by June Girvan
Celebrating Mothers’ Day 2021
June Girvan
30 April, 2021
J’NiKirA Dinqinesh Education Centre – Every Child is Sacred celebrates Mothers’ Day 2021 honouring those who honour the sacredness of the child, with focus on the UN Decade for People (Children) of African descent.
JDEC-ECIS has its genesis in a mother’s belief that the greatest Mothers’ Day gift to the womb are Villagers who do what they must do, and go to places they must go, to honour the sacredness of the child, Villagers who work for the well being of her child.
The work of J’NiKirA Dinqinesh arose from a mother’s angst at the plight of her children of African descent, being raised in Ottawa. The work expanded from a bassinette to the entire municipality of Ottawa. The work expanded to honour the sacredness of all children of the maple leaf, children of all human colours of the sun.
The work was to identify, honour and celebrate Villagers who were demonstrating the will and the capacity to enable children of African descent to experience Ottawa, their hometown, as a safe, friendly community.
In 2004, JDEC-ECIS celebrated Ken Campbell of Jaku Konbit as one of these honoured Villagers. Here is what Ken wrote,
“It Takes Village to Raise a Child – This ancient African proverb teaches eternal truth that no child, man, woman, family is an island.
“This proverb teaches the importance of community cooperation, shared responsibility and social networks. The village here is comprised of the family, extended family, good neighbours, social networks and society at large. It means that everyone is somehow connected and plays an important role in shaping our children’s upbringing and education.
“This proverb also captures both our organizational commitment to serving children and the individual commitment each of us, as parents, must make to ensure that our children grow up being knowledgeable of their history and culture, which inevitably leads to a positive self-esteem. In addition, this allows for the children to give back to their village having learned at an early age the importance of collective work and shared responsibility.
“Every child is sacred –
‘Without doubt each child is sacred and embodies the gift of life and love.
“Each child represents the future and as such must be treated with dignity, love, respect and be nurtured so they can grow up to reach their full potential. Every child has individual talents and special needs. By providing positive role models and a nurturing environment that promotes education, teamwork and family values, we help our children to become the best they can be.
“Above all, we help them to see themselves as truly unique and gifted, and also to appreciate and value others as sacred”.
J’NiKirA Dinqinesh Education Centre – Every Child is Sacred continues the quest. The quest is to identity Villagers who have the “what it takes” to promote and protect the human rights of the child of African descent; beginning with the right to breathe freely, fully and experience joy in Be-ing.
On Mothers’ Day, 2021, J’NiKirA Dinqinesh Education Centre – Every Child is Sacred honours Villagers who do what they must do, and go where they must go for all children of the village, in the spirit and intent of The United Nations Decade for People of African Descent. In proclaiming The Decade, it is recognized that children of African descent represent a distinct group, whose human rights must be promoted and protected in the community at large, by the Villagers.
Under the theme “Recognition, Justice and Development”, the UN Decade provides a framework for us, Villagers of Ottawa, to do the work that is necessary to eradicate social injustices against children of African descent, throughout our systems. These injustices are inherited from history. They have been perpetrated through state sponsored systems. They are human rights violations to which children of African descent are still being subjected. As every little child would observe: “That’s not fair! Stop!”.
What greater gift can there be to a Mother of children of African descent on Mothers’ Day, than for Villagers to pledge to relieve her angst; inter-generational and real time anxiety about the plight of her child?
On Mothers’ Day, let us all honour and celebrate the Villagers who are enabling a Mother’s sacred child of the maple leaf, of whatever human colour of the sun, to experience Ottawa, their hometown, as a safe and child friendly community, so as to enable their potential and promise; and fulfil the purpose of their earth visit.
What greater gift can there be to a Mother, on Mothers’ Day?
June Girvan is President, Black History Ottawa.
.
.