Lost In Translation
An inter-arts project that uses oral history and spoken word poetry to explore the relationship between generations of immigrants.
Lost in Translation is an empathy-based project aiming to break down barriers between immigrant parents and their children; detailing the hardships of immigration in the Greater Toronto Area.
By having youth unpack their parent’s oral histories and reflect upon their own experiences we want them to have a better understanding of their family’s legacy and give them the opportunity to share as what that means to them.
“I find refuge under my mother’s roof, where I can quiet my thoughts.”
My name is Nada Salem. I’m a high school student in Toronto who has had some creative work published in magazines including Potted Purple and Young Voices. Most of my work consists of short stories that explore existential themes and the immigrant experience. I don’t write much poetry, and I’ve never done spoken word before, so this was an excellent opportunity to try it out. I’m so glad I did!
My mother is an Arab-Canadian immigrant. Her cultural identity, as is mine, is complicated. She’s been open about this struggle throughout my life, sharing stories of home and family with my sister and I. In my interview, I wanted to talk to my mother about religion, culture, and community to highlight her unique experiences. Ultimately, I hope someone who shares her circumstance will hear her story and will feel less alone.
“I have the burden of choosing what parts of my mom’s legacy, if any, I carry forward because I’ll need to translate it first.”
My name is George Yonemori, and I’m an 18-year-old spoken word poet, published author, and songwriter based in Toronto. My work explores themes of mental health, consumerism, and abuse. I’m currently an English student at the University of Toronto Scarborough. I’ve been published by the TCTE Short Fiction Contest, Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices magazine, and the Royal Ontario Museum.
My mom is Chinese, and my dad is Egyptian. They both immigrated to Canada in the same way that countless others do; however, unlike most of my friends’ parents, they’re tight-lipped about their experiences. The Lost in Translation program gave me a chance to have a long-overdue conversation with my mom about our heritage and her experiences. She’s very proud of the poem I wrote, and so am I.
“My ticket here was paid for by the struggles of my parents I was born a child from sacrifice”
My name is Harini Vasantharaj and I am a 17-year-old spoken poet from Scarborough. My pieces stem from thoughts about my identity as a Tamil girl raised by refugees and my family. Poetry is how I express myself and a key step to confronting feelings I wouldn’t otherwise know how to translate. Over the years I’ve won the Agincourt Poetry Slam, became a finalist for the B.L.A.C.K Poetry and Monologue competition, and came first in the Stay Golden Poetry Slam.
My parents were both made refugees by the Sri Lankan Civil war and moved to Canada in the 1990s. They came here with nothing and had to build themselves from the ground up. I’ll never know anyone who values family more than my parents. My parents provided a sheltered childhood for me and my two older siblings and we were blind to what they had overcome before having us. Because they were in survival mode for so long they’ve become hesitant to talk about their past but through Lost in translation, I finally got to look them in the eye. I am so glad I was finally able to have this conversation with them but I’m even more thankful they finally had the chance to say their truth out loud.
Funded by
Presented by
Stay Golden 