

































 
As you read and reflect on the pieces presented in this volume, we ask that you 
remain mindful that Indigenous peoples have lived in the Caribbean since time 
immemorial. The word ‘Caribbean’ itself derives from a European transliteration of 
the name of the Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Caribbean. When Europeans 
arrived in the Caribbean in 1492, they found a diverse range of Indigenous peoples 
already living there. The descendants of these pre-Columbian people call the 
Caribbean home to this day, whether they live in the region or in the diaspora. 
 
We also acknowledge the land on which the University of Toronto operates. For 
thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Wendat, the Seneca, and the 
Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many 
Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the 
opportunity to work on this land.
 
Below is a list of Indigenous-led organizations or funds in Toronto that we recommend 
to readers who wish to offer their time or funds to organizations that amplify the voices 
of Indigenous people:

•  Raven Trust (https://raventrust.com) 
•  1492 Land Back Lane - Legal Fund 
    (https://ca.gofundme.com/f/legal-fund-1492-land-back-lane)
•  Native Women’s Association of Canada (https://www.nwac.ca)
•  Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (https://www.itk.ca)
•  Water First (https://waterfirst.ngo)
•  Clan Mother’s Healing Village (https://clanmothers.ca)
•  Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (https://nativechild.org)
•  Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction (https://www.torontoindigenoushr.com)
•  Indian Residential School Survivors Society (https://www.irsss.ca)
•  Legacy of Hope Foundation (https://legacyofhope.ca)
•  Indspire (https://indspire.ca) 
•  Reconciliation Canada (https://reconciliationcanada.ca) 
 

Land Acknowledgement

4

(January 20, 2022 / 08:53:04)

122815-1b_CaribbeanQuilt_Vol6_rev.pdf  .4



Caribbean Quilt Volume 6 (2021) and its 
issues ‘Resiliency’ and ‘Revolution’ 
represent a departure from the norm. It has 
been eight years since Caribbean Quilt 
published a double issue volume, which is 
a rarity in student-run journals. Such a feat 
highlights the scope of scholarship 
produced in the field by the University of 
Toronto core and extended community. 

Reflecting on contemporary and historical 
challenges in the region, pieces featured in 
Resiliency consider the ways in which the 
Caribbean and its trailblazers have stood 
firm. It is often used to put the onus on the 
marginalized or disenfranchised to ‘be or 
become resilient. Resiliency is what a 
region composed of the “modern world’s 
historically marginalized -- indigenous 
peoples, enslaved peoples, and indentured 
labourers” has continued to achieve. 
Revolution features work that considers 
some of the region's innovative solutions 
and their challenges when developing 
processes needed for the Caribbean to 
thrive.Our contributors approached these 
interrelated themes in dynamic ways and 
we hope this work inspires you through 
our collective efforts towards meaningful 
change in the Caribbean. 

We selected these themes as an invitation 
to you, the reader, to see the historical and 
contemporary ways in which threads of 
resiliency and revolution permeate all 
aspects of daily life in the Caribbean -- l
iterature, visual art, music, performance, 
community activism, and festivals. Within 

Letter from the Editors

each issue, the pieces have been organized 
into three thematic groups: Indigeneity in 
the Caribbean, Decolonization and Social 
Change and Culture and Identity. Contri-
butions from recent graduates have a 2T1 
designation.
It is our hope that this volume serves as a 
reminder that the Caribbean was a region 
forged in struggle, but gleans strength 
through its hybridity. As we continue in 
the tradition of critical thought and 
expression set out through this journal, we 
are all the more cognizant that this 
remains true for the region’s diaspora as 
well. 

Producing Caribbean Quilt Volume 6 
would not be possible without the creativ-
ity and dedication of our Masthead, 
Advisory Board and Reading Committee 
whose insights made this possible. Thanks 
are owed to our Advisory Board Chair, Dr. 
Kevin Edmonds, Megan Mungalsingh 
whose artwork graces one of our covers 
for the second year in a row, Mariya 
Maistrovskaya, and the entire Journal 
Production Services Team at University of 
Toronto Libraries. Without them, these 
issues would not be the quality products 
you now -- literally, or figuratively,  hold 
in your hands.

Enjoy. 

David Allens           Prilly Bicknell-Hersco       Korede Akinkunmi 
Editor-in-Chief       Associate Editor                Copy Editor

 De Silva, Kevin. “Letter From the Editor.” Caribbean Quilt 1 (November 18, 2012): 1. 
https://doi.org/10.33137/caribbeanquilt.v1i0.19062.

1

5

(January 20, 2022 / 08:53:04)

122815-1b_CaribbeanQuilt_Vol6_rev.pdf  .5



Megan Mungalsingh
University of Toronto
FAS, Cognitive Science and Psychology

                                                                  Ole Time (2021)
                                                                  Gouache on cold-pressed watercolour paper.

This painting depicts a small child sitting on a wooden porch, listening to an elder, 
who is seated on a rocking chair. This scene represents a sort of idyllic storytelling 
wonder. It is both old and new. With this piece the artist aimed to show the 
microcosms of a cultural resilience. If one were to reflect upon landmark works of 
Caribbean art or literature, one is likely to find at their core, the stories of the 
everyday Caribbean person. Those stories start here.

Megan Mungalsingh is a Trinidadian artist whose mediums include gouache, 
watercolor and acrylic painting. She is a fourth year student at the University of 
Toronto majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology. Her artistic interests include 
Caribbean folklore, fantasy and horror.

Note on the Cover:

6

(January 20, 2022 / 08:53:04)

122815-1b_CaribbeanQuilt_Vol6_rev.pdf  .6



2019-2020 was my first year working with
the Caribbean Quilt student editorial board.
In the production of Volume 6, I was taken 
aback by the level of engagement and 
seriousness that Caribbean Studies students 
had in producing their journal. One year 
later, it is clear that as a program, we 
clearly have the best students in the world. 

In a year when so many of us have faced 
isolation as our lives shifted to online 
classes, the Caribbean Quilt community 
remained strong, and acted as an anchor 
for the Caribbean Studies community, 
which has managed to remain creative, 
curious and resilient. 

Thanks to the foundation laid by the 
Volume 6 team, the brilliant editorial team 
of David Allens and Prilly Bicknell-Hersco 
have hit the ground running during another 
very challenging year with COVID-19 and 
related restrictions. A great deal of work 
and forward thinking has gone into how to 
increase the visibility, accessibility, 
functionality and aesthetics of this volume, 
which will no doubt pay dividends for 
issues still to come. I would also like to 
thank Korede Akinkunmi, who has done a 
stellar job with the copy editing, who also 
kindly offered important, timely and 
creative feedback on the pieces and journal, 
beyond the initial scope of work. Another 
big thank you to Ejaaz Ramdhanie, who 
has undertaken the layout and design 
aspects of this journal, and offered his own 
insightful thoughts on how to showcase 
the work of our students.

Beyond the editorial team and students, 
I wanted to thank Professor Nestor 
Rodriguez, who as the Caribbean Studies 
Program Director has always gone above 
and beyond to support the production of 
the journal. Thank you to all of the 
Caribbean Studies instructors, who 
provided the inspiration and guidance 
behind so many of these pieces. Thanks to 
Professors Melanie Newton, Alissa Trotz, 
Ramabai Espinet, Berardo 
Garcia-Dominguez, Lee L’Clerc and 
Chris Ramsaroop. This journal would not 
be possible without the New College 
Initiatives Fund, and the support of New 
College Vice Principal Tara Goldstein and 
New College Librarian Jeff Newman. 
Thank you to Nancy Crawley and Nancy 
Dragecevic, for all of the work that you do 
turning all of my NCIF requests into reality.

Since the publication of Volume 6, in my 
own research and course preparation, I 
have had the pleasant surprise of having 
articles by Caribbean Quilt contributors 
show up on Google Scholar. This is 
incredible. To see some of those very same 
students be cited by established academics 
is a testament to the incredible work that 
you all do.

In Solidarity

Kevin Edmonds,
Caribbean Quilt, Faculty Advisor 2020-2021, 
Caribbean Studies

Letter from Faculty Advisor

7

(January 20, 2022 / 08:53:04)

122815-1b_CaribbeanQuilt_Vol6_rev.pdf  .7


