GEM (Global Eyes Magazine) summer 2017

Global Eyes Magazine Summer 2017
1
ManitobaAfrican and Caribbean Quarterly Magazine
Second
QUARTER
Summer 2017
gggggloballoballoballoballobal eeeeeyyyyyeseseseses
Angela
Davis in
Winnipeg

2
As I Began to Love Myself” by Charlie Chaplin
As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering
are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is “AUTHENTICITY”.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody
As I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time
was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this
person was me. Today I call it “RESPECT”.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life,
and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.
Today I call it “MATURITY”.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance,
I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens
at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm.
Today I call it “SELF-CONFIDENCE”.
As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time,
and I stopped designing huge projects for the future.
Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do
and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in
my own rhythm. Today I call it “SIMPLICITY”.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for
my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew
me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude
a healthy egoism. Today I know it is “LOVE OF ONESELF”.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since
I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is “MODESTY”.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry
about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING
is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it
“FULFILLMENT”.
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me
and it can make me sick. ButAs I connected it to my heart, my
mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this
connection “WISDOM OF THE HEART”.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of
problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their
crashing new worlds are born.Today I know THAT IS “LIFE”!
Reflection
Broken people or broken leaders create many problems in the world that
no one can solve except them. Broken people often do not love and accept
themselves. When they don’t they are constantly trying to prove their
worth and in doing so hurt themselves and others. This poem speaks to that.
Enjoy.
Kenya has created a strong prece-
dent inAfrica by Kenya’s Supreme
Court declaring that last month’s
Presidential election be cancelled
with a 60 day window to repeat the
process. This cancellation was
triggered by the opposition party
accusing the ruling party of election
irregularities.
One local African commented that
they are pleased to see this develop-
ment in Kenya and that Keyna is
teaching the rest of Africa new ways
of doing politics and a civilized way
of resolving conflicts.
The election commission had
declared incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta
the winner by a margin of 1.4 million
votes.
Raila Odinga, Mr Kenyatta’s
opponent, said members of the
electoral commission had committed
a monstrous crime.
President Kenyatta said it was
important to respect the rule of law.
It is amazing to see that even though
the international community has
accepted the result, Kenyatta agrees
for redoing election.It is amazing to
see that the court did not care about
the cost of redoing election in the
name of the fidelity of the
constitution.
BREAKING NEWS

3
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EYES
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Global Eyes Magazine is an independent 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.
It features articles ranging from the achievements of local,
national and international personalities and general information
that is of interest to the African/Caribbean Diaspora. It offers
editorials withAfrican/Caribbean sensibilities and letters to the
editor. The Magazine is produced under a volunteer editorial
committee that assists with proof-reading, publicity and
distribution.
Editor: Beatrice Watson
Distributed to local busi-
nesses, and in Winnipeg and
via email to individuals in
Manitoba and former
Manitobans in various parts
of the world.
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Global Eyes Magazine
671 RathgarAvenue
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1G6
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All contents are copyrighted
Whats Inside
Feature onAngela
Davis’s Visit to
Winnipeg, Health &
Wellness, Reflection,
Regulars: Letter to
my children, Global
Counsellor, Recipes,
Pictorial of Maiko &
Friends Concert,
NICCOM
Multiculturalism Day
Conference, Creative
Foundation Workshop
and More

4
Editorial -Take One
Editor: Beatrice Watson
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 RathgarAvenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L1G6
Phone: 204-477-1588
globaleyesmagazine@gmail.com
All contents are copyrighted.
OneofthethingsAngelaDavis
talked about in her presentation was
the importance of music in the Civil
RightsMovement.
She said music was very
importantinbringinghomethe
message of justice, equality and
racism inAmerican society.
There was also hope in the
lyrics, and music had a way of making
a bad situation seems better and
bearable.
Musicians and other artists
always appear to be ahead of their
timewhentheypushmusictothe
edge. Hip Hop/rap music for example
helped to bring the issues of inner-city
black andLatinoyouthstothefore.
Many people at first criticized
hiphopmusicfor beinggangstas,
vulgar and misogynistic and it was all
that but it also reflected the mood of
theyouthandsentamessageto
society.Theyhadtakenittothe
extreme and crack cocaine and
concomitant violence were part of the
mix. Whatwashappeningtoyoung
innercitychildren?Weretheyreacting
to their own situation where no one
seemed to care and the police constant
hunttofindpettydrugdealersand
lock them away for years instead of
dealingwiththeunderlyingsocial
issues of the day for young Black and
Latinoyouth?
Today Hip Hop has attained
acceptability in all areas and it is
being sung from coast to coast to coast
all over the world. It’s still a clarion
call for emerging issues but done in a
more socially acceptable manner. It’s
like now that we have your attention,
here’s what we have to say.
Duringthecivilrightsmovement,
old spirituals were turned into songs
of freedom e.g. Oh Freedom, We
shall overcome, “Ain’t Gonna Let
Nobody Turn Us Around” and other
songsthatencouragedfolkstostaythe
course and don’t give up.
They were singing and dancing
to these songs so there was this
elementoffunwhichwasimportantto
keep people uplifted as they press on
inthestruggle.
Social scientists claim that the
freedomsongssungbyactivistsonthe
frontlinesofthecivilrightsstruggle
hold an iconic place in the musical
historywithinthemovement. There
were al also other forms of popular
music which blended in to give voice
to freedom struggle, black racial
consciousness and race relations such
as - blues, gospel, folk, jazz, rhythm
and blues, rock and roll, and soul in
which both blacks and whites and
others were involved.
WhenAngela Davis was
imprisoned and there were marches to
“FreeAngela” all across the country,
YokoOnoandJohnLennonwrotea
songforthe“FreeAngela” campaign
which speaks to what was happening
inthatmomentintime.
Sister, there’s a wind that never dies
Sister,we’rebreathingtogether
Sister, our love and hopes forever keep
on moving oh so slowly in the world
They gave you sunshine
They gave you sea
They gave you everything but the
jailhousekey
They gave you coffee
They gave you tea
They gave you everything but equality
Angela, can you hear the earth is
turning?
Angela, the world watches you
Angela, you soon will be returning to
your sisters and brothers in the world
Sister,you’restillapeopleteacher
Sister, your word reaches far
They gave you sunshine
They gave you sea
They gave you everything but the
jailhousekey
They gave you coffee
They gave you tea
They gave you everything but equality
Angela, they put you in prison
Angela, they shot down your man
Angela, you’re one of the millions of
political prisoners in the world

5
LOCALAND GLOBAL BRIEFS
African
CanadianYouth
with a Broad
Vision
How can African youth
who immigrate to Manitoba
maintain their connection with their
motherlands? How do the
newcomers keep a strongAfrican
identity while also integrating into
the mainstream Canadian culture? In
July 2016 in Winnipeg in response
to these crucial questions, a group of
youth formed theAfrican Canadian
Youth.
In their first four meetings, the
African Canadian youth who hail
from various countries on the
African continent have come
together to get to know each other, to
celebrate their diverse cultures and
to discuss current social issues in
their homelands. In addition, the
youth in Canada plan to help the
young people back home by sending
them educational materials which
are so scarce there. Therefore, in
September, they are going to hold a
big discussion conference in the
University ofWinnipeg (UofWpg).
These youth, as protagonists for
change, have a vision of how they
can unite together, and assist the
young inAfrica.
All ManitobanAfrican youth
are welcome to join. For more
information about the group,
reference Facebook page and group:
African CanadianYouth or send an
email to yesiamafrican@gmail.com
IRCOM Opens new
Housing for
Refugees
Submitted by Stephanie Bloodworth
In keeping with the spirit of
reconciliation with Canada’s first
peoples, the provincial government
announced that effective immedi-
ately, in its written communications
to the media or public, they will
use the term Indigenous when
referring to First Nations, Métis
and Inuit people. This will replace
the use of the wordAboriginal,
except when the wordAboriginal
is part of a formal name or title.
Indigenous is the
Word
With great fanfare IRCOM
House opened its new social hous-
ing facility at 215 Isabel Street
which will welcome some 60
refugee families of various sizes.
Finding housing for large
families is an extra challenge
dealing with the current shortage of
housing in Winnipeg. This house
caters to lager than normal families.
Housing is one of the most
challenging settlement issues facing
new immigrant, refugees and settle-
ment agencies in Manitoba. Not all
landlords like to rent to people with
no rental history or no jobs and the
non-profit agency Immigrant and
Refugee Community Organiztion of
Manitoba (IRCOM) was established
in 1991 to focus on the housing
needs of newcomer refugee fami-
lies.
IRCOM offers a refugee
family or single individual transi-
tional housing for the first three
years at which time they have to find
their own accommodations.
As one attendee at the opening
reception said “It is very hard to
leave. It is like leaving your family
all over again. It’s the best experi-
ence I had living in IRCOM House”
she said.
The building is made up of 60
modular units that can be joined to
create up to four-bedroom suites for
large families.
It also includes an on-site
daycare, library, classrooms, access
to legal and support services,
laundry, bike storage and a high tech
bed bug heat treatment room.

6
Commentary
Paternity leave is on the rise
globally as cultural attitudes shift in
favor of fathers taking a more active
role in parenting. On May 24, 2017,
the Republic of Panama became the
latest member of a growing group of
countries that require paid paternity
leave. Law 27 of May 23, 2017,
grants three business days of paid
paternity leave from the date of
childbirth, as long as the male
employee provides his employer
with (i) at least one week of notice
of his spouse’s or cohabitant’s due
date, and (ii) a birth certificate
issued by the National Directorate
of the Civil Registry certifying him
as the father of the child. The three-
day paid leave qualifies as service
time in Panama, and the employee
may not work for any other
employer or be self-employed
during his leave.
(Source Mondaq)
Culture Changes
Fosters better
Parenting
One Nation Exchange is a Social Enterprise project supported by
SEED Winnipeg that is helping immigrant and refugee women in Winnipeg
to create meaningful work and at the same time have a social outlet where
they can meet and connect with other women. The One Nation was housed
at City Place for the month of July as a pop up business at no charge. City
Place has been offering new businesses the opportunity to promote their
business and to test the location as a viable business location for their
product.
The women at One Nation Exchange sew bags and prepare t-shirts to
be screen printed with the One Nation Emblem designed by Winnipeg
printer Karen Cornelius. The products are attractive and appear to have the
potential to do very well. The screen print is bold and makes a powerful
statement of unity. To date their products include t-shirts, tablecloths,
shoulder bags and pillow cases. You can find the bags at the Canadian
Museum for Human Rights boutique. According to the organizers,
consumer demand for these products is on the rise. Dedicated volunteers
work with the women to help with the business and organizational end of
things. One Nation Exchange (O.N.E.) is a not-for-profit organization
committed to promoting unity by creating opportunities for intercultural
experiences, training & employment for women representative of Canada’s
diverse cultures.
Two Indigenous speakers were
invited by the The Manitoba
Advisory Council on the Status of
Women to commemorate
Canada’s National Aboriginal day.
They spoke about the importan ce
of storytelling and oral history in
Indigenous communities and also
told the story of water. Bannock
and jam with tea were served.
NationalAboriginal Day
Some of the women who are part of the
project. They said they were very
happy and loved to sew.

7
I cringe each time I hear
someonespeakingaboutColonization
becausetheEuropeansbroughtterror
toeveryindigenouscommunitythey
invaded. In an effort to appease those
who are stuck in the colonial mode, I
coined the word Colonial Terrorism.
The Berlin conference of
1885 was called when European
countries were arguing over which
part ofAfrica they wouldTAKE.
WithoutaskinganyAfrican’sopinion,
theymetanddecidedwhomthey
would invade, terrorize and take,
much like they are still doing today.
Afghanistan,Iraq,Libyaandnow
Syria,allnon-white,non-European
countries, are examples.
The most proven way to
control a people is to take away their
culture.Africansbroughttothe
Caribbean and theAmericas were
culturally divided. Siblings were
separated, parents were separated
from their children and the slaves
were not allowed to speak their own
languagesnorpracticeanycultural
activity.They were fed food foreign to
their bodies, yet were expected to
Colonial Terrorism
workfromsunuptosundownevery
day.Literacymeantsurepunishment.
Those same Europeans traveled to
Canada,trickedtheindigenous
peoples into giving up their land and
forcibly removed children from their
homes.Theyputthemintoresidential
schoolswheretheytreatedexactlythe
same as theAfricans were.
A short article is not enough to
documenttheatrocitiesperpetratedby
EuropeansintheirMARCHOF
TERRORonindigenouspeople
around the world. Suffice it to say that
in each case the Europeans ended up
with the land and resources, imposed
their religion while dissenters
ended up dead.Yet we see today
thatthosegroupswhowanttoreturn
to their land and their religion are
branded as terrorists. Maybe we
should refer to them as anti-
colonizers.
In a few days Canada will
be celebrating 150 years as a nation.
Thatmeans150yearsofdomination
andoppression,muchas
America(241) will do a few days
later.Boththesecountriesalong
withFrance,ItalyGermany,TheEU
coalition, are still destroying
everythingincountriesalready
mentioned.NowtheEuropean
nations are closing their borders to
protecttheircitizensfromrefuges
whohavenothingtoprotectbutthe
dead bodies of their loved ones and
rubble created by US and EU
bombs. Colonial Terrorism never
stopped.Europeansbecamefilthy
richbyrapingandplunderingthese
nations. Now it has become such a
badhabit,theycannotstop.
Submitted by Victor Vaughan
Mariana
Cañadas sang
at the Pride
2017
celebration at
the Scotia
stage, Forks.
“It is a dream
come true
singing on the
Scotia Stage”
she said.
The Bahitizz sisters; Sylvie, Rachel, Francine and Odette
Bahati, perrformed on June 1, 2017 at the Manitoba for Human
Rights’Annual General Meeting and Open House.
Talents within the Community

8
Letter to my children
GlobalCounselor
Dear Globalcounsellor,
I am 35 year old African American
man who is engaged to an Irish-
Canadian woman. We are planning
our marriage to take place next
Spring but to be honest I am having
second thoughts. I am not a racist
and I am open to diversity but of late
the idea of having bi-racial children
is bothering me. My motivation for
even dating outside my race is to
help to bring about unity to show
people that we can find love in any
colour. It was to break down
barriers but when I see in 2017
black men in the USA are still being
lynched for being with a white
woman, I am thinking, am I willing
to sacrifice my life in this way?
Would I feel comfortable walking
with my white wife in Virginia
where I am from originally but made
Canada my home for the last 10
years. My roots are in Virginia. I
know my bi-racial children will
always find a home in the Black
community because that my people
are not fussy about race, they love
people and they love family regard-
less of how they come out. But what
about my children’s family on their
mother’s side? Will they be ac-
cepted? It seems ridiculous that I
am asking these questions in 2017
but here we are again fighting the
same old demons. I just want peace
and I don’t know how to bring these
issues up with my wife to be. I am
not a coward but I just want peace
in my home and in my life. Please
help me.
Conflicted
Dear Conflicted,
I hear you my brother but don’t take
the easy way out. In this life there
must be something you believe in so
strongly that you are willing to give
your life for it. From all you’ve
said, making a difference, bringing
people together, breaking down
barriers are strong values. The
Loving couple made it through Jim
Crow days, you can make it through
today. Love conquers everything. In
the face of hate you show love and
even if you die, you’d be dying for
something you believe in and you
will be remembered. Your life
would not have been in vain.
If you really love your Irish sweet-
heart do not let the racists rob you of
a minute of pleasure and happiness
with this woman. Go and create a
life based on love with the blessings
of your ancestoros who died so that
you can enjoy greater freedom to
choose. Goodluck on your wedding
day.
My beloved children,
Believe in your dreams.
dreams can come true and do
come true. I was thrilled to
finally meetAngela Davis who
has been one of my favourite
activists as a young woman
growing up in an obsure village.
She madeAfro cool and everyone
wanted Angela Davis’afro. She
was strong, confident, brilliant all
the qualities that I admired and
most of all she could talk in a way
that made you want to listen more
and more.
I liked the fact that in those
days she was not afraid to go
against the grain when she said
that even though she is a feminist
her primary focus was with human
rights and the prison industrial
complex in which there was and
still is an over representation of
black men. She could not see
fighting for women’s rights without
looking at the broader picture of
human rights. She refused to put one
over the other. What would be
women’s rights if black men were
still at the bottom of the barrel with
no accest to human rights? She
understood there can be no women’s
rights without addressing the
question of racism and
discrimination on the basis of skin
colour.At that time in history
women’s rights were mainly about
white women’s rights for white men
ruled the roost then as they do now.
“Liberation is a dialectical
movement – the black man cannot
free himself as a black man unless
black women can liberate herself.
Black women’s liberation is
inseparable from the liberation of
the male. Women’s liberation in the
revolution is inseparable from the
liberation of the male.
“As a black woman, my
politics and my political affiliation
are bound up with and flow from
participaptiion in my people’s
struggle for liberation and with
fight of oppressed people all over
the world against American
imperialism.
Davis was clear and articulate
and she stuck to her passion even
now some 40 years later. She still
calls for abolishment of the prison
system one of the most racist
systemic bastion of institutional
racism

9
IS THE GRASS THAT
GREENER IN WINNIPEG?
Spring is there while summer tiptoes
around the corner. My room
temperature switched, back and
forth, from the heater to the air
conditioner. Winnipeg’s weather is
so intriguing. That explains the cold
I caught last month. Microbes,
viruses and allergies fought hard to
keep me in bed, but I won! Spring is
my favourite season because I am
not chased by hungry mosquitoes.
No kidding, I was stung in May but
let’s pretend, it never happened.
Okay?Anyway, compared to the
ones in Paris (France), I noticed that
Winnipeg’s grass looks greener. My
neighbours’ grass exhibits a green
that seems too intense or artificial.
Don’t get me wrong, the colour’s
brightness is breathtaking. The
greenest grass I’ve ever seen is,
here, in Winnipeg! That really got
my attention. Or is it a contrast with
the winter scenery? I mean dwelling
among slippery, melted, snowy and
dirty sidewalk… you name it.
In Paris, the grass was just green.
When I looked around everything
was sad, hopeless and lifeless.
Circumstances were tough. So I
made-up mind to look for a greener
grass. In 2011, I packed up my bags
for a better life in Canada. But the
reality hit me. Life won’t be easy in
Slurpee-city as a foreign worker.
And then moodiness, unhappiness
and depression became my allies. It
was silly to walk around with my
winter clothing from France –
equivalent to Canada’s fall clothes.
Once again spring kicked winter to
the kerb. I love spring because it
resets the temperature to give us a
break like a recovery period; a new
beginning that gives new strengths
and hope. There are challenges
everywhere, but I keep dreaming
big. And I just decided to stay
positive no matter what. I praise the
Lord for giving me a job and a good
health. I came to Canada to better
my future. God allowed tough times
to happen in my life to draw me
closer to Him. I grew stronger in my
spiritual journey and it was worth it.
Is the grass that greener in
Winnipeg? The answer is yes
because I learned to water mine. J
Bénédicte Brou
Follow me on Tweeter at https://
twitter.com/BenebrouCa and
benebralive.blog.spot.ca
“The announced function of the
police – to protect and to serve the
people – becomes the grotesque
caricature of protecting the interests
of the people.”
I studied her works during my
university days in the Women’s
Studies program and wrote one of
my major papers on her work and
vision of feministm. Reading
Angela Davis I changed my focus
from rah rah feminism to a more
global approach the liberation of a
people.
Meeting her in person is
definitely one of the highlights of my
life . Even though I admired her so
much I was satisfied with being
connected to her through her books.
It was never my dream because I
never thought it was possible but
what if I had this dream?
Letter ...continued from p11
Beatrice andAngela
Congratulations to RachelAlao,
pastor and former Settlement Coun-
sellor at Immigrant Centre who
recently had a book launch for her
first book `The Spirit of Empower-
ment`.

10
If someone had told me that,
Winnipeg would host the Olympic
Games; I would have said: “Nah!
Not even in your dreams! Go get
lost!” Boy, how I was wrong! The
Summer Games 2017 will take
place in Winnipeg. I couldn’t
believe it! What a good surprise.
There is finally hope in Winnipeg!
Just kidding! I know that you just
frown… got you!Anyway, I live in
Winnipeg for more than 5 years
now, and I noticed some changes.
There are many new events and new
activities.
That is good news because I get
bored easily, so I crave for novelty.
For instance, I have been to
Folklorama and to the ‘Festival du
Voyageur’twice in 4 years. Why?
Because I already know the
outcome. I need to be surprised. But,
the upcoming Summer Games are
very appealing. They are not
Winnipeg’s seasonal events. I
cherish new concepts; I am anti-
routine. I can’t help it.
Here is a heads up: these games
will display 16 different sports. And
several artists and the past
Olympics will entertain us. Isn’t it a
nice way to spend time with your
family and friends? I see Winnipeg
as a family-centered city.And I
admire the time that people set apart
to enjoy activities with their family.
For ‘carless’ fellows like me,
the carpool or taxi might help. I
assume that the cabs would be very
busy. And the traffics would be
inevitable especially during rush
hour. I know that the bus transit
really sucks in the evening. The
tourists may come from all across
the globe. The hotels will be
overbooked. That would boost the
city’s finances, I guess. That also
reminds me that we should be aware
about sex trafficking that might
occur during the events. Let’s be on
guard, folks.
The tickets are available online
at www.2017canadagames.ca. The
price goes from $5 for children up
to $200, the latter if you plan to
attend various venues on different
dates and time. The Games are from
July 28th
toAugust 13th
. Enjoy your
summer in Winnipeg! Such a dream
comes true.
Bénédicte Brou
Follow me on my blog at http://
benebralive.blogspot.ca/ and on
Twitter https://twitter.com/
BenebrouCa
Winnipeg SummerGames 2017
In this book, 36 overcomers
(included Delia Joseph, Life Coach
in Winnipeg) share their testimony
of pain, setbacks, fear, illnesses,
drugs and alcohol addictions. They
all went through hell, but they made
it. Today they live in victory.
Moreover, as successful coaches,
they dedicate their lives to help
other. They give hope. This book
shows that nothing is impossible to
resilient people. The 36 writers
never looked back with regret. They
just keep going. Furthermore, they
make our world a better place to
live. This book is so inspiring that I
recommend to everyone.
GEM joins in congratulating
Delia (Veronica) Joseph for
this great accomplishment.
We wish her continued
success in her coaching and
writing in service to other.
A New Book for your
Bookshelf or Kindle
Submitted by Bénédicte Brou
Owner and founder of
Improveology Coaching

11
Community inAction
This annual food and cultural
fare by the St. Vincent and the
Grenadines community has always
attracted a multicultural crowd
partly because their food and
entertainment are tops.
You get to eat your belly full in
Caribbean parlance. And there is
always goodies to buy and take
home for the rest of the week -
sugar cake, sweet bread, coconut
drops and other Caribbean de-
lights.
This community has added a
popular addition to their entertain-
ment and that is Caribbean style
auction. This is the game that you
pay to bid. It is a great fun-Raiser
especially with someone like John
Jack as the auctioneer. He had the
crowd going wild and spending
big dollars.
Bajan Night
It’s when the Barbadian commu-
nity get to show off their food
specialities such as coo-coo and
salfish, flying fish, cassava pone and
their version of the famous Carib-
bean coconut drops.
The organization announced a new
post secondary scholarship that
would help asutdents with their
financial expenses.
2ndAnnual Torch of
Dignity Relay
Ah We Kind a Food
Afew hundreds of Winnipeg
people participated in the Manitobans
for Human Rights MHRI) 2nd Annual
Torch of Dignity Relay,Agusut 7,
2017 from the Kildonan Park to to the
Oodena Celebration Circle at the
historic Forks site. The Bear Clan
Patrol and the Winnipeg Police were
honorary marshals for the route.
It was a beautiful sunny day
perfectfor a relay. Elder Louise Mae
Campbell blessed the event with an
opening prayer followed by a Treaty 1
Welcome by Chief Jim Bear of
Brokenhead First Nation. Former
Winnipeg CEO David Northcott gave
the keynote address.
Speakers included Rajat Iyal the
refugee who lost his fingers to frost-
bite. He could not thank Canada and
thepeopleofWinnipegenoughfor
acceptinghimas arefugeeandfor
offeringhimtheirkindness.
He said all he wantedd to do know
wastogivebacktothecommunity.
Other speakers was a former
homeless man who spoke about the
poor treatment he received from the
hospital . Today he is giving back to
the community trying to help those
less fortunate than himself,
Valerie Thompson, president of
MHRI said she was encouraged by the
number of people who showed up and
vows to continue working towards
makingWinnipeg a Human Rights
City.
Antoinette Zloty, Board member,
Barbados Assoc.

12
What do you do when you come
face to face with an iconic figure
like Angela Davis? You give her
multiple standing ovations for just
showing up, you scream and shower
her with loving adoration and
appreciation. That was how the
room felt on Sunday May 6, 2017
whenAngela Davis graced the stage
at Knox United Church to address
the assigned topic - Race,
Resistance and Revolution:
Freedom is a Constant Struggle.” .
The sold out event organized
by the Centre forAlternative Policy
Initiatives, Black Space and Queer
People of Colour was packed with
those who grew up withAngela’s
larger than life figure in the Black
Power Movement during the heady
days of the Sixties in the United
States ofAmerica and the younger
generation of feminists and activists
who were introduced to her through
her books and university courses.
There was a healthy mix of
Traditionalist, Boomers and
Zoomers, Genx, Millennial and
everyone in between.
What is the attraction of
this phenomenal woman, that
everywhere she goes she is greeted
like a modern day guru of social
activism, her words are carefully
digested and in the midst of
hundreds of people you can almost
hear a pin drop in the hush silence
her voice commands and yet she is
not a strident speaker but soft and
playful at times.
Her life reads like an action
movie that keeps you on the edge
of your seat. She is a woman who
escaped the death chamber, a
woman who was jailed for 18
months, who faced the demon of
American racism, a woman who
was stripped of her citizenship of
the USA and found refuge in Cuba,
she ran for Vice President of the
USAon the Community PartyTicket
and she spoke her truth wherever
she could.
A former leader of the
Communist Party USA (CPUSA),
civil rights activist and academic,
Angela Davis has dedicated her life
to freedom fighting. She has been
described as “the most recognisable
face of the left in the US.”She has
been associated with revolutionary
movements such as the Black
Panther Party in the 1960s. She also
co-founded Critical Resistance —
an organisation which exists to
counter the US’s prison system. Who
would not want to hear such a
woman speak her truth?
Davis acknowledged being on
Treaty land and the home of the
Angela Davis in Winnipeg
Left to right: Molly McCracken (CCPA) , Adeline Bird, Alexa
Potashnik, Kemlin Nembhard, Krishna Lalbiharie, Uzoma
Asagwara, foreground sitting: Angela Davis

13
Métis Nation. As she spoke it
seemedlikeeveryonehungonevery
word for pearls of wisdom to drop.
“Sometimeswecannot
distinguishbetweenfreedomand
unfreedom”Shesaid.“The
problematiccharacterofthenotionof
freedomthatcanbetalkedaboutin
theUSAconstitutionwhichstates“all
men are created equal” means these
men have access to rights and
liberties. The US claims it is the first
democracy. The hardness of these
notions has to be pulled apart. What
menweretheytalkingabout?Wefail
to grasp the elitist character of
democracy as it is offered to us.
Davis says she is excited that we
finallyseemtoberecognizingwhy
issues of racism is so central to the
USandCanada.
“Colonizationprovidesthe
grounduponwhichthesecountries
were developed. Consider this
regionandwerecognizetheextentto
whichoppressionofindigenous
populationsandtheenslavementof
Blacks provided the bedrock of these
societies.”
“Why is it so hard to recognize
the Haitian revolution? They were
forcedtopaytheFrenchgovernment
what amounted to some #34 billion
dollars. The Issue of race appears
to be the property of the victims.
All of us in this region have
to grapple with it. Our future
dependsonourunderstandingof
it.”
Slavery in the US was
abolishedwithoutabolishing
slavery. Today we are still
grapplingwiththeafterlifeof
slavery, she said.
How do we develop
consciousness? How do we
become aware? How is racism
transformedincontemporary
world? Movements such as the
Black Lives Matter have a
philosophical relevance, they help
us to realize the moral damage
racism has caused.
“Everythingshouldbesubject
toquestions.Weneedtoquestion
the questions, that is critical
thinking–weneedtoengageinthe
critical process of questioning”
However, the media and other
systemswanttonormalizeracism
and other oppressions. We have to
hold on to that sense of disbelief,
Davisencouraged.
Davis had a lot of positive
thingstosayaboutmusicandits
centralitytomovementsoverthe
years. She said music was one of
themajordrivesagainstthemovement
against racism and it was central to the
developmentofrevolutionarymovement.
She said musicians seem to have a gift of
makingcomplicatedideassimpleand
understandablethroughtheirmusicand
lyrics.
She said that focussing on how to
articulatethenatureandstructural
characterofracism,unlearningracism
workshopsandadmonishingwhiteswhen
they use the wrong words are small
actionsbutthemoreimportthingisabout
the structures that persists that enable
racism to exist. “Racism has not declined
because Blacks and Latinos are more
visible. We do not look for racism in the
individual but the ways in which our ways
ofknowingshift.”
She said Obama was elected
becauseofamovement.Theyoungpeople
refused to believe that it was impossible
for a black man in our post racial era to
be elected President “One Black man in
the White House but millions of black
menintheBigHouse” addingthatthere
are more black men in prison today than
were enslaved in the 18th
century.
She called attention to the history
ofimprisonmentintheUSAandthe
connection with rehabilitation. Prisons
continued on p21
Angela Davis with the staff of CCPA staff -
Molly McCracken, Karen Schlichting and
Lynne Fernandez
Elder Albert McCleod opened with a blessing.
Calvin Joseph was the official photographer
for the Angela Davis Event. Thanks to
CCPOA for sharing it with GEM

14
Creative Foundation of Manitoba Stimulates Student Creativity in In-
teractiveWorkshops
The Creative Foundation of
Manitoba, Inc. delivered a highly
interactive and stimulating work-
shop for elementary school children
inWinnipeg.
More than 100 grades 5, 6 and 10
school children converged at the
Holiday Inn South Venue for a day
of creative and interactive activities
including, music, moving cartoon,
visual art, poetry and human rights
presentations.
In each of the workshops, the
students were fully engaged. They
were as sharp as nails, bright as
stars and brave as David in their
eagerness and enthusiasm and
willingness to take risks.
Hon. Rochelle Squires brought
greetings on behalf of the provin-
cial government. She encouraged
the children to see themselves as
artists even though they may not
have artworks hanging in a gallery.
She told them they are all artists and
to have fun with it.
Presenters included, Yisa
Akinbolaji, CatherineAkinbolaji,
Dr. Sunday Olujoku, President of
Creative Foundation and writer, and
Beatrice Watson, Manitoba Human
Rights Commission staff.
To all account the day went by
very quickly, the children enjoyed
their pizza and salad lunch and each
got a gift i.e. the artwork they
produced - to take to their mothers
for Mother’s day, which was the
Sunday following the workshop.
They each prepared a piece of art
work using Yisa’s patented tech-
nique remoglue that sparkled with
colour.
The teachers gave the confer-
ence their thumbs up.
Kamta Roy Singh shares his wit and wisdom with the
Nigerian Professionals of Manitoba
Kamta Roy Singh originally from Guyana, SouthAmerica ,was recently
invited as the guest speaker at the Nigerian Professionals of Manitoba
Information session where he shared his struggles and victories as an
immigrant. He spoke about arriving in Canada with about $27 dollars in his
pocket to being the proud owner of several Tim Hortons Franchise today.
Students showing off their
painting s; Group photo of
speakers/facilitators
Yisa Akinbolaji demon-
strating remoglue tech-
nique and student follows

15
Maiko Watson
and friends
at the
Dalnavert
Museum
performed to a
sold out
supportive fan
base.
Maiko Watson Wows Hometown Fans
Maiko and her favourite grade 2
teacher Joan Lloyd
Heather Gaskin a customer of Maiko’s
hair braiding business days
New fans
Lisa Hacket and Mavis McClaren fierce
comunity supporters
Ms Atwell and Maiko’s first vocal coach
student
Cliff, Michael and Keith from the Baha’i
community
Maiko delivers a donation to Helen &
Randi of Match International
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you thank you to all who came out. Itt was one of the best concerts I’ve had.
Love, love love. Maiko Watson.

16
Tasha Spillett, a Cree and
Trinidadian woman from Manitoba,
will use feminist and race theory to
look at the impact of Indigenous
land-based education on the well-
being of Indigenous girls in urban
areas. Land-based education
reconnects Indigenous peoples with
the land and the social relations,
knowledge and languages of the
land.
Through interviews with Elders and
Indigenous teenage girls who
participate in land-based education
initiatives in urban areas, Spillett
aims to identify best ways of
connecting Indigenous girls with
land-based knowledge and
determine how that knowledge can
be an effective response to systemic
violence.
“I believe it’s my responsibility to
serve my community,” said Spillett,
who is supervised by Alex Wilson,
educational foundations professor
and director of the U of S
Aboriginal Research Education
Centre. “Having the support of the
Vanier allows me to not only focus
on my research, but also to remain
an active member of my community
while engaged in my studies.”
Ahmed Tiamiyu, a mechanical
engineering student from Nigeria,
will study a special type of stainless
steel which could be used for high
temperature and load-bearing
applications. His goal is to improve
the strength and wear resistance of
this material for possible
applications in the design of nuclear
and chemical reactors in Canada,
thereby improving safety.
“The Vanier scholarship offers me a
unique opportunity to achieve my
career goal of advancing technology
through the development of new and
improved engineering materials,”
said Tiamiyu, who is supervised by
mechanical engineering professor
Akindele Odeshi and Jerzy Szpunar,
Canada Research Chair in
Advanced Materials for Clean
Energy.
InterimTreaty
Commissioner
Loretta Ross
Congratulations to Loretta
Ross, Winnipeg lawyer who was
recently appointed as interim Treaty
Commissioner for the Treaty Rela-
tions Commission of Manitoba.
Ms Ross in additjon to being
a promiinent lawyer is a member of
the Board of Commissioners at the
Manitoba Human Rights
Commision, and a Board member of
Manitoba Wise - an equality rights
seeking organization.
On July 29, 2017 The Treaty
Commission held an open house to
introduce the new Commission to
the community in a relaxed informal
manner.
Ross is slated to be guest
speaker at the Wise Breakfast in
October this year, celebrating
Women’s Equality Rights in
Manitoba.
Celebrating Excellence in
Academia - Two Bright Stars
It is by education that we become
prepared for our duties and
responsibilities in life. . If one is
badly educated he must naturally
fail in the proper assumption and
practice of his duties and
responsibilities. Marcus Garvey

17
Creative Expressions
I saw first that things were ugly
And most of all ugly was I
That’s when you hinted at beauty
A beauty too great for my eye.
You told me of a garden free
For those who live their life for you
I said that’s not the path for me
‘Cause it was meant for others too.
I thought I was still approaching
As I began to walk away
But the dark was soon encroaching
And all night came over my day.
I can‘t remember how I talked
For I slept in a dreamer‘s bed
I can‘t describe the land I walked
For I was blind and deaf and dead
Then a man bearded withy birdsong
With the loveliest perfumed eyes
Happened along my way along
His proud journey among the skies
I said, you‘ve been to this garden
He said won‘t you come too
The journey will be a hard one
Just a leap of the heart will do
I leapt and still haven‘t landed
The direction I ‘m in is up
I can see and hear one-handed
In my other hand there‘s a cup.
And all the birds and bees are drawn
To take drink from its flowing lip
They come to see me at the dawn
And go home on their midnight trip.
My words fail so in this beauty
I‘m shamed how much failure shows
Still I’m drawn by love and duty
To offer you this song my rose.
John Dunn, Winnipeg Poet¸
Playwright. Now lives in China where
he teaches English but visits ‘home‘
To visit daughter Laila and his
beautiful grandchildren living in
Dauphin Manitoba
NATURALLY
You laugh
Call me ‘redundant’
How many times have I drawn
The same substance
’As many times as a man
Needs to breathe...’
Be it a recipe for a barbeque
Or new method for the abdomens
Or a better way to wear my pants
I would continue to pretend...
AROUND
You’d rather split profit
Than to share a secret
Somehow, I thought it
The other way...
Sure we had something
Not much for promoting
But kept a smile glowing
The other way...
Reflections of Life
We take for granted what we see
Through the eyes of mortality
We touch the wood and think it’s
real
Think this is the real deal
We don’t know this isn’t so
We don’t know it’s all too shallow
What we see and what we feel
Things we’re offered as a meal
Are creations of our imaginations?
Abstractions of our contemplations
We see a man he is black
We run clackety clack
He is a killer and a robber
A jive talking slobber
What if we live in the moment?
What if we suspend judgment?
What if we open our hearts and
mind?
And see what we can find
It might surprise us what lives in
that dust
we may find gems of kindness
instead of disgust
What if we just let go of the ego
What if we just let our feelings
flow?
What if we let it take us to that
space?
That space of pure grace.(BAW) (c)
Optics
I was thinking
how the design of a spider;s web
might seduce
The compound eye
of a fly
when your breasts
Called my attention
From a distance.
JohnDunn
Neil Pitamber
CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts and prayers go out to
all those who have departed this
world and the families and loved
ones they left behind. May these
souls RIP
We celebrate with those who are
marking anniversaries, birthdays,
births. May your lives be blessed
and enriched by these significant
events.
Special condolences to the Atwell
family who have lost their father
GeorgeAtwell and to the family of
Joan Joseph. We grieve with you and
pray for your strength to carry on.

18
HEALTHWISE Recipes
CHEAT PIEROGIES
2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and
halved
½ cup mayonnaise
1 cup sharp old cheddar, grated
salt and pepper (to taste)
Sauerkraut filling:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp butter
1 yellow onion, diced (or 2 yellow
onions, caramelized)
2 cups sauerkraut, rinsed and
drained
salt and pepper (to taste)
Assembly:
1 package egg roll wrappers
vegetable oil (for frying)
butter (for frying)
water (for sealing)
Garnish options:
sour cream
fried onion slices
cubed smoked bacon, fried
minced chives
paprika
Preparation
Potato and cheese filling
Add potatoes to a pot of cold
salted water. Bring water to a boil
and cook until potatoes are tender,
about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes
and mash with butter. Fold in
cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Sauerkraut filling
Sautee onions in oil and butter until
softened and lightly browned.Add
drained sauerkraut to pan, sautee
for 5 minutes, season with salt and
pepper. Set aside to cool slightly.
If making caramelized onion
option, caramelize onions, then add
sauerkraut to pan, season with salt
and pepper, sautee for an
additional 5 minutes.
Assembly
Place about 1 heaping tbsp of filling
into centre of wonton wrapper. Use
fingers to wet perimeter of wonton.
Fold wonton in half and seal edges,
making sure to push all air out of
filling. Continue until all wontons
are stuffed.
Blanch to pierogies in salted boiling
water for 2-3 minutes, until wrapper
is translucent. If working in batches,
place blanched perogies on an oiled
plate, separating layers with
parchment paper as they will stick
together.
Heat a non-stick pan to medium
heat, and add a splash of oil. Fry
pierogies until golden brown on
both sides. Continue until all
pierogies are cooked, add more oil
as needed.
Top with sour cream, fried onion
slices, fried bacon cubes, chives
and paprika I’m not betting on it.
Ingredients
1. 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
2. 1 tbsp dry yeast
3. 1 ¼ cup plus 1 tbsp warm
water at 110 degrees
4. ¼ cup melted butter
5. 1 tsp salt
6. ¼ cup sugar
7. 1 egg yolk + 1 tsp water
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375
degrees.
2. In a large bowl place warm
water and sugar, then sprinkle yeast
on to water and let sit for 10 minutes
to allow the yeast to proof.
3. Add flour, melted butter and
salt in the mixture with the yeast and
mix to form a dough. The dough will
be sticky.Add just enough flour
(about 2 tablespoon) and knead for
5 to 10 minutes.Astand up mixer
with the dough hook attachment
would be an excellent alternative to
hand kneading the dough.
4. Cover bowl with a clothe then
set in a warm place and allow to
rise for 45 minutes.
5. After 45 minutes, remove the
dough from the bowl and place on a
lightly floured surface. Knead for 2
minutes to form a smooth ball, this
shouldn’t take long. Next cut the
dough into 3 even pieces then roll
each piece into equal logs about 14
inches.
6. Braid the 3 logs to form the
loaf. Make sure both ends are secure
by pressing them together firmly
then tucking under.
7. Let rise for 45 minutes in a
warm place. On the cooktop of the
preheated oven would be perfect.
8. In a small bowl mix egg yolk
and water with a fork then brush on
the top of the bread. This will create
a golden brown crust.
9. Place in preheated oven and
bake for 30 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and allow
to cool, then place in a bag and seal.
GUYANESE
SAVOURYPLAIT
BREAD
Jehan Peters recipe

19
If you are looking for good
health, have tried a lot of diet
protocols and health regimes but
still not quite where you want to be
you may want to up your game and
give Dr. Sebi’s nutritional formula
for better health a chance.
He is theAfrican Honduran
herbalist and holistic healer taught
by a Mexican herbalist and his
grandmother . Through diligent
research Dr. Sebi developed a diet
and herbal regime which have been
used to cure diseases that still
baffle traditional medicine e.g.
AIDS, diabetes, sickle cell,
Arthritis, stroke etc. He was
charged by the US government of
fraud (making false claim) and won
his case by producing more than 80
patients who came forward to tell
their stories of healing.
One of Sebi’s claims to fame
is his belief that rendering the body
into an “alkaline state” makes it
impossible for disease and
ailments to exist. Dr. Sebi also
created vegetable cell compounds
in order to fortify the body. He also
claimed to have a cure for AIDS
and cancer along with a long list of
other related cures.
To put your body in an alkaline
state Dr. Sebi recommends certain
foods to avoid in particular animal
products, dairy products, wheat,
sugar, GMO and hybrid foods
which create mucus and damage
to the mucus membranes. He
recommends natural spiring water
for its significant mineral content.
You do not have to follow his
recommendation to the letter but if
you are suffering from some kind
of chronic disease, isn’t it worth a
try, to enjoy better health?
Dr. Sebi died under tragic
circumstances in a jail in
Honduras for having on his person
$20,000 in cash. He was accused
of money laundering. If you look
at his videos and writings from
more than 10 years ago, Dr. Sebi
apparently loved to walk with real
money and not depend on banks
etc. There are people who are like
that. What is wrong with having
real money? Why that was a
crime? His case is still being
investigated and the people closed
wot him feel certain that Dr. Sebi’s
name will be cleared. Dr. Sebi
atreated many celebrities as well
including Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez,
Eddy Murphy, John Travolta,
Steven Segal among others.
Alkaline foods include ;
kale, romaine lettuce, tomatillo,
grape tomatoes, seeded grapes,
seeded watermelon, teff grain,
spelt flour, spelt bread, rye
bread, seeded water melon;
The Alkaline Way to Better Health
Oh man, I’m
up to hey wid dis
racism crap all ova de place especially
in Winnipeg. Dis is the home of
Folklorama biggest cultural festival in
NartAmerica, we like Chinese food,
jerk chicken and curry chicken, we are
marrying each odda den what is de
problem? Ah met a guy from India de
adda day talking bout how he’s being
treated soh bad because ah he race an
ting. Ah seh bouy wheh yuh come
from nah gat racism? He seh na man.
Ah seh what about de Dalit people. He
seh oh, they are simple people
uneducated and people help dem out by
givin dem odd jobs here and dere. Ah
seh dat is discrimination, yuh keeping
dese people down an not giving dem a
chance. Ah ask him how he tink de
must feel and he seh dey happy doing
odd jobs, dat is dere job and no body
compete wid dem. Dey work get pay
an feed dey family. Ah seh well de
white people tink we are good doing
odd jobs in Canada too, how about
dat? Is like me Rasta friend Danny
shooting off he mout and mekking fun
of two guys holding hands. He seh dat
people like dem need to be put in jail
and dun way wid. Ah seh rememba de
time when black people used to be put
away… nah whipped and lynched fuh
less dan dat. Ah seh we kiant want
rights fuh weself and not give it to
odda people. Dat is wrong.
Everybady gat rights jus fuh being
human. If we don’t see dat promoting
discrimination based on race, sex,
religion etc. is like shooting weself on
we foot. We black and brown folks are
nat out a de racism woods. We still face
bad discrimination. If anything we
should be at de front promoting civil
rights fuh everyone. Man I kiant
unadastan people. I mine me own
bisness. Once people don’t get up in
me bisness I’m okay. It’s live an let
live. Ketch yuh nex time.
GaffinWid
Buddy

20
The Nigerian Canadian Con-
gress Organization of Manitoba
(NICCOM) celebrated Manitoba’s
Multiculturalism Day with a confer-
ence themed “Engendering
Multicultural Harmony : Grasping
the nuts and bolts for Progress, that
featured various speakers from the
multicultural community whose
topics expanded understanding of
diversity and multiculturalism in
Manitoba.
Held on June 23, 2017, at
the Winnipeg Technical Institute ,
Pembina Highway, the speakers
included Dr. Lori Wilkinson Profes-
sor at University of Manitoba, Yisa
Akinbolaji, Helen Wang, Won Jae
Song, MLAWaab Kinew. Guest
speaker was Ms Deborah Handziuk
head of the Winnipeg Technical
Institute. Minister Rochelle Squires
brought greetings on behalf of the
provincial government and Council-
lor Janice Lukes, brought greetings
on behalf of the City of Winnipeg.
Dr. Sunday, Olukoju, NICCOM
president warmly welcomed the
guests and promised participants a
day of great multicultural intellec-
tual feast.
Dr. Lori Wilkinson’s power-
point presentation captured the
growing diversity in Manitoba , and
new cultural groups settling in
Manitoba over the last few years.
Helen Wang , Editor of Chi-
nese Tribune, & President of
Manitoba Chinese Family Centreand
Won Jae Song, Publisher of Diver-
sity Times and Korean Times
Newspapers, spoke about the
challenges and opportunities of
multiculturalism at the grass roots
level e.g. language barriers and
adapting to a new culture.
Multiculticultural Diversity on the upswing in
Manitoba
Middle: Won Jae Song,
Bottom: Selina Bieber,
Conference emcee,
Kenny Daodu, Public
Relations Officer,
NICCOM and Judith
Hayes, Executive Direc-
tor, Manitoba Start
Yisa Akinbolaji, Tehani Jainaire, Director,
Multiculturalism Secretariat, Dr.Lois
Stewart-Archer, CBW past president & a
community member
Top:(Member of the
Chinese community
Minister Rochelle
Squires, Helen Wang and
Janice Lukes ,

21
were supposed to be a more humane
alternative because it was retained
in the Slave Law. “Slavery
provided a model for punishment
that persists in the aftermath. It was
not just about a Southern form of
punishment. Under the new
capitalism two million people were
incarcerated.”
Global capitalism destroyed
dreams for black people, Davis
asserts, as factories shut down and
moved across the water. As
capitalism sought cheaper labour
and tried to escape unions, they
moved and people began moving
across the borders like the
corporations move and when that
happened they were called illegal.
“No human being is ever illegal.”
Davis said we have to make the
global connection. Black Lives
Matter reverberated all over the
world. Islamophobia plays into the
racism of today.
“We need to use the tools of
feminism to deal with racism and
not glass ceiling feminism. Talking
about glass ceiling reminds people
that she is already way up there but
feminism for those women whom the
floor is threatening to collapse.”
She said Queer black women
understand that trajectory in the
construction and reproduction of
gender, and how we have been
oppressed by the binary system of
gender – a gendering apparatus.
Davis has so much knowledge
and so much to share that during the
Question andAnswer session her
answers became mini talks. To the
question, how do we teach towards
solidarity and the steps to a stronger
movement? She responded to take
small steps, do what you are
interested in, and find a way to
connect that passion with radical
movement. Do what you can.
She was asked about the
connection between the Black and
Indigenous struggles. Davis said
when slaves were freed they were
promised 40 acres of land and a
mule. “I want my 40 acres. Whose
land is that?”
How to talk about privilege
with the privileged? She said it is
really important that we all become
aware of our own particular
privileges. “I prefer to talk about
White supremacy.”
In her concluding remarks she
said that we have made little
progress in purging our collective
psyche of racism. Prison has been
a powerful institution. We put
people away where we can be safe.
We incarcerate the problem and
don’t deal with it because it is too
hard.
Mindfulness and social justice
have a connection. How can we use
mindfulnesstocreatecommunity,
how can we bring our whole selves
to the table and be supported. How
can we create a movement where
people know how to share their pain
without judgement. “I am bearing
witness for those who did not make it
this far. We have to take care of our
sadness and our spirit and learn to be
together.And we need to develop a
repertoire of response to deal with
racism and microaggresions..”
Davis encouraged the young
people to build coalitions with
white people. Its not about
alienating people but creating a
movement that would help to
transform our society that will
benefit everyone. In the end it is
peace, justice and equality we all
want.
Davis left her audience with a
lot of food for thought and hunger
for more. After the formal
presentation there was a reception
where she was surrounded and
patiently spoke and took pictures
Molly McCraken, Ex Dir of Cana-
dian Centre for Policy Alternatives
welcome address, and Uzo
Asagwara emcee
Angela Davis contyinued from p 13
with those who were there.
Thanks to three incredibly
strong women who were the movers
and shakers behind this historic
moment – Molly McCraken, Centre
for PolicyAlternatives, Uzoma
Asagwara, Queer People of Colour
andAlexa Potashnik, Black Space.
Beatrice Watson

22
It was a night of celebration and
appreciation to five outstanding
women in the community who were
recognized for their contributions to
making Manitoba batter.
Sandra Kloss, Council of
Women of Winnipeg, Barbara
Nielsen, ConsumersAssociation of
Canada, Barbara Toews, Provincial
Council of Women of Manitoba and
Helen Whetter of MATCH
International, Manitoba Region who
received the Women Helping
WomenAward - and Humaira
Jaleel, leader of Islamic Circle of
NorthAmerica, winner of the Not
Afraid to get your hands dirty”
Award. She is a professional
Muslim woman who wants to
demonstrate it is possible to be both
strong, empowered women and
women of faith.All these women
have volunteered tremendous
amount of time towards community
building work.
An annual event organized by
the Provincial Council of Women of
Manitoba Inc., (PCWM) Alexandra
Shkandri, President, said that since
PCWM’s inception in 1949, this
organization has had the privilege of
counting many exceptional women
amongst our members and
“tonight’s honorees carry on that
legacy and were selected by their
peers for their outstanding
contribution to Manitoba.” The Not
Afraid to get Your Hands Dirty
award was established in 2013 by
UNPAC (United Nations Platform
forAction Committee) of Manitoba
to honour the long time service of
their Executive Director, Jennifer
DeGroot. The award is intended
for a Manitoba woman/girl who
recently demonstrated a creative
activist response to an identified
injustice, in an attempt to bring
about social or political change for
women. Humaira did just that when
preparing for an activist event in
Winnipeg and realized the morning
of event that there was not going to
be a stage. When you are going to
have an event with speakers one
needed a stage she thought and,
woke her husband up and had him
take their bed apart and also had a
friend do the same, they took the
bed frames got some plywood and
hastily put together the stage for
speakers.
Soroptimist organization
received the Federate Honouree
award for their consistent financial
support to women and girls achieve
their dreams through scholarships,
both locally and abroad. Their
most recent project is Dream it be
CelebratingWomen Gala Event
l-r:Humaira Jaleel, Sandra Kloss, Helen Whetters, Barbara Toews, Barbara Nielsen
it - a mentoring program for young
women.
Each year they give out the Live
your Dream bursaries for women
returning to school to improve their
families, economic situations, they
also make and distribute comfort
pillows to women who have under
gone breast surgery and help women
and girls in other areas as well.
The evening was filled with
chatter, laughter, food, silent auction
and networking opportunities.
Alexandra
Shkandri,
President,
PCWM.
Members of Soroptimist Group

23
Thanks to Hope McIntyre,
Artistic Director of Sarasvati
Theatre for giving me this
opportunity to share my
thoughts on the importance of
hearing immigrant and refugee
stories.
Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie brilliantly asserts in
her essay the danger of a single
story”, how what people read,
hear about, or watch on TV
can influencetheir view of
foreignersthe idea that a story
has more than one side. We are
not one-dimensional beings.
We are complex and so are
our stories.
There are many
preconceived ideas about
immigrants and refugees and if you
only listen to what the media have
to say you may not get the entire
story. When we hear stories of
immigrant and refugees especially
in their own voices we get a
personal angle, they tell a
perpetual human tale of the search
for peace and a better life for their
children, they speak about the
difficulties of living in a state of
constant war, the journeys they
make on foot, through snake and
lion infested habitats to get to
safety. The safety that we all crave
as human being. When we hear
their stories we begin to
understand that they are human
beings just like us, with needs just
like us, and that given the chance
may have chosen to remain in their
countries and build a life among
family and friends, connections
which are lost when they are
forced to run for their lives and
scatter abroad. These immigrant
and refugees stories help to bridge
the divide between those of us who
have lived her longer and the
newcomers, by fostering deeper
understanding.
Hearing their stories may shift
our position from judgement to
curiosity and human compassion.
You will hear them speak of not
coming here to take our jobs but to
give as much as they can in
gratitude for being welcomed here.
You hear stories from all
perspectives: teenagers, older and
younger adults of how hopeless it
feels living in refugee camps and
because they do not want to be a
burden on people are willing to do
the grunge work Canadians do not
readily take, like cleaning toilets,
working in factories and other
minimum wage jobs, that in order
to make ends meet everybody has
to work. It helps us to understand
that people do not come here to be
on welfare, though it is
appreciated. They want to work
and take care of their families.
Learning about immigrant and
refugee stories through theatre is
both entertaining and a source of
accessible learning that help to
break down barriers and expand
our horizons. A co-worker whose
mother migrated from Germany
after the Second World War said
they ran and took risks
because there was
nothing left to lose,
they had lost
everything. And even
though we live in
glass houses and drive
fancy cars we are at
heart still hunters and
gatherers – we go
where food is, we go
where there is a
chance to survive and
thrive. No border can
stop folks from trying
to move. It’s our
nature, the continuing
story of our evolution.And finally it
is important for us to hear these
stories because they remind us of our
own stories of migration.
Sarasvati Theatre Season Kick Off
FEMFEST Starts September 16
with the Opening Cabaret you do not
want to miss. Get your tickets early.
The best deal is a season pass.
HURRYHURRY

24

GEM (Global Eyes Magazine) summer 2017

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GEM (Global Eyes Magazine) summer 2017