Unity in Diversity.

Hope in Conflict.

Beauty in All Things.

Anita Wilson

- Through the Eyes of a Girl from the (592)

From the (592)…

The area code for Guyana is (592) and it is

not uncommon in everyday conversations

to hear a Guyanese refer to themselves as

being from the (592).

In fact, there are several popular slangs,

sayings and proverbs that make up

everyday Guyanese language.

From the (592)…

“I am a Guyanese” – these words have been uttered by me and so manyothers countless times before, BUT I have never truly thought of what itmeans to be, as we would say, from the (592). Calling this country myhome, now means much deeper for me, and I thought it only fitting toshare my revelations and perceptions for this portfolio embracing who Iam, a Guyanese.

Being a Guyanese, has influenced the depth of my learning, and has beenthe basis for most of my sharing; it is evident to me that this is sobecause this country, my place, my home, has influenced me, as homeinfluences all of us. I am not just from this place, I am this place. I am itshistories, I am its people, I am its landscapes, I am Guyana! Guyana hasmoulded me, is moulding me, and for me to truly understand who I amand what my calling is, I have to embrace and ask, “who is Guyana?”

“To know a place, to truly become naturalized to a place, I need to know the placedeeply. What makes this place buzz and sing? What makes this place loud or quiet?What makes these people dance or stand still? What happened here? ” ColleenTwomey (Harvest 1)

I am [Guyana Is] Unity in Diversity

One of the popular ways to describe Guyana is to say that it is the

“Land of Six Peoples:” the Amerindians, the Europeans, the Africans,

the East Indians, the Portuguese and the Chinese (the order in

which they came and settled in the country).

The land of six peoples = One land, Six people

• Sharing of the same space with others who are “different from us”

National Coat of Arms of Guyana

Land of Six People or

One People?

The desire for homogeneity and the fear of diversity is learnt or taught. I havebeen taught that true unity is being of one mind; we may be different“peoples” but for us to live together, we must think as one, eat as one,drink as one, dress as one, speak as one. Over the years we have lost theroots of what it means for us being Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese,Indigenous Guyanese, Chinese Guyanese, and we have become justGuyanese. The systems of today were built and created on these roots,and I have realised that I am under-nourishing myself if I disconnect fromthese roots, and disconnect others from these as well. Individualwholesomeness is not just who I am now, it spans much deeper to how Igot to who I am now, and how yesterday „s changes have impacted onme today, and on others. I want to learn, and be open to learning abouthow we got to where we are today, as individuals, as families, as races, asGuyanese.

I am [Guyana Is] Unity in Diversity

The richness of Guyana is in the depth and richness of the cultures of those who inhabitthe land; I believe this is so with any land or place. The Amerindians were nomadswho travelled across the frozen Bering Strait in search of food to get to this land,Europeans came in search of the Golden City of El Dorado, Africans were brought asslaves, the East Indians, Portuguese and Chinese were brought as indenturedlabourers. Cultures are rooted in these histories; these have paved the way andresulted in the development of the country today in so many ways, the developmentand evolution of the individual cultures.

Individuality cannot be downplayed or ignored. Diversity, differing histories and culturesshould not be forgotten or lost, I want to embrace these. How can I embrace these?Learn about myself; learn about each other. Learn about ourselves through eachother. Teach others about themselves through us and our histories.

Diversity is around us and it is a gift, it is an opportunity for us to embrace unity. However,true diversity requires truthfulness - truthfulness and authenticity in who you are,being wholesome and grounded in your past, present and future, and giving othersthe opportunity to be wholesome in their own dynamics as well.

"The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world. Individuality is cherished and nurtured, because, in order for the whole to flourish,

each of us has to be strong in who we are and carry our gifts with convocation, so they can be shared with others . (Braiding Sweetgrass, page 134)

The last line of the National Anthem stands out to me where it says, “United and Free.”

The use of these words together, for me, epitomizes the depth of my thoughts aroundthe context of wholesomeness and leadership. For me, there must be unity as asystem, and there must be freedom – freedom to be wholesome, freedom to be aproduct of your individual cultures and histories, freedom to tell your own stories ina language that is known and comfortable to you, freedom to be you, to be all ofyou – present, past and future!

Crucially for me, leadership embodies this regime where I am and can be united to andwith others but free to be me, free to express all of me. More than this, I want togive others the opportunity and space to freely and openly be who they are fully,and to bring this to the system without fear or hesitation.

~UNITY IN DIVERSITY~

“All cassava get same skin but all nah taste same way.”

(Guyanese Proverb meaning: though people may look alike because of their mode of dress, they are different in their ways.)

I am [Guyana Is] Hope in Conflict

Racism and Religious

Biases

Domestic Violence

Climate Change

Crime

Tension

I am [Guyana Is] Hope in Conflict

Like many other countries, all is not well in the land of

Guyana. There exists racism and religious biases, crime

rates are high, the number of cases of domestic violence,

abuse and suicide are sky rocketing! Natural disasters are

increasing as flooding and droughts are growing in

intensity and frequency. Solid waste management

systems have broken down, and pollution of waterways

is evident throughout the country. Environment and

natural habitats are being threatened as mining and

logging activities are intensifying and not properly

monitored.

Is It All Bad???

I am [Guyana Is] Hope in Conflict

There seem to be so much “wrong” and so many problems can be seenand heard of. I am especially saddened by the hundreds of negativeposts that I see about the country on social media, especially frompersons who have migrated from the country to another.

There are high levels of migration from the country, especially of youthsdue to the desire for better education and employment opportunities.But, why is it that it seems that when Guyanese leave they seem neverto look back? Why is it so easy for us to forget where we have comefrom? Why do we only focus on the negative events that are occurringin the country? What does it tell others about our land if those whocame from here only utter of the bad?

“Cuss when yuh ah guh, nah wheh yuh ah come out.”

(Guyanese Proverb meaning You must not curse the place that you have come from, because sometime in the future you may have to return there.

There is Hope…

Just as there is bad in Guyana, there is also good. There is good, there ispositive, there is growth, there is hope in Guyana. All is not bad.

Do I see the good amidst the bad? Do I speak of the good as I do the bad?Do I share the good with others? How can I help to spread the messageof hope? How can I share hope amidst the tension and conflicts?

Miss World 2015: Miss Guyana Lisa Punch becomes Talent Champion ahead of main competition!!!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/miss-world-2015-miss-guyana-lisa-punch-becomes-talent-champion-ahead-main-competition-

1533436

Like many persons, I want to see positivechange in my country. I want to see the manychallenges that we are facing be addressed. Iwant to see an end to racial divide,segregation, favoritism, violence and hate.But, I have been grappled with the questionof have we come too far? Even more, Iconstantly compare the things of the past towhere we are now, and it is saddening tothink of the world in the next 100 years if wecontinue to move down this current path.

…Can we do that now or is it too late and we have gone too far? This is my gap. The reality for where we are and the future that I wish to create. Denise Smith, Harvest Post: I am Here

Standing at the intersection of the world today and the world I can imagine

The world I can imagineThe world today

Standing at the intersection of the world today andthe world I can imagine – for me this means beingpresent and alive in the moment and realities oftoday, being open and aware of these but alsobelieving and knowing that it can and will change.More importantly, is it my calling to be a part ofthis change?

Being present in the moment and realities of today isso much deeper than just knowing what ishappening – the tracking of patterns and trends,asking the questions that will reveal root causesand effects, engaging and listening to all who areinvolved and affected, whether directly orindirectly are all a part of standing in today‟sreality. Also, this is the tool to helping me movetowards the world I can imagine.

How can I cross the bridge to get to the world that I can imagine?

The Berbice Bridge by John Greene

Standing at the intersection means:

• Identifying all the paths and stepswhich need to be taken to getthere

• Engaging all persons and parts ofthe system who are involved orneed to be involved

• Listening to the sounds andvoices of all

• Am I a part of theprocess/change? Am I a part ofthe entire process, or just a part?

• How is my role defined?

• How are/should the roles ofothers defined?

• How can I be okay knowing thatmy role has ended, and trust therest of the process?

The World I can Imagine

*The path to the world I can imagine is not linear, it is not mine to take alone, it may

not be mine to lead or even to take, and I may not be able

to walk the entire path!

I need to learn where I stand in the path to the world I can imagine, and be accountable and accepting of what that

calling means!

“Fish ah deh ah watah but nah ah dam tap.”

Guyanese Proverb meaning: There are places where you can play an important part, but there are other places where you

can be insignificant.

Who Should Have The Mic?

“The nugget I took away from this piece, that I also hope to incorporate as

a leadership practices, is to recognize when to have a loud voice, when to

have a soft voice, and when to hand the microphone to someone who needs to be heard and can't access it. ” (Ashley Eaton, Dialogue post comment: Yoga

Shock)

I am [Guyana Is] Beauty in All Things

There is beauty all around me, all around us in all thingsand in all corners of the Earth. There is wisdom andknowledge in all creatures and cultures.

There is no one holder of all knowledge; knowledge is ineverything and it is there for us to gain. It is in the songof the birds, it is in the dance of the fish, it is in thewaves of the rivers, in the innocence of children, in thestories of the elderly.

Knowledge is being shared with me, with us, in everymoment of the day, spoken in languages known tothose who are telling the stories. It is being sharedthrough action, through spoken word, throughhowlings and cries of the wind, through the shape ofthe land, through the song and dance of animals,through the sun and rain – these are the languagesthey know best.

Am I open to listening to these languages?Am I learning this languages?Am I speaking these languages?

Bumbleebee poison-arrow frog (Dendrobates leucomelas) from Surama

forest, Guyana by Andrew Snyder

She has a world of ready wealth,Our minds and hearts to bless—Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

One impulse from a vernal woodMay teach you more of man,Of moral evil and of good,Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;Our meddling intellectMis-shapes the beauteous forms of

things:—We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and of Art;Close up those barren leaves;Come forth, and bring with you a heartThat watches and receives.

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;Or surely you'll grow double:Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;Why all this toil and trouble?

The sun above the mountain's head,A freshening lustre mellowThrough all the long green fields has spread,His first sweet evening yellow.

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:Come, hear the woodland linnet,How sweet his music! on my life,There's more of wisdom in it.

And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!He, too, is no mean preacher:Come forth into the light of things,Let Nature be your teacher.

The Tables Turned by William Wordsworth

Essequibo Getaway (Guyana) by James Deeges

“The Earth has music for those who listen.”William Shakespeare

There is no one way todefine beauty. Beautyis everywhere, ineveryone and everycreature. Developingdeep and meaningfulrelationships with theother members of thesystem around usopens our eyes to thebeauty within them.

Listening to their song helps us to find the beauty in

the message, to find the meaning in the message.

Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Upper Demerara-Berbice, Guyana by Adam Riley,

(Rock)Jumper Birding Tours

Beauty in the world around usis not hidden, it is there for usto see, it is there for everyoneto see and to enjoy. The lensthat we view the world andthe things around us canopen or close our eyes to thisbeauty.

Guyana is a beautiful country,and although I have livedhere all my life, I was closedoff to witnessing andexperiencing its beauty. Theawareness of the momentand what is around me atthat moment needs to be aconstant practice, so that Ican enjoy the beauty of whatis there, what has alwaysbeen, and what has come.

Honeybee in Linden, Guyana by Onerois Photography, 2011

Santa Mission (Guyana) by Brian Gomes

“Nah everything scholar know he learn from teacher.”

(Guyanese Proverb meaning: In life you learn from everybody and everything in the

environment in which you find yourself.)

A male Amazonian Royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus coronatus) from Surama, Guyana by Andrew Synder (www.andrewsynder.com)

Beauty in All Things

Beauty in All Things

Beauty in All Things

Beauty in All Things

Beauty in All Things

Artist’s StatementIt is my desire to share a piece of myself with all those who read this portfolio,

what it means to be Guyanese to me, and how this has influenced mylearning this semester. I chose to base the portfolio on my Guyanese rootsto embody and highlight the importance of place and culture, historiesand the past in the manifestations of our beings in present world. Iincorporated Guyanese proverbs in the Creolese (broken English)language that we often speak here, as an intentional inclusion of languageand its importance in how I speak and comprehend, and more so how Iinterpret, share similar stories and lessons because of my Guyanese roots.

I am most hopeful, that above all, my authenticity, awareness andappreciation of self has been able to be displayed. I also hope that I wasable to embrace diversity and uncertainty, as well as the importance ofremaining aware and in tune to the beauty and wisdom of nature.

I would appreciate feedback on how this portfolio, which I feel is local to me,has been able to make connections and opened any insights in the widersystems and environments.