CARIBBEAN-CANADIANS CELEBRATE CARNIVAL: COSTUMES AND INTER-GENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

” In 1985, the Western Carnival Development Association (WCDA) introduced Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival, to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. One highlight of this festival is a Carnival parade of bands in colourful costumes. As a child in Trinidad and Tobago I experienced Carnival when I attended the parades with my family. When I came to Montreal, Canada in 1968, I was only able to recapture those earlier experiences when I made infrequent visits to Trinidad. In 1992 I had my first Canadian Caribbean Carnival experience when I played mas’ in Edmonton. Using self reflection, participant observation, interviews, video and still photography, I documented the Carnival experiences of people in Edmonton and in Trinidad and Tobago. NUDIST 4′ (Richards, 1997), was used as an analysis tool to help identify. the key words, phrases, categories and concepts describing what it means to celebrate Carnival. Participants felt that the festival provided rich cultural affirmations, and opportunities for positive self-awareness with costumes aiding in cultural transmittance and transference. Some teenagers were ambivalent about the event. Further research is needed to understand their reluctance to be seen as different. Mainstream institutions such as museums and schools need to explore opportunities to incorporate the multicultural immigrant experience in their programs” Quote of ‘Abstract’ from the Full Text