Jounen Kwéyòl 2016
By: Toni Francis, President, Saint Lucia Ottawa Association
Jounen Kwéyòl celebrates the French/African dialect widely spoken in the West Indian island of Saint Lucia. This event has grown to be the biggest single event celebrated by the people of Saint Lucia. The development of the festival is really the story of St Lucia’s acceptance of its heritage, particularly its kwéyòl language. The celebrations of Jounen Kwéyòl take place at the national and community level, and can include a parade, music festival and a pageant for women over 50, in which contestants demonstrate knowledge of creole culture, use of the language, national wear and creole related talent. Notably, today most of the original kwéyòl language has been lost. There is more awareness and pride in the language today than years ago when speaking kwéyòl was frowned upon. The kwéyòl language is now taught in Saint Lucian schools and is standardized with a writing system, alphabet and dictionary. Saint Lucian radio stations broadcast shows entirely in kwéyòl, something unheard of 20 years ago. Pride in the language has translated into pride in cultural practices and traditions.
On October 22nd the Saint Lucia Ottawa Association (SLOA) hosted its annual celebration of the creole language and the cultural traditions of the “Helen of the West”, Saint Lucia. Jounen Kweyol 2016 was held at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre. The community of support was overwhelming. The day held a mix of creole (kwéyòl) food, music, musical performances, games and folklore, the battle of La Woz (Rose) and La Magawit (Maguerite). Designer Helen Glasgow put on a fashion show to highlight the traditional madras and a number of formal and informal traditional outfits comprised of colorful skirts, embroidered blouses and a triangular piece of satin over the shoulder. The dance performances included a powerful duet by students of the Cultural Arts Studio, School of Afro-Caribbean Dance and a folksy blend of African movements and ballroom dancing called kwadril, derived from the European quadrille. The youth corner was organized and led by a vibrant SLOA Youth Committee. Children had their designated space to create works of arts and play with craft options that held lessons about the kwéyòl language and Saint Lucian traditions. Volunteer cooks prepared dishes, homemade breads, cakes and pastries whose taste of tradition filled the space with a sense of home.
The SLOA Vendor Program was supported by the Afro-Caribbean Cotillion, a mentorship program for girls of Afro-Caribbean descent, Never Give Up clothing line, the Charles Family, Berdeena, Carole and Esther Charles brought their artistic and creative talents to the event, the Saint Lucia Tourism Board, Caribbean Fit Fete, and Gems of Saint Lucia. Networking opportunities were leveraged by the Vendors to educate event attendees on their products and services. The importance of community was reinforced by their presence.
More impactful than the official program for the day was the energy that filled the room, the ‘informal’ program created organically by those in attendance. With its largest turn out in the history of this event the SLOA Executive Committee is extremely grateful to the community, including members of the Saint Lucia Toronto Association and the Saint Lucia Montreal Association, for its support. Guests were reflective of the demographic reach that is key to the SLOA’s strategic focus for the next year, they included the youth of our community to the elders, who are highly respected group in Saint Lucian tradition. A survey completed by attendees revealed that guests found the event to be reflective of Saint Lucian traditions, including the celebration of the kwéyòl language. This was the first event hosted by the newly elected Executive and it may readily be declared a success.
Requiring key mention is that Jounen Kwéyòl 2016 was dedicated to the Peterkin family. With clarity and an understanding of the mission at hand, President Francis’ opening remarks included mention of the fact that a member and past member of the Executive were on the very same day attending the funeral of their mother, Marie Leonie Lucretia Peterkin. Nathalie Peterkin-Campbell, Treasurer and Entertainment Committee Chair and, her brother, Past President, Raymond Peterkin, had lost their mother in the days leading up to this event. The Peterkin family has, for a number of years, supported the SLOA, and the boarder community. The dedication of this family over the years deserved nothing less than for guests to fully embrace the day’s mission and honor the memory of a woman who taught her children to make a life of service, their love of their country and community central to their personal missions.
Jounen Kwéyòl 2016 set the stage and tempo for what is to come for the SLOA. Given the resounding support of the community the Association is dedicated to creating a base that thrives on collaboration, incorporates components that resonate across demographics in the community and continues to foster the education and celebration of Saint Lucian traditions and culture.
About the writer
Toni Francis is President, St.Lucia-Ottawa Association