• Cuba: Afro-Cuban Religions in a Caribbean Context
• Trinidad: Workshop on African, Indian, and Indigenous Religions of the Caribbean
• CALACS
• Dialogues in the Spirit

Monday, July 3rd

8:00 am: Registration

9:00 am: Welcome, Presentations, Inauguration

10:00 am: Unit 1: a) Santeria in Cuba

Julian Mateo, Universidad de Oriente

Vicente Portuondo, Babalocha

11:30 am: Unit I: b) Santeria in Puerto Rico, Ysamur Flores, UCLA

 

12:00 pm: Merienda

 

12:30 pm: Documentary Film Ocha

Director: Jorge Hernandez

 

1:00 pm: Unit 1: c) Orisha in Trindiad

David Trottman, York University

Rawle Gibbons, UWI, Saint Augustine

 

2:00 pm: Discussion

 

3:00 pm: Visit to Casa-Templo

Divination and Individual Consultation

 

11:00 pm: Santeria Ceremony

 

 

9:00 am: Unit II: a) Vodun in Haiti

Guerin Montilus, Wayne State University

 

10:00 am: Unit II: b) Vodun in Cuba

Jose Millit, Casa del Caribe

Alexis Alarcon, Casa del Caribe

Pable Milanes, Houngan

12:00 pm: Merienda

12:30 pm: Documentary Film Huellas

Director: Roberto Roman

1:00 pm: Discussion

3:00 pm: Reception

11:00 pm: Vodun Ceremony
 
 

9:00 am: Unit III: a) Pablo Monte in Cuba

Joel James, Casa del Caribe

Ibrahim Hechevarria, Tata Nkisi

Abelardo Larduet, Tata Nkisi

 

11:00 am: Unit III: b) Kumina in Jamaica

Maureen Warner-Lewis, UWI, Mona

12:00 pm: Merienda

12:30 pm: Documentary Film Fundamento

Director: Jorge Hernandez

1:00 pm: Discussion

3:00 pm: Visit to Casa-Templo

11:00 pm: Pala Monte Ceremony
 
 

9:00 am: Unit IV: Spiritism in Cuba

Eva Fernandez, Espiritista

Rusbel Hechevarria, Espiritista

11:00 am: Unit V: Revival and Rastafari in the Caribbean

Barry Chevannes, UWI, Mona

12:00 pm: Merienda

12:30 pm: Documentary Film Cordon

Director: Jorge Hernandez

1:00 pm: Discussion

2:00 pm: Afro-Cuban Religions in a Caribbean Context: Perspectives and Challenges

Bernardo Garcia, Casa del Caribe

Frederick Case, University of Toronto

Althea Prince, York University

Ibrahim Khan, University of Toronto

Patrick Taylor, York University

8:00 pm: Visit to Casa-Templo

11:00pm: Bembe de Sao Ceremony

 

Sponsored by The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and The Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada

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Friday 16TH

8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. - Registration: JKF Lecture Theatre

9:15 A.M. - 10:15 A.M.

Opening Session: Guest Speaker: Dr. Dale Bisnauth

10:15 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.

Coffee Break and re-assembly at I.S.E.R. Conference Room

10:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

HINDU OVERVIEWS - Chair: Mr. Balchan Rampaul

Dr. Sam Parasram

Swami Aksharanand

Pundit Ramcharan Gosine

12:30 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch

2:00 P.M. - 3:15 P.M.

AFRICAN OVERVIEWS - Chair: Ms. Eintou Springer

Prof. James Small

Mr. Rawle Gibbons

3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

ISLAMIC OVERVIEWS - Chair: Mr. Faz Ali

Dr. Rakib Buckridan

Dr. Nasser Mustapha

5:45 - 7:30 P.M.

Kali Mai Puja Demonstration (Assemble in front of Trinity Hall)

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Saturday 17th

9:00 A.M.- 10:15 A.M.

THEMATIC PRESENTATIONS: PANEL 1 - Chair: Prof. Jayaram

1. Ms. Christine Scofield: Secrecy and disclosure of sacred knowledge in Caribbean religion.
2. Mr. Khafra Kambon: Religion, state and power.
3. Mr. Burton Sankerali: Ethnicity and the problem of religion in the folk Caribbean.
4. Dr. C. Onyengili: The Ibo concept of God.

10:15 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Coffee Break

10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

PANEL 2 - Chair: Dr. Ken Parmasad

1. Ms. Ashwinee Persad-Ragoonanan: Hindu astrology in the Caribbean.
2. Mr. Kampta Karran: The Guyana Kali Mai Puja
3. Pandita Indrani Rampersad: The Pandit in the Caribbean.
4. Mr. Kirk Meighoo and Dr. Vijay Narinesingh: Pilgrimage in Trinidad.

12:30 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch

2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

PANEL 3 - Chair: Fr. Clyde Harvey

1. Imam Iqbal Hydal: Religion, state and power in Islam.
2. Pundit Ramcharan Gosine: Cross fertilization and mutual interchange in Caribbean religion: the Hindu experience.
3. Dr. Rakib Buckridan: Unity, peace and love: an Islamic perspective.
4. Dr. Ken Parmasad: Producing sacred space: ritual practices by Hindus in Trinidad.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Sunday 18th

9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M.

PANEL 4 - Chair: Dr. Everard Johnston

1. Fr. Martin Sirju: La Divin Siparee Mai: Devotion and the Empowerment of Women.
2. Mr. Mirza Ali-Mohammed: Ethnicity and religion in the Caribbean: the case of Islam.
3. Mr. Yosef Modeira: Amen, Om, Aum, An, Anu according to ancient records.
4. Mr. Farouk Khan: The arrival and early history of the Muslims in Trinidad.

10:30 - 12:30 P.M.

PANEL 3 - Chair: Mr. Burton Sankerali

1. Ms. Eintou Springer: Religious symbols in Orisha in everyday life.
2. Dr. Brinsley Samaroo: Animal symbolism in Caribbean Hindu mythology.
3. Mr. Eddy van der Hilst: Winti, an Afro-Surinamese religion.
4. Ms. Hazel-Ann Gibbs-De Peza: Spirit communication in Caribbean religion.

12:30 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch

2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

BUSINESS SESSION - Chair: Prof. Fred Case

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CALACS Conference: Caribbean Religions Panel

York University, Toronto
Schulich Business Building

I-E   CARIBBEAN RELIGION: THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL CHANGE   [Friday, Nov. 1, 9:00 am]
Chair: Juanita De Barros (York University)
Themes from Caribbean Church History: Some Post-Colonial Implications
Arthur C. Dayfoot (Former Principal of St. Andrews Theological College, Trinidad)
Congregationalism in British Guyana, 1890-1930
Juanita De Barros (York University)
Catholicism in a Maya Community in Belize
Mark O. Campbell (University of Toronto)
Discussant: Rudy Grant (York University)

II-F  CARIBBEAN RELIGION : COMMUNICATING WITH THE GODS   [Friday, Nov. 1, 10:45 am]
Chair and Discussant : Carole Yawney (York University)
Women and Religion
Judith Soares, (WAND, Barbados)
Communicating with our Gods: Language of Winti
P. Breinburg (London University, UK)
Religion and Language as Idioms of Resistance: Cultural Factors in Haitian Development
Patrick Bellegarde-Smith (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee)
Fiesta and Religion in Cuba
Bernardo García Dominguez (York University / Casa del Caribe)

III-G   CARIBBEAN RELIGION : FAITH AND HEALING   [Friday, Nov. 1, 1:15 pm]
Chair and Discussant :  Frederick I. Case (University of Toronto)
The Concept of Faith in the Pilgrimage to Saut d’Eau
David Wells (University of Texas at Austin)
Interpénétration du culte Indien et du Quimbois en Martinique
Anny Curtius (Université de Montréal)
Espiritismo Cruzado and Afro-Cuban Religion in Santiago de Cuba
Nancy B. Mikelsons (Independent Scholar)
Nouveaux mouvements religieux de la Caraïbe
Laënnec Hurbon (Haiti)

IV-G   CARIBBEAN SPIRITUALITY :  PRACTITIONERS SPEAK   [Friday, Nov. 1, 3:00 pm]
Chair:  Althea Prince (York University)
Eva Fernandez (Espiritista, Santiago de Cuba)
Bishop Mother Superior Deloris Seiveright (Shouters National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith, Toronto)
Queen Mother Bishop Yvonne B. Drakes (Trinity Divine Spiritual Baptist Church, Toronto)

PLENARY PANEL: CULTURE IN A CHANGING WORLD [Saturday, Nov. 2, 1:15-2:45]
Location: Moot Court, Osgoode Hall
Chair: Patrick Taylor (York University)
Culture and Development in Latin America
Myrna Cunningham (URACCAN University, Nicaragua)
Culture, Urbanization and the Negotiation of Identity in the Caribbean
Barry Chevannes (University of the West Indies, Jamaica)
Haiti: l’evolution actuelle des rapports entre religion et politique / Haiti: Current Evolution of Relations between Religion and Politics
Laënnec Hurbon (Haiti)
 
 

AN EVENING WITH EVA
ESPIRITISTA FROM CUBA

Founders  College,  Senior  Common  Room,
Friday,  November  1,    8:00 p.m.

The Caribbean Religions Project, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program and Founders College invite all    participants in the CALACS Conference, the York University community, and all persons interested in Caribbean Religions   to a Spiritual Evening with Eva Fernandez.
 

* Eva Fernandez, 70, has come from her native Santiago de Cuba for the CALACS Conference,  and will meet with us in the context of an informal Espiritista  ceremony.
* Eva is a major Espiritista consultant of Santiago de Cuba, and has been so for 40 years.
* Espiritismo Cruzado, a significant Cuban popular religion is  her specific religious practice.
* Espiritismo Cruzado  is an astonishing non-hierarchical  religion that crosses boundaries integrating spiritual elements from several religious and cultural traditions: Christian Catholicism, Yoruba’s    Santeria, Kongo’s Palo Monte, Kardek’s Spiritism  and  Cuban
Aboriginal spirits.
* Eva is going to do a cleansing ceremony:  Santiguar,  Despojar, and make contact briefly with each of us on this spiritual evening.

FREE ADMISSION

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Dialogues in the Spirit: Caribbean Religions in Comparative Perspective

A Conference Presented by the Caribbean Religions Project
Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, York University

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November 12-15, 1998 (Thursday - Sunday)
 

“Dialogues in the Spirit” brings together academics and practitioners from across the Caribbean for presentations and discussions on topics such as religion, society and culture in the Caribbean; Aboriginal and African religious influences in the Caribbean; and Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism in the Caribbean.  There will be a special focus on Women’s Spirituality.  Events are open to the public.

Registration: $10 ($5/day).  No charge for students with valid registration card.

Location: Senior Common Room, 305 Founders College

OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS:  Thursday November 12th, 7pm to 9pm
Pandita Indrani Rampersad, first state recognized female Hindu pundit in Trinidad and Tobago
(reception to follow)

SPECIAL EVENT: Saturday November 14, 8pm to 10 pm
An Evening of Healing in Different Traditions

Organizing Committee: Maxine Bramble, Frederick Case, Bernard Delpêche, Ramabai Espinet, Bernardo Garcia, Abrahim Khan, Sean Lokaisingh-Meighoo, Masani Montague, Althea Prince, Laura Suski, Patrick Taylor.

For more information: Contact CERLAC, 240 York Lanes, York University, 4700 Keele St., North York, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3, Tel. 416-736-5237, Fax. 416-736-5737 or Patrick Taylor taylorp@yorku.ca.
 

Acknowledgements: The organizers acknowledge the generous support of the Social Sciences and Humanties Research Council of Canada; the Division of Humanities, the Office of the Vice-President (Academic Affairs), Founders College, Religious Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Women’s Studies and the Nigerian Hinterland Project, York University; NewCollege, University of Toronto; the United Church; the Anglican Foundation of Canada; the Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago; Program for the Analysis of Religion Among Latinos/as and the Office for Research of Religion in Society and Culture, Brooklyn College.
 
 

Dialogues in the Spirit: Caribbean Religions in Comparative Perspective
Nov. 12-15, 1998

All sessions will be held in the Senior Common Room, Founders College (Room 305)

Thursday, Nov. 12

 
Registration      5-7 pm

1. Invocation and Keynote Address   7-9 pm
Chairs: Patrick Taylor and Ramabai Espinet
Pandita Indrani Rampersad (Trinidad and Tobago)

Reception

Friday, Nov. 13
 

9-10:45 am
2. What is Caribbean About Caribbean Religions?
Chair: Frederick I. Case
“Redefining Religion in Amerindian Thought: A Discourse on Amerindian Spirituality in Guyana”
 Desrey Fox (Rice University)
“African Latin American Religions: Syncretism?”
 Guerin Montilus (Wayne State University)
“Hinduism in Guyana as Encyclopaedia Entry”
 Abrahim H. Khan (University of Toronto)

11 am-12:45 pm
3. Historical Perspectives on Caribbean Religions
Chair: Gary Warner
“Participation des Juifs au démarrage de l’activité sucrière dans la Caraïbe dès le 17° siècle”
 Emile Eadie (IUFM, Martinique)
“Protestantism in the Caribbean: A Historical Perspective”
 Noel Titus (Codrington College, Barbados)
“Islam in the Caribbean”
 Nasser Mustapha (University of the West Indies, Trinidad)

Lunch 1-2 pm

2-3:45 pm
4. Gender and Religion in the Caribbean
Chair: Frances Henry
“Fundamentalism in the Caribbean: Feminism and New Women's Ministries”
 Judith Soares (WAND, Barbados)
“Rastafari and Gender”
 Masani Montague (York University)
"Symbolising the Womb: an Examination into the Female Proscription of Ifa Divination and Bata  Drumming in Cuban Orisha Worship."
 Michael Marcuzzi (York University)

4-5:45 pm
5. Women’s Spirituality from a Practitioner’s Perspective
Chair: Desrey Fox
Myrna Peterkin (Guyana)
Elly Purperhart (Suriname)
Indrani Rampersad (Trinidad)

Saturday, Nov. 14

 
9-10:45 am
6. Religion and Sexuality in the Caribbean
Chair: Andrea Davis
“The Caribbean Churches’ Responses to Homosexuality”
 Nigel Thomas (Université Laval)
"Jahaji Bhai: Notes on the Masculine Subject and Homoerotic Subtext of Indo-Caribbean  Identity," Sean Lokaisingh-Meighoo (York University)
“Vodou and Eroticism in the Work of René Depestre”
 Muriel Walker (University of Toronto)

11-12:45 pm
7. Religion and Society in the Caribbean
Chair: Arnold Itwaru
“Hinduism in Guadeloupe,”
 Olivier Mounsamy (Guadeloupe)
“Protestantism in Cuba”
 René Cárdenas-Medina (CIPS, Havana)
“Les Quimboiseuses? Questioning Identity and Feminine Dialogue with the Spirit in Martinique.”
 Anny Dominique Curtius (University of the West Indies, Trinidad)

Lunch   1-2 pm
2-3:45 pm
8. Religion and Nation in Cuba
Chair: Bernardo Garcia
“The Virgin of El Cobre and the Cuban Nation”
 Olga Portuondo (Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba)
“The Light and the Drum”
 Jorge Luis Hernandez (Casa del Caribe, Santiago de Cuba)
“A Tribute to Eva Fernandez Bravo, Espiritista Extraordinaria”
 Nancy Mikelsons (Independent Scholar, United States)

4-5:45 pm
9.  A Rastafari Reasoning
Chair: Carole Yawney
 Robert Hill (UCLA) in dialogue with Mortimo Planno (Jamaica)

      8:00-10:00 pm
10. An Evening of Healing in Different Traditions
Desrey Fox (Guyana)
Elly Purperhart (Suriname)
Indrani Rampersad (Trinidad)

Sunday, Nov. 15
 

10:00 am-12:00 pm11. Religious Expression in Caribbean Culture
Chair: Ramabai Espinet
“The Contribution of Religion to Caribbean Languages”
 Jeannette Allsopp (University of the West Indies, Barbados)
“Spirituality as a Strategy in Caribbean Women’s Resistance”
 Yvonne Bobbsmith (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
“Religion and Life in Caribbean Literature”
 Juliet Emanuel (CUNY)
“The Semiotics of the Vèvè in the Work of Depestre”
 Bernard Delpêche (University of Toronto)

12:00-12:30 Lunch Break

12:30-2:30 pm
12. Religion, Ritual and Performance
Chair: Robert Witmer
“Singing -- the Heart of the Garifuna Dugu Ceremony”
 Joseph O. Palacio (University of the West Indies, Belize)
“The Drum and Afro-Surinamese Religion, Winti”
 Herman Snijders (Directorate of Culture, Suriname)
“El Proyecto Orunmila”
 Ernesto Valdés Janet (Orunmila Project, Havana)
“Religion and Caribbean Performance: The Drama of Dennis Scott”
 Honor Ford-Smith (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
 

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for more information on the CRP, contact Patrick Taylor