University of Alberta CARIBBEAN-CANADIANSCELEBRATE CARNIVAL: COSTUMES AND INTER-GENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Jean Thomasine Walrond-Patterson 0 A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Textiles and Clothing Department of Human Ecology Edmonton, Alberta Fall, 1999 National Library Bibliotheque nationale of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services sew ices bibliographiques 395 Wellington Slreet 395, me Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your h& Votre relerenm Our fib Nma retdrence The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une 5cence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant B la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la fonne de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts £iom it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othewise de celle-ci ne doivent Stre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the brothers and sisters tiom the Caribbean who introduced mas' to Edmonton. It is especially dedicated to those who have worked tirelessly to keep Caribbean culture alive in Edmonton. Without their efforts, this body of work would not have been possible. Thank you. 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 colourhl costumes. As a child in Trinidad and Tobago I experienced Carnival when 1 attended the parades with my family. When I came to Montreal, Canada in 1968 1 was only able to recapture those earlier experiences when 1 made infrequent visits to Trinidad. In 1992 1 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. NLID*IST 4' (bchards, 1997), was used as an analysis tool to help identitj. 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. hlainstream institutions such as museums and schools need to explore opportunities to incorporate the multicultural immigrant experience in their programs. Acknowledgements 1 offer prayers to God. the Almighty for his guidance. To my parents Horace Eton Walrond and Cosille Walrond (both deceased) I give thanks because they inspired me to cherish knowledge. I express heartfelt thanks to Michael A. Patterson, my husband, for your unquestioning support as well as your photographic and technical skills. To my two girls, Abiona and Michelle 1 say thanks for your encouragement. We attended the University of Nbena together, shared my car and some classes and learnt a lot about each other and from each other through those years. I thank Anne Lambert for her help and encouragement. Thanks Anne and family for the many pictures you took of the festival. 1 wish to thank all those at the University of Alberta and the Department of Human Ecology who contributed to my rewarding experience. Thanks also to the Graduate Scholarship Committee for the many awards and scholarships I received. These were the Engberg Graduate Scholarship in International Home Economics, Graduate Studies and Research Scholarships and the Walter H. Johns Memorial Scholarship. Thanks also go to Museums Alberta and the University of Alberta for the travel grants which partially hnded my research in Trinidad and Tobago. My committee members get thanks for their thoughtful perspectives on my research. These will be taken into account when I do future research. I thank my siblings Esrnond Bunny, Shirley, Horace Billy and Keith Michael for their prayers. encouragement and at times brotherly and sisterly advice on my research topic. To my storytelling cousin, Vayne, the keeper of the family history, thanks for refreshing my memory. Donna, thanks for uncovering the "Gateway" information at the Book and Records Depository (B.A.R.D.), University of Alberta Libraries. Thanks also to my fellow students, Anne Bagan, Pam Bailey, Mari Bergen, Sheila Gillen, Tannis Grant, Valerie Gross, Irene Karsten, Etfy Katahan and Pesgy Mann, you all contributed to lasting and fin-filled memories. Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................... 1 Mas' Glorious Mas' .............................................. 1 Caribbean Immigrant Trends for Canada ............................. 13 Cariwest Festival in Edmonton ..................................... 17 The Research Process ........................................... --?- 1. Thevoyage ..................................................... 26 Mystory ............................................. 26 AtHome ............................................... 26 Leaving Trinidad: Coming to Canada ....................... , .. 17 TheReaIization ................................................37 MyQuest ................................................. 60 2 . "Liming and 01' Talking" ......................................... 66 MyRole ...................................................... 66 Community Research ............................................ 67 Community Reaction to My Research In Edmonton .............. 67 Doing Research in the Mecca of Carnival: Trinidad & Tobago ............. 69 At the Port of Spain Public Library ............................ 69 Carnival Is Youth InvoIvement ...............................71 Carnival Is Female Involvement .............................. 72 "Strictly No Audio or Video Recording Allowed" ................ 77 "The Change Was Noticed in the Early 80s" ..................... 79 Meeting the Bureaucrats .................................... 80 BackinEdmonton .............................................. 83 The Group 1 Planned to Interview ............................. 83 My Change of Plans ....................................... 83 The Groups and Individuals I Did Interview ..................... 84 3. Where You Come From! ........................................... 85 The Caribbean Immigrants ........................................ 85 Trinidad and Tobago: Our story ................................... 91 The Spanish and Amerindians ............................... 9L The French: Bon Vivant ....................................95 The Africans: Canboulay and Carnival ......................... 97 Chrifneyand Carnival ..................................... 101 Chhzese Lncirdiy and Colloloo in Trinidad Carnival ............ 103 Theories Associated with Trinidad and Tobago Style Carnival ............ 104 The Origin of Carnival .................................... 104 4 . Participants' Pre-Canadian Carnival Experience ....................... 114 Their Pre-Canadian Experience ................................... 114 Males' Experience .................................... I14 "I Did a Lot of Knocking About" ...................... 114 "That Was Our Robber: I Used To Love Them" ........... 116 "I Keep Playing the Pans" ........................... 117 "It Was a Matter of Sunrival" ......................... 120 Females' Experience .................................. 112 "We Knew All the Boys from Despers" ............. 122 "My Brothers Could Jump Up and Be Liberated" .......... 123 "I Never Played Mas' in Trinidad" ................... 123 "I Had the Opponunity to Play Mas' since I Was a Child .... 121 Religion ..................................................... 124 TheirReaIization .............................................. 125 The University Environment in Edmonton ........................ 128 "They lust Wanted to Share Their Cuiture" .................... 128 5. The visits to the Mas' Camps ....................................... 13 I Ethnography and Discussion ..................................... 131 6. Sharing Experiences with Carnival Costumes ......................... 136 Younger Children Enjoy Playing Mas' .............................. 138 Participating Strengthens Family Relationships ........................ 139 Adults' Reaction to Festival ..................................... 154 Bridges ..................................................... 158 "It is Community Oriented and I Do Enjoy That!" ............... 158 ItIsfun! ........................*...................... 160 Aesthetic Experience and Transference of Culture ..................... 163 A Question of Identity .......................................... 168 7 . Discussion ...................................................... 183 8. Conclusion .............. Glossary ....................................................... 202 Notes .........................................................