C’bean-born Canadian seniors reminded there is power in their stories

TORONTO:

A medical doctor, who is the new chairperson of the women’s committee of the Jamaican Canadian Association, has urged seniors to share their stories with generations to ensure that their wisdom, lessons of their lives, and “strength of their culture” are passed down.

Dr. Dana Powell, a medical strategist with dual training as an MD and PhD, specialising in gastroenterology and oncology, was the keynote speaker at the Caribbean Canadian Seniors Club’s brunch held at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre.

She noted that she was among individuals who have lived through significant changes in the world, but who also carry a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and many stories to tell.

“Storytelling has always been a very fundamental part of our heritage, said Powell, who shared that she is married to a Jamaican, but was raised in Trinidad.

“Long before we had cellphones, texts, phones, the mail, our ancestors, generations before us have passed down important lessons, values and histories through oral traditions which are through stories – whether it’s the Anansi stories from the West African and West Indian roots.”

These are also passed down in common and wise sayings, said Dr. Powell, that she continues to hear such as “Every mickle makes a muckle.” She said what she understood from it is that every small effort or contribution means something and is valuable.

VALUE AND CONNECTIVITY

Making her presentation an interactive session she invited the audience to share some of the sayings they remembered. Responses from the gathering include “One, on cocoa full baske”, meaning “Each thing you add makes the basket fuller in whichever way you apply it.”

“Sorry fi mawga dawg, mawga dawg tun roun bite yuh”, and, “Don’t hang your basket where you can’t reach it.”

“There are so many of these wise sayings that truly are inspirational and they’re more than just entertainment or sayings. They bring such value and connectivity across the generations; there’s a hidden nugget of wisdom in all of these things,” she said. Dr. Powell has an extensive background in both clinical practice and research and has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of complex diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, gastric cancer, and epilepsy.

Her innovative approach combines cutting-edge medical science with strategic insights to develop effective treatment protocols and health management strategies.

Dr. Powell said these narratives have shaped, guided, and connected individuals to their roots. “These stories were, and they still are a way of teaching and preserving our identities, a way of transmitting values to the generations to come.”

She told the seniors that there is no such thing as an ordinary life, “each moment that you’ve lived, each challenge that you’ve faced, each joy that you’ve experienced holds wisdom that is priceless.”

Powell said she believes there is a hunger in her generation – the younger generation – for connection and guidance from the older generation.

LIVING HISTORY

She encouraged the seniors to preserve their stories by recording them through audio, video or writing them down in a journal. “The best stories can come out of very simple conversations that are noted over time in your journals.”

She said storytelling is a two-way street so they should encourage their grandchildren to ask questions about their life. “The curiosity can spark memories that maybe you had forgotten.”

The doctor reminded them that they “are the living history of our Caribbean heritage, the experiences you have, the lessons you’ve learned and the values that you hold dear are a part of the legacy that will live on in your children, your great grandchildren and beyond”.

She told them that the stories that they tell today will become the guiding light for future generations.

The Caribbean Canadian Seniors Club, a group established in the 1970s, is one of the signature programmes at the JCA. It keeps seniors connected, active and involved as part of a community through its weekly meetings.

Amy Nelson – one of the founders of the Jamaican Canadian Association – is celebrating her 104th birthday in September and was acknowledged by the seniors who applauded her longevity. They closed the event with a song that she wrote for the group years ago.