Celebrating Black History Month!
February 02, 2023
Each year in February, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) is proud to celebrate the heritage, traditions and culture of Black Canadians.
Latoya Mieres, a Unit Clerk on the Inpatient Unit Mental Health Unit and Emergency Department at our Stratford General Hospital site, is celebrating Black History Month by understanding black histories, going beyond stories of racism and slavery, to spotlighting black achievement.
Latoya what is your background and how do you celebrate it?
My background is Afro Caribbean, Trinidadian. I would like myself to be called a Trini. A few Trinidadian festivals I love to celebrate are Trinidad Carnival, Diwali, Independence Day and Emancipation Day!
What does black history month mean to you?
Black History Month is an opportunity to understand black histories, going beyond stories of racism and slavery to spotlight black achievement. To me, it’s about recognizing the achievements by every black Afro Caribbean descendant.
What would you like people to know about your Trinidadian culture?
People may not know that it’s a twin island called Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-lenten Carnival, beaches, Pitch Lake, Bird Sanctuary and our food. It’s also well known for its African and Indian Cultures reflected in it’s famous Carnival and Diwali.
It is the birthplace of steelpan, the limbo and music styles such as calypso, soca, rapso, parang, chutney and chutney soca.
Popular dishes are roti, crab and dumpling, bake and shark, oildown, pelau, callaloo, curry duck and rice, and pastelles & pholourie.
Trinidad is also as one of the largest producers of sugarcane.
Do you have any black figures that inspire you?
Yes! Dr. Eric Williams. During his term as Prime Minister he led Trinidad and Tobago into Federation of the West Indies and to independence within the commonwealth.