Woryijan: Kalinago Women & Intersectionality

Mabrika!  

Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This is a special day for the Kalinago people of Dominica. This year you celebrate under the theme Indigenous youth as agent of change and self-determination and I would like to say thanks the Kalinago community for allowing me into their space for the purpose of my research titled Territory; Commonalities between the Reclamation of the Kalinago Language and Connection to Land. Your interviews have amplified the theme. This podcast episode you are about to listen to was part of my major research project that featured interviews of over 10 Kalinago women, and captured  two of them Dr. Velma Valmond and Vincia Casey in a 10 minute podcast called Woryijan (Women); Kalinago women and Intersectionality.  

The entire research project which includes a documentary will be presented to the Kalinago people some time this month. I would like to dedicate this podcast to the late Dr. Velma Valmond.

Episode Background: 

Intersectionality provides the framework to analyze how social division of race, gender and other identities play a role in how the Kalinago women are stereotyped, vilified and also commodified, all of which affects social inequality. These factors may play a major role in how the women’s socioeconomic structure is resolved. Intersectionality is employed as the lens to view these issues in hopes that it will challenge the work that needs to be done for and within their community. It is considered to address these discriminating complexities Kalinago women are exposed to.