NAM KIWANUKA

 

Hometown

London, Ontario

 

What is your ethnic background?

Ugandan. My grandfather is/was Scottish and was an Aeronautical Engineer with the British Royal Air Force. My dad has never met him. We have never met him.

 

What does it mean to be Canadian?

Being a Canadian to me means that you can still celebrate your ethnic roots without comprising your Canadian identity.

 

What is your definition of 'Canadian Culture'?

To me, Canadian Culture is a paella mix of all the traditions of the different ethnicities that call Canada home. It’s part Asian, African, Native, European and everything in between.

 

What inspires you?

My nephews and wanting to create a better life for them than the one my siblings and I had growing up. When I have children I hope to create a secure environment that encourages them to reach for the sky and for them to know how incredible they are.

 

How did your environment shape you?

My environment shaped me in both negative ways and positive. It taught me to be tough and independent but at the same time, I learned to be wary and suspicious of people.

 

What do you want to be remembered for?

For being a kind and selfless person who enjoyed her Hagen Daz ice cream.

 

Who is your hero?

My father. Without his perseverance and the commitment he had for his kids, I don’t know where any of us would be today. A lot of negative things are said about black fathers but my dad stayed with us when our mother left. Even though he was barely 21 and it would have been really easy for him to take off, my father put his wants second to the needs of his children. And for that I am forever grateful.

 

What makes you happy?

Watching Sponge Bob Square Pants with my nephew and seeing the world.

 

What social cause is most important to you and why?

I’m behind any cause that supports women and children. I grew up in an environment where women were the pillars of strength yet their opinions and voices were often silenced and as a little girl I lived through and saw things that even an adult shouldn’t have to experience.

 

If you could change something globally or locally what would it be?

I think to affect change at any level whether it is globally or locally, it all has to start from a personal level. I think that if we all cared about each other a little bit more, the world would be a lot nicer to live in.

 

High school flash back

This story shows how fresh I was when our family moved to Canada. Our Church used to give us second-hand clothes. It was so exciting for us to have these new old things. I think that’s what started my love for flea markets and vintage stores. One time, I think I was in grade four, I found this matching shirt and shorts. It was light blue with clouds and I thought it was the coolest outfit ever. I couldn’t wait to wear it to school. When I got there I felt so cool until a friend of mine pulled me aside. The kids were pointing at me and whispering and I didn’t understand why. She said, ‘you’re wearing pajamas’. I was devastated. I was pretty good with ignoring the teasing that’s guaranteed as one of five black (my siblings) kids in an all white school. It’s the only time that I called my dad and went home crying. I felt so small and different. But now it’s a funny story.

 

Recommended books

The Four Agreements, The Alchemist, Veronika Decides to Die, The Bluest Eye and my favorite, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

 

Recommended CDs

Anything by Bob Marley. It’s a credit to his talent and visionary that songs he wrote some 40 years ago are still relevant today. It also shows the lack of progress that we as Global citizens have made during that time. Even though we’ve leaped bounds in the fields of technology, medicine etc cetera, people are still living in poverty, wars are claiming the lives of children and mothers, and neighbors are strangers. It’s easier to send someone to space than it is for someone walking on the street to treat a homeless man with dignity.

Read Nam's arrival story here to learn more about how she came to live in Canada and what she is currently up to