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“I’m not Brown enough to be Brown because we’re not directly from India; not Fijian enough to be Fijian because we grew up in Ladner. So we didn’t really grow up around a lot of Brown people, let alone Fijians. And even though we’re here in this predominantly caucasian community, we’re definitely not white. So it just feels like we have NO TIES to any of these communities.”
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Guest appearances
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. Today, I’m so honored to have this conversation about Fiji Baat, also known as Fiji Hindi with Ang and Ash of the No Ties 1879 Podcast.
I think Ang and Ash are so very cool and extremely chill and In this episode, they talk to us about the painful history of indentured labor in Fiji that led to many Indians from all over India being brought to Fiji, which you can hear more about this history on their podcast. We talk about Indo-Fijian culture and what cultural elements, including religion, affect the spoken language. They talk to us about some of the other Indian languages besides Hindi which can be used in Fiji Baat. We discuss the structure of Fiji Baat and how iTaukai and English words are also used within the language.
Speaking Tongues Podcast: Speaking Fiji Baat
In this episode of the "Speaking Tongues" podcast, the host, Elle Charisse, engages with us in a conversation about Fiji Baat, a language spoken by the Indo-Fijian community. The discussion delves into the origins of Fiji Baat, its unique linguistic features, and its significance within the Indo-Fijian culture. Listeners gain insights into how the language has evolved over time and its role in preserving cultural identity among Indo-Fijians. The episode also touches upon the challenges faced in maintaining the language across generations and the efforts being made to keep it alive.
Now one big takeaway from this conversation which cannot be ignored is our discussion about identity and reframing their identity of being twice removed Indo-Fijians living in Canada. Ang and Ash talk with us about the journey to reconnecting with their “Fijian-ness' and understanding how to define it. The journey, as you know listeners, is also a part of the story. And again I encourage all of you listeners to subscribe and listen to their podcast so you can gain a deeper understanding of Indo-Fijian culture for yourselves.
Big thank you to Ash and Ang for having this amazing, cool conversation and for sharing your language and culture with all of us.*
*description retrieved from: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KK62pziwPLDHVnmcQtckV?si=ls47G4PmSVa4Th3h3NYTgQ
Viti Vibes: Interview wtih Shannon Permal
In this conversation we delve into the rich history and cultural significance of the Indo-Fijian community. Through personal narratives and historical accounts, we explore the journey of indentured labourers from India to Fiji, shedding light on their resilience and contributions. The video also highlights the evolution of Fiji Baat, the unique language of Indo-Fijians, and its role in preserving cultural identity. TW: in this episode we discuss addiction, alcoholism, and Ashneil shares his lived experience as an addict in recovery.
Join us as we honour the legacy of our ancestors, recognize generational struggles, and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of Indo-Fijian heritage.
High Phrase Podcast: Angelene Prakash
High Phrase Podcast with Alite and Mike Oulton sit down with the powerful and brilliant Angelene Prakash. Angelene is an activist, a menstrual equity advocate, and the co-host of the No Ties 1879 podcast with her brother Ashneil. Mike and Alite discuss a variety of topics from discrimination, to politics, to self-love, doubt, and belief. The unique thing about this episode is that it was very solution oriented, we talked about things that aren't going very well, institutions that aren't performing well and the things we can do to improve their function. Angelene is a solutions oriented person and it was very exciting being able to build with her.*
*description retrieved from: https://youtu.be/qv34BTEd1nY?si=HJ0_QwVuyJ7wVQwl
High Phrase Podcast: Ashneil Prakash
Its High Phrase, Alite and Mike Oulton welcome the host of the No Ties 1879 Podcast. Ash is an activist, writer and a survivor of a traumatic violent upbringing. Ash grew up in a predominantly caucasian area of Ladner with his sister and his parents that immigrated from Fiji. Not only did he have to overcome the lack of diversity and no actual representation for him to relate to, but he had to carve out his own identity amongst groups of people that were unwilling to let him shine outside of what was expected of him. This was an intense conversation, we went through some dark and traumatic experiences, but like always High Phrase is about the beauty and chaos of life so we had some gut busting laughter at some of the ridiculousness of our lives as Fijian Men in this Canadian society. *
*description retrieved from: https://youtu.be/5tdbAwVbZ2s?si=LR1PpP9lb0ABABhv
Speaking Tongues - 127. Speaking Fiji Baat
“I love languages that come from different places and have made their own language because I think it says so much about the resilience of a people. All language is made up but the legitimacy of a language is determined by a few people.”
- Elle Charisse, Host of Speaking Tongues Podcast
Who Made You The Judge
Angelene and Ashneil with XOXUnknown at exhibition opening in May, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta
Who Made You The Judge is a social justice art exhibit focusing on people who face judgement and inequity within society; it highlights race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical disability, neurodiversity, mental health, and addiction. The Calgary-based artist XOX Unknown presents a diverse array of hand-painted, nearly photorealistic, portraits painted on collages of descriptive words unique to each person's characteristics accompanied by honest and emotional life stories.
Every human wants to be loved, accepted, and live in health & safety as their authentic self. We all remember the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover." This exhibition invites the audience to contemplate our unconscious biases and their impact on how we view, judge, and treat people. It demonstrates that taking the time to understand someone can affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour. The more information our brains have about a person, the less we automatically categorize them.*
*retrieved from: https://www.xoxunknownart.com/who-made-you-the-judge