Guyanese Online

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• Clyde Duncan  On 10/05/2013 at 4:48 pm

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  Most Canadians are not aware of the multicultural origins of Canada, especially British Columbia. More importantly, the fathers of British Columbia are sons of British Guiana [Guyana] and Barbados – The First Governor, Guyanese-born, Sir James Douglas and the First Lieutenant-Governor, Barbados-born, Col. Richard Moody.

  Governor Douglas wrote to Queen Victoria after Canada [Hudson Bay Company] lost the State of Washington and the State of Oregon to the USA without a shot being fired, but through the efforts of disgruntled Chief Fur Traders. Governor Douglas also observed an influx of American miners coming north as the California Gold Rush was dying. As you can imagine, these were the days of the ‘Wild West’; these miners were carousing and carrying on, firing their six-guns and shotguns in the air all hours of the day and night; and there was not much of any presence for keeping the peace, beyond a few unarmed police officers. The Governor thought that the First Nations and British people would be outnumbered and the same fate would befall the community – at this time, Governor Douglas was responsible for the colony of Vancouver Island only.

  The Queen responded that the Governor is overly concerned and that we [the British] do not want to antagonize the Americans. At that time, there were disgruntled, freed slaves in California – they couldn’t vote, couldn’t start a business, couldn’t find a paid-job; so Governor Douglas told them there were opportunities up north and invited them to come. So, they took him at his word sailed north to Vancouver Island and the Governor formed what is commonly called “The African Rifles”, this unit brought civility back to the community until reinforcements arrived in the form of the Royal Navy and the Royal Engineers led by Barbados-born, [former Governor of the Falklands], Col. Richard Moody. Queen Victoria proclaimed Vancouver Island and the mainland, the colony of British Columbia and Douglas the first governor on 19 November 1858 at Fort Langley.

  British Columbia joined Canada in 1871; Canada is the first country in the world to make multiculturalism official policy in 1971. The first multicultural chief administrator of any state or province in North America is Governor Douglas in November 1858; the first multicultural chief administrator was elected to the White House, USA in November 2008. Guyana and Barbados received their independence from the UK in 1966 and we would like to see a joint celebration of their 50th anniversary, in British Columbia, in 2016. The Great-Grand-Daughter of James Douglas, Sarah Bowns, will be joining us this year while visiting from the UK.

• de castro compton  On 10/06/2013 at 2:46 am

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  Interesting
  Question….Who were the first inhabitants of British Columbia…

  Eskimos nomads Indians….history is written by the “victors”
  It should be written by the “vanquished” !
  History also teaches fools !

  Were not the north american Indians (nomads) rounded up like cattle
  and herded into communes…destroyed culturally…

  500 years is a short time scale “historically”…
  Historians must do their research before showering praise on individuals
  during conquest/colonisation of our planet lest we remain fools

  Kamptan

  • Thinker  On 10/06/2013 at 7:28 am

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    Douglas had a historic role in the settlement of Blacks in B.C. Should this be ignored because he was a servant of the British Empire? Recently there was a article on Governors of British Guiana. Should they not be mentioned because they were part of a system which subjugated all others. Recently you mentioned your mentioned your “admiration” for Hitler because he made the German people proud (so did Stalin for Georgians). Should the history of WWII be written from the point of view of the vanquished Germans?

    Should no one ever again speak of the bravery of the Buffalo Soldiers even though they too were an exploited group?

• Clyde Duncan  On 10/06/2013 at 4:12 am

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  Kamptan: Feel free to do your own research, Man!! I choose to celebrate the part we played in the multicultural origins of British Columbia. Some others would rather smoke dope in their spare time. The Juan de Fuca Strait has just been renamed the Salish Sea. Guess why?? Do your own research….

• Clyde Duncan  On 10/06/2013 at 4:18 am

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  http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/jun11/salish_sea.asp

• de castro compton  On 10/06/2013 at 6:50 am

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  Clyde
  Thank you for the bit of historical enlightenment.
  Congratulations also to those who feel connected by a name change.
  However I do not see how changing/creating/inventing/naming a place or person
  makes it or them different….more acceptable.
  it demonstrates how entangled we can become in bureaucratic bull….
  Naming a place for whatever reason makes no difference to it ecologically…
  It does not change place or person….it only helps to identify it….

  My mother named me at birth…with my fathers approval or not.
  She had a reason for choosing my name….it made no difference to me.
  If my name was changed later it would be my decision and not what
  others wished to call me….again my choice.
  Naming a person or place makes no difference … it does not matter.
  It is but a name…form of identity…a number serves the same purpose..
  I could have been xyz or 123 or x1y2z3…..

  My position on person or place names has not changed either.

  I thank you for the bit of enlightenment historically

  Kamptan

  • Thinker  On 10/06/2013 at 7:39 am

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    You are somewhat inconsistent when you mention history is written by the victors but you deny recognition of the vanquished through name changes. Should Ghana still be referred to as the Gold Coast and Zimbabwe as Southern Rhodesia? Your analogy with your mother’s naming you at birth is just too simplistic.

• de castro compton  On 10/06/2013 at 8:18 am

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  Yes simplistic but sometimes solutions are simple …it is people who
  Try to/complicate it. Changing a name does not rewrite history….but I
  Do accept that the explanations for “change” a necessary evil….

  We can change Asia name to UNITEDSTATES of ASIA
  or whatever…Africa to UNITED STATES OF THE AFRICAN REPUBLICS
  or whatever….changing a name does not change the people or their culture…
  it just identifies them as being “different” from “old”….
  A politician changed LABOUR from Old labour to New Labour.
  A company changes its logo to New Colgate….in my days we did not ask for
  toothpaste but COLGATE….just names and how they are as catchy as lyrics in a song…repeated often enough and it catches on….becomes more acceptable…
  Say it often enough and you not only make others believe it….you believe it.

  This goes into the theological aspect of religion a subject that takes centuries
  to change….I will try to focus on the political/economic decisions necessary
  before we can go forward….more important than some heaven/hell discussion
  on the afterlife.
  Thanks for your opinion my brother thinker
  Kamptan

  • Thinker  On 10/06/2013 at 10:08 am

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    It is YOUR premise that changing a name rewrites history. No one else is claiming that. You are acting like Don Quixote. We simply have the opportunity now to have a clearer understanding of what happened historically and the vanquished peoples can put some balance in our understanding.

• de castro compton  On 10/06/2013 at 8:29 am

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  Thinker
  Educate me …I am aware why Ghana changed its name….however
  not aware of why Ghana was chosen…help !
  In the same token I know why Rhodesia changed its name….why was <Zimbawee
  Chosen for replacement….
  In both cases it was the political leadership of the time …change was necessary
  choice may have been "undemocratic"…forgive me for speculating….

  We never stop learning my friend
  As we mature we become more receptive…
  more adaptable for the survival of our species…humanoids !

  Kamptan

• Thinker  On 10/06/2013 at 10:13 am

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  Ghana was the name of an Ancient Kingdom (situated further to the N-W. than the modern-day one) and Zimbabwe was chose because of the famous Ruins.
  Note that our species has a very precise name “Homo Sapiens Sapiens”

• de castro compton  On 10/06/2013 at 11:35 am

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  Thinker
  The GERMANS were not “vanquished” they were misled by their “nationalistic”
  desire for world dominance….their leader was revengeful….having surrendered
  in 1910-14 war….Germans wished to regain their lost pride….glory !
  Similar to the Christians Muslims glorification of GOD….

  OBSERVE the factions in Syria and the Arab world for a better understanding
  of your political convictions….
  If the issue is not religious it is political and if not political it is economic….

  It is essential/paramount that these issues/subjects be addressed seperately
  or we become confused on the wrongs/rights …good/bad decisions that our
  leaders make.
  Hey I am no son of a preacher man or know it all….but I will defend my belief/convictions…..hoping that others may do so too….

  We never stop learning

  Thanks your thoughts

  Kamptan

• Thinker  On 10/06/2013 at 3:49 pm

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  The lost pride stuff does not explain much about the Germans. Hitler came into power with a minority party and manipulated his way to absolute power. The Nazi killed millions because of an ideology which you are quite content to ignore in your “admiration” of Hitler. You can’t deal with facts. Do you think most Germans are proud of what was done under Hitler?

  You can defend your convictions but I trust that no younger people will get a warped view of history from them.

  To all, we must struggle constantly to make sure that falsehoods on this blog are contradicted.

• de castro compton  On 10/07/2013 at 1:02 am

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  Thinker
  I do not speak with forked tounge…

  Hitler was a politician and power changed him into a “tyrant”

  Power corrupts and ultimate power corrupts ultimately…

  Of course Germans are not only embarrassed but ashamed of the past
  but should be forgiven but not forgotten ….only fools forget…..

  We cannot turn back time but must remain optimistic about our future
  and the future generations…..less we die in despair.

  No more preaching….our next generations are more informed than we think
  “Social media” et all…hopefully open-minded about it.

  Kamptan

• Clyde Duncan  On 11/02/2013 at 1:20 am

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  The Caribbean Comes to British Columbia
  At Fort Langley’s Douglas Day Event

  Fort Langley, BC, November 1, 2013 – The beat of the Caribbean steel drum
  band will fill the air November 16 at Fort Langley National Historic Site’s
  unique Douglas Day Celebration. Parks Canada, the Fort Langley Legacy
  Foundation and the Guyanese Canadian Cultural Association of BC invite
  visitors to celebrate the establishment of the Colony of British Columbia
  and its first governor, Caribbean-born Sir James Douglas.

  On November 19, 1858, 155 years ago, Sir James Douglas proclaimed British
  Columbia a crown colony in Fort Langley’s Big House. Douglas Day
  celebrations have been taking place for over 25 years to mark the occasion.
  Douglas was born to a Scottish merchant and a Barbados-born, Creole woman
  in what is now the country of Guyana on the north-eastern shore of South America.

  At noon on November 16, crowds will gather at the Fort Langley Community
  Hall at 9167 Glover Road to follow a festive procession through Fort
  Langley village and into the Fort for a free afternoon of entertainment under
  a heated tent.

  From noon to 3 pm, connect to the warmth of the Caribbean and dance to the
  beat of a Steel Drum Band and enjoy Caribbean food from the Full Barrel
  Café. Visitors will be invited to sign as witnesses to the proclamation in the
  heated tent behind the Big House as part of the re-enactment of the proclamation.

  Fort Langley National Historic Site is part of Parks Canada’s system of
  national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation
  areas. Parks Canada works to ensure that Canada’s historic and natural
  heritage is presented and protected for the enjoyment, education and
  appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future.

  -30-

  Information:
  |———————————————–+———————————|
  |Mike Starr |Nancy Hildebrand |
  |Visitor Services Manager, |Promotion & Non-personal Media Officer |
  |Fort Langley National Historic Site |Fort Langley National Historic Site |
  |Office: 604.513.4785 | Office: 604.513.4784 |
  |Mike.Starr@pc.gc.ca | Nancy.Hildebrand@pc.gc.ca |
  |———————————————–+———————————|