Information Technology teacher moves crowd with Garifuna poem

By Richardeen Williams. Updated 3:53 p.m., Saturday, August 12, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Young poet, and teacher – Niston Douglas moved a crowd at an event with a poem he wrote about Garifuna struggles.

On August 9, 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture hosted “the culture pot” at the Peace Memorial Hall in commemoration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

The event which was held under the theme of “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination in the Americas: Intergenerational Connections” commenced with 5 segments which included a powerful poem written by Niston Douglas.

Douglas is a 21-year-old Vincentian and a resident of Rillan Hill who has dreams to study information technology.

As of now, he is an information technology teacher at the Mountain View Adventist Academy who writes and performs in his spare time.

In a recent interview with One News SVG’s Richardeen Williams, Douglas stated that his passion for writing started a “very long time” however he only started taking it seriously 5 years ago.

The poet and IT teacher said:

“I realized that I have a very unique gift which I am very grateful for. Poetry is one of the things I enjoy writing and performing because it means the world to me, just putting some words together that make sense and seeing that your masterpiece is touching the hearts of everyone in the room when performing gives you a sense of pride & Identity.”

When asked “How important is the preservation of the Garifuna heritage ?” Mr. Douglas said:

“The preservation of indigenous culture in Saint Vincent & The Grenadines is very significant because it is very important to learn about our history because as Gary Paul Nabhan said, and I quote, “We need to return to learning about the land by being on the land, or better, by being in the thick of it. That is the best way we can stay in touch with the fates of its creatures, its indigenous cultures, its earthbound wisdom. That is the best way we can be in touch with ourselves”.

“So, this and more are why the indigenous culture is very important to me and the preservation is even more important so that our natives, children, and grandchildren would not be empty-headed when it concerns our indigenous people and the culture they left for us to continue so that we can continue to stand with them in this fight,” he added.

Niston’s Poem

1. The time has come to celebrate
   Our culture pot across the plains
   The colors of our fathers from long before
   The heritage they gave us that we must promote.
2. The aches and pain that they went through
   The toils and strains they had to gain  
   The places from which they had to roam
   Just to call ONE place their HOME.
3. Some killed , Some beaten
   Some stabbed for no reason
   Some slaved in cells
   Some ran from the HELL
   Some came from a far
   Just to escape the master’s wrath
   While some just took the beating
   For the sake of the others leaving
4. So today let’s remember
   Our ancestors in all their colors
   The black , the yellow and even the white
   So we can stand with them in this continuous fight.
5. Remember our ancestors
   Remember their pain
   Remember their struggles
   PLEASE  PLEASE PLEASE
   Remember their names
6. I am GARIFUNA
   We are GARIFUNA
   Because they were GARIFUNA
    
   WE STAND !!
   Written And Composed By : Niston A Douglas