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I realized that not only were my children<br />
affected by the lack of indigenous literature,<br />
but all children born in the diaspora were<br />
similarly affected. So, 20 years ago I made it a<br />
goal to write children’s stories that<br />
highlighted typical experiences of children in<br />
St. Lucia and the Caribbean.<br />
Ahh, the saying "it doesn't matter how slowly<br />
you go as long as you do not stop," springs to<br />
mind...<br />
My third reason for writing these books is as<br />
an educator, I realized the importance of<br />
reading and literacy in human development,<br />
but discovered that many children from<br />
minority cultures had limited culturally<br />
relevant literature to pique their interest in<br />
reading and motivate them to want to read.<br />
Most of the reading material<br />
available to them were about people that did<br />
not look like them and were not of their<br />
culture. That sent the message that<br />
their culture was not significant or<br />
important enough to write about. And if your<br />
culture and your origins are not important to<br />
write about, perhaps you are not important<br />
as a product of your culture, and<br />
therefore you abandon your cultural<br />
heritage and try to become someone<br />
else.<br />
It struck me that there was a strong<br />
connection between culturally relevant<br />
literature and cultural identity. I<br />
therefore decided that writing<br />
culturally relevant literature was a very<br />
important way of nurturing our<br />
cultural self.<br />
Very fair point.<br />
Culturally relevant literature nurtures<br />
ourselves and others by reflecting,<br />
highlighting, validating and celebrating<br />
interesting, beautiful, valuable,<br />
inspiring aspects of our daily lives and<br />
experiences. Writing and sharing<br />
indigenous literature is just a small<br />
contribution to help our people<br />
nurture themselves culturally.<br />
Oh my – so very powerful and true. I<br />
tip my hat off to you for recognizing