed and diploma in Jazz students from Grant
MacEwan University and Professor Dr. Charles Horton, founding
member of ALL the Kings Men, a male voice liturgical choir
associated with the College Chapel of St. John the Evangelist at the
University of Manitoba where he teaches music.
According to the organizers music is the venue through which
they have chosen to share Black culture and in doing so they will try
not only to find the finest gospel choir in Winnipeg but the best
Black gospel choir in Canada.
The event was well attended in the beautiful and spacious church. For
information about next year’s contest email: ME2014choir@gmail.com.
BATTLE OF THE CHOIRS
Immanuel
Church Choir -
First Place
Winner
Truth and Life
Choir - 2nd Place
Winnier
Brotherhood
Men`s Choir
Pilgrim - 3rd
Place Winner
with Prof

13 13
There was a long line up at
McNally Robinson’s bookstore of
people eager to get a signed copy of
Mini Brown’s first book “I am an
addict - in bits and pieces published
by Golden Rock Publishing on April
2, 2014 at a Group book launch of
four authors. Mother, author, poet,
songwriter, social work student at the
University of Manitoba, Brown’s
book bares it all, not for voyeuristic
pleasure but to teach that a broken
winged bird can be fixed, can dream
of a normal life. Her book speaks
about domestic violence, shame,
The success of a few Blacks may
help to mask the seriousness of
systemic racism and lead to the faulty
conclusion that if one could escape the
confines of systemic racism anyone
could and this effectively shifts the
blame on the victim rather than the
system in place.
According to a recent study in the
Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology by Authors Clayton
Critcher, of the University of
California, Berkeley, and Jane Risen,
of the University of Chicago, when
people are exposed to successful Black
persons in non-stereotypical jobs e.g.
Nobel prize-winning authors,
university presidents etc. they drew an
automatic inference that race was not a
success-inhibiting factor in modern
society.” They then shift the blame on
black people and problems within the
black communities for their lack of
progress, rather than racism as the
problem.” The researchers stated this
would make it harder to combat
systemic racism.
isolation, addiction and the
lifestyle that sometimes goes along
with that. She spoke about her
arrested motherhood when her
children were taken away from
her, the many times she tried to
take the high road only to be lured
back into the pit of addiction
again. “Recovering does not end
with not using drugs, but who I am
becoming.”
The autobiographical memoir
not only addresses her experience
but offers hope and her decision to
move forward from these things.
At the end of each chapter there
are exercises for those who are on
that journey to help themselves.
An excellent reader and poet
Brown grabs her audience by the
heart and to hush silence as she
pours out words of the soul. She
lets you emotionally in the places
she has been and the continuing
journey to wholeness. It is a book
that is easy to read and promises to
take you places that are high and
low emotionally. You can purchase
the book at McNally’s and on
Amazon.com.
When people
get equal
opportunity,
everyone has a
chance to excell.
The Creator did
not favor a
particular race
or class. Everyone has their gifts.
U.S. Navy recently made history
when Admiral Michelle Howard was
officially promoted to Vice Chief of
Naval Officer (VCNO), making her the
first woman and first Black person in
the Navy’s 236 years to become a four-
star admiral.
Howard’s new rank makes her the
No. 2 officer in the service. Her
promotion ceremony took place at the
Women in Military Service for
America Memorial at Arlington
National Cemetery.
SUCCESS IS EVERYONE’S
BIRTHRIGHT
FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT
Some fathers shirk their
responsibilities towards children by
either not acknowledging them or
having acknowledged them fail to
participate in their children’s lives as a
parent. However, children miss that
connection and often describe the
feeling of the presence of a hole in their
lives.
TakeAndrew Harris for example, a
successful Canadian ball player with
the BC Lions. He had a longing to
know his father. In this case his
Barbadian father Ron Graham never
knew Harris existed.
“I saw my friends with their dads and
obviously I always wanted to have that
kind of relationship; just the little
things, like learning how to shave. I
never really had that,” Harris said.
With the help of social media,
Harris’search
for his father
had a positive
outcome.
Graham
embraced his
son and
found they
had sports
among other
things in
common.
Harris is ready
to check out his
Caribbean roots in beautiful
Barbados.
AUTHOR SHARES HER STORY TO INSPIRE OTHERSSYSTEMIC RACISM

14
HEALTHWISE
Let your food be
medicine and your
medicine be food.
Hippocrates
TUNE IN TO RAS RICO
I SELASSIE AT CKUW
95.9 FM - RADIO TO
AWAKEN THE MIND
BAKED FISH
Ingredients
6 fillets of fish Salt and pepper
6 slices of tomato
6 slices of cheese
1 oz butter
1 oz flour
½ptmilk
1 tin of mushrooms, if desired
2 small onions, chopped
2 tbsp sherry
Parsley, chopped
3 cups cooked rice
Preparation
· Prepare the
fillets, removing the
skin and small bones.
Season with salt and
pepper. Roll up, with
the outside of the fish
on the inside.
· Arrange the
fish, tomatoes and cheese alternately
down the centre of a shallow pyrex
casserole dish. Set aside.
· Melt butter in a pan, then stir
in flour and salt.
· Add milk a little at a time,
then mushrooms, onions and sherry.
Stir constantly until the mixture
boils.
· Pour over the fish. Bake in a
moderate oven for 20 minutes until
fish is cooked.
· Garnish with chopped
parsley and serve hot with rice.
4 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus
more for cooking roti
1 cup water
METHOD:
To make the breads,
combine the flour,
baking powder and salt in a
mixing bowl and make a well in
the center. Combine the oil and
water and add this
mixture to the well.
Using your hands,
mix to form a dough.
Knead for about 5
minutes, or until the
dough is smooth.
Divide the mixture
into 6 balls of dough
and set aside for about 2 hours,
covered with a damp kitchen
towel. On a lightly floured
surface, roll each ball of dough
into a thin, flattened circle about
9 inches in diameter. Set aside,
covered, until ready to cook the
breads to serve. (Do not stack.)
Heat a large griddle or 12-inch
skillet over high heat and add 2
teaspoons of vegetable oil. When
hot, add the bread dough and
cook until brown spots form on
the bottom, about 1 minute. Turn
the bread and cook on the second
side, about 1 minute longer.
Transfer to a large plate or baking
sheet and cover with a damp
towel to keep warm while you
prepare the remaining breads
CARIBBEAN ROTI
JUNO BLACK OUT
The 43rd
Juno Award held in
Winnipeg in March 2014 was a black-
out for Black musicians. Not a spot of
colour on the mainstage. What
happened there? Where are all the
awesome Black musicians in Canada
and why were they ignored. I would
have like to see Drake or Juno
Nominee in the Reggae
category,Ammoye perform on Juno
night. For a multicultural country like
Canada it was not the kind of Juno I
was expecting. Apart from Kardinal
Official who won in his category there
were hardly any other Black winners.
Maybe that has to be expected once in
a while but not to have someone from
the Black community perform on
Juno night is inexcusable.
Here are some of the awesome
musical women who attended Juno
2014: R&B singer Florence
Oramasionwu “Flosoul”, Anna
personal make up professional for
Ammoye , Juno Nominee Ammoye and
Maiko Watson, R&B, soul, funk,
alternative.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LOLA’S BEAUTY
GALLERY FOR ACHIEVING 25 YEARS OF
SERVICE IN WINNIPEG. THANK YOU -
WISH YOU MANY MORE YEARS TO COME

15 15
Leg Up
The nature of life is more and more. Not
less and less. A seed becomes a tree,
children grow up and have children and
their children have children, a river
gathers stuff and flows into the ocean.
We are hardwired to grow.
Not everyone was put here to write the
great Canadian novel or to be the best
philanthropist. There are billions of work
on the planet that need to be done.
Do something that resonates in your
heart. If you are doing what you love you
will never have to work again. The
hardest work will be your greatest
pleasure, it’d be fun time. When you are
doing what you love, you naturally want
to learn everything about it. You grow
If when you wake up most morning
you say to yourself: What can I do to
increase my service to others today, what
can I do to make my presence a blessing
to someone or how can I contribute to a
happier workplace, you will find
opportunities to do all of that. This
means you are fulfilling your heart’s
desire, you are excited about your work.
The respected thinkers all agree our
job on the planet is one of service. The
more you serve the happier you will be
and the more successful.
Nugget – Treat everyone you meet as if
they are the most important people in the
world in that moment.
EXPAND - GROW
The Democratic Republic of the
Congo(DRC) is believed to be the
rape capital of the world. Over the
last decade two million women and
girls were raped and it is also
considered the worst place in the
world to be a woman, said former
Governor General of Canada and
currently UNESCO special Envoy
to Haiti the Rt. Hon. Michaelle
Jean at the Graffitti Gallery where
she was a guest speaker at the
planned event to welcome Dr.
Denis Mukwege founder of the
Panzi Hospital in the DRC
dedicated to the medical treatment
of survivors of gender-based sexual
violence.
“Rape has turned into a full
blown weapon of war. Women’s
bodies have been made the battle
ground of conflict” she said adding
that during her visit to the DRC in
2007 as Canada’s Governor
General she used the opportunity to
speak to Parliarment in that country
and named that sexualized violence
is a crime against humanity.
She said art had the power to
raise awareness and bring people
together to solve problems and
praised the work of Darcy Adaman
and his team at Make Music Matter
for their efforts at knocking a chink
in the wall of
silence. “I
believe in
global
solidarity; it
goes beyond
borders and
speaks the
same
language.”
When
people work
together change can happen as
demonstrated by the community
in Point Douglas who took back
their community from violence
and drug dealers by developing a
plan together and following
through. “As people worked
together they saw the crime rates
dropped and people started to
walk around the neighbourhood
again without fear. This proves
that walls can be broken down”
Jean said.
Dr. Mukwege spoke about the
spirit of the women he works
with who do not give up and still
look forward hopefully to the
future. He highlighted a young
girl who was badly raped and
mutiliated who is on her way to
becoming a doctor and to fulfil a
dream of helping women as he is
doing. Thanks to supporters like
Darcy Adaman of Make Music
Matter and Peter Franz co-
founder of the Panzi Foundation
USA who are big supporters of
Panzi Hospital.
The Grafitti Gallery was
packed with people many of
whom youths who entertained
and showed off their art works
that Mr. Franz assisted them
with through a school program.
Famous One-liner
Always remember you’re unique, just
like everyone else.
Hon. Michaelle Jean, Dr. Denis Mukwege Prof. Peter
Franz and Darcy Adaman

16
THANK YOU WINNIPEG FOR 25
GREAT YEARS AND MORE TO COME

Gem June 2014

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