There are so many people to thank.
I would like to dedicate this project to my mother Helen Irva Stevenson and my father Godfrey Roberts who passed before I completed this dissertation.
To my known and yet-to-be known Ancestors on both sides of my lineage. Grandma Sylvia and Grandpa Deighton, Granny Edna and to Delmar and Mama Oni/Iona Joseph (both of whom I have only met in the work).
My sister Joanne, who has been a constant during the highs and lows and very lows of this process. Thank you for always being there no matter what.
My committee, led by the formidable Dr. Angelique Willkie, Dr. Stephane Martelly and Dr. Daniel McNeil. It meant everything to me to have you in my corner. Thank you also to Dr. Luis Sotelo and Dr. MJ Thompson who started me on this journey, and to Dr. Erin Manning who encouraged me to think outside of the box.
The aunties/cousins who have inspired me and mentored me in my journey as an artist and scholar, inspiring me with your work and presence in my life: M. NourbeSe Philip, Zab Maboungou. Gratitude goes out to Dr. Honor Ford Smith, Chris Creighton Kelly, and France Trepanier who have supported me in my creative and intellectual endeavours. To Camille Turner, who was a listening ear and who helped me conquer the funding obstacles.
Dear sister/brother/cousins and close collaborators in this Arrivals journey: Heather Hermant, Rose Georgeson, Danielle Smith, Nadia Myre, Lopa Sircar, Julie Tamiko Manning, Liliona Quarmyne, Lydie Dubuisson, Gayle Murphy, Gerry Trentham, Valerie Sing Turner, Zainab Amadahy, Mutya Macatumpag, Sharon Jinkerson Brass, Peter Olalekan Adekokan, Jonathan Langdon, Ray Hsu.
My incredible Board of Directors (past and present) and the ALP super team who have supported me in realising my dreams with Arrivals Legacy Project: including Rita Karakas, Peter Gardiner Harding, Dr. Linda Dyer, Dr. Jesica Stone, Dr. Heather Hermant, Dr. Larissa Lai, David Garneau, Emma Tibaldo, Anju Singh, Joanne Roberts, Katherine Yacht, Natasha Eck, Larissa Blokhuis, Atef Abdelkefi.
The incredible funders who sustained me and allowed me to dream BIG: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, and the Social Sciences and the Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
My Garifuna language teacher Milton Guity who opened my eyes to the intricate beauty of the Garifuna Language. My first Garifuna drum and cultural teacher Rodney Avila. My Garifuna sisters and brothers who shared so much with me during my sojourn in Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. A deep thank you to my sojourn partners and collabaorators: Nadia Myre, Joanne Roberts, Uwahnie Mel Martinez of Palmento Grove Eco Cultural and Healing Lodge, Luis Brown, Lucia Ellis, Kimberly Palmer. The Garifuna Heritage Foundation led by Zoila Ellis and David “Darkie” Williams.
With love,
Dr. Diane Roberts