in Kerala Moishe our national language we would say c’mon yeah are you okay
we would say c’mon yeah are you okay
we would say c’mon yeah are you okay a kike and when people will say coke
a kike and when people will say coke
a kike and when people will say coke sir the history of Mauritius is a
sir the history of Mauritius is a
sir the history of Mauritius is a history of rebellion and I am part I
history of rebellion and I am part I
history of rebellion and I am part I would say of this contemporary rebellion
would say of this contemporary rebellion
would say of this contemporary rebellion this is what I’m going to share with you
this is what I’m going to share with you
this is what I’m going to share with you our rebellion started with our ancestors
our rebellion started with our ancestors
our rebellion started with our ancestors our ancestors fought against three
our ancestors fought against three
our ancestors fought against three colonizers first were Dutch when the
colonizers first were Dutch when the
colonizers first were Dutch when the French and the British when we moved
French and the British when we moved
French and the British when we moved gradually towards national freedom we
gradually towards national freedom we
gradually towards national freedom we got our independence in 1968 apart from
got our independence in 1968 apart from
got our independence in 1968 apart from my official job title when you look at
my official job title when you look at
my official job title when you look at my business card it is written via
my business card it is written via
my business card it is written via deputy director head of secondary
deputy director head of secondary
deputy director head of secondary schools Catholic education apart from
schools Catholic education apart from
schools Catholic education apart from that in fact I am an independent
that in fact I am an independent
that in fact I am an independent researcher working in the field of
researcher working in the field of
researcher working in the field of identity memory and reconstruction for
identity memory and reconstruction for
identity memory and reconstruction for the past ten years I have been involved
the past ten years I have been involved
the past ten years I have been involved in what we call here in Mauritius
in what we call here in Mauritius
in what we call here in Mauritius lockers clearly in French we say it
lockers clearly in French we say it
lockers clearly in French we say it lockers and in English it is the Creole
lockers and in English it is the Creole
lockers and in English it is the Creole coos what we schools about it is about
coos what we schools about it is about
coos what we schools about it is about the creole minority group in Mauritius I
the creole minority group in Mauritius I
the creole minority group in Mauritius I am a Creole the Creole minority group
am a Creole the Creole minority group
am a Creole the Creole minority group comprises mainly people of African and
comprises mainly people of African and
comprises mainly people of African and Malagasy descents but it also includes
Malagasy descents but it also includes
Malagasy descents but it also includes people of mixed origins like me for the
people of mixed origins like me for the
people of mixed origins like me for the Creole and especially for VAT codes in
Creole and especially for VAT codes in
Creole and especially for VAT codes in which I’m involved it is about the
which I’m involved it is about the
which I’m involved it is about the struggle of the Creoles in Mauritius due
struggle of the Creoles in Mauritius due
struggle of the Creoles in Mauritius due to our historical circumstances where we
to our historical circumstances where we
to our historical circumstances where we have lost our history this course is
have lost our history this course is
have lost our history this course is about reclaiming but history is to get
about reclaiming but history is to get
about reclaiming but history is to get back this history to rewrite our own
back this history to rewrite our own
back this history to rewrite our own history
history
history and part of this part of this Creole
and part of this part of this Creole
and part of this part of this Creole course is the issue the issue of
course is the issue the issue of
course is the issue the issue of language and identity and is there at
language and identity and is there at
language and identity and is there at this level but I intervened but I was
this level but I intervened but I was
this level but I intervened but I was engaged in 2005 I will tell you more
engaged in 2005 I will tell you more
engaged in 2005 I will tell you more about it later
about it later
about it later Haram OSI is the language spoken by all
Haram OSI is the language spoken by all
Haram OSI is the language spoken by all more shots but until 2012 it was not
more shots but until 2012 it was not
more shots but until 2012 it was not recognized officially in our schools yet
recognized officially in our schools yet
recognized officially in our schools yet it is used it has to be used if you have
it is used it has to be used if you have
it is used it has to be used if you have to explain pupil students at all levels
to explain pupil students at all levels
to explain pupil students at all levels from primary secondary to tertiary
from primary secondary to tertiary
from primary secondary to tertiary education you have if you’re a teacher
education you have if you’re a teacher
education you have if you’re a teacher you have to explain increments but until
you have to explain increments but until
you have to explain increments but until 2012 it was used just as a support
2012 it was used just as a support
2012 it was used just as a support language it was not the official medium
language it was not the official medium
language it was not the official medium of instruction it all happened in 2005 I
of instruction it all happened in 2005 I
of instruction it all happened in 2005 I was assigned by the Catholic education
was assigned by the Catholic education
was assigned by the Catholic education authorities to pilot a mother tongue
authorities to pilot a mother tongue
authorities to pilot a mother tongue education project especially for
education project especially for
education project especially for literacy and numeracy for adolescents
literacy and numeracy for adolescents
literacy and numeracy for adolescents who could not read and write who were
who could not read and write who were
who could not read and write who were dropouts
dropouts
dropouts I had a Harvard really the satisfaction
I had a Harvard really the satisfaction
I had a Harvard really the satisfaction it was really a mission for me to work
it was really a mission for me to work
it was really a mission for me to work with team of dedicated teachers in fact
with team of dedicated teachers in fact
with team of dedicated teachers in fact they were pioneering teachers you can
they were pioneering teachers you can
they were pioneering teachers you can see them on this photo it was in 2000
see them on this photo it was in 2000
see them on this photo it was in 2000 line I am just sitting down with another
line I am just sitting down with another
line I am just sitting down with another friend you can see my hair was not yet
friend you can see my hair was not yet
friend you can see my hair was not yet gray and so this is ver team the first
gray and so this is ver team the first
gray and so this is ver team the first team of teachers who work on Hermosa but
team of teachers who work on Hermosa but
team of teachers who work on Hermosa but at that time in 2009 it was not yet
at that time in 2009 it was not yet
at that time in 2009 it was not yet recognized officially by the government
recognized officially by the government
recognized officially by the government by the Minister of Education and in 20
by the Minister of Education and in 20
by the Minister of Education and in 20 in 2010 so following the work that we
in 2010 so following the work that we
in 2010 so following the work that we were doing at school level and advocacy
were doing at school level and advocacy
were doing at school level and advocacy around it we got a special mention for
around it we got a special mention for
around it we got a special mention for we got a special mention at
we got a special mention at
we got a special mention at the Commonwealth good Education Award
the Commonwealth good Education Award
the Commonwealth good Education Award practice you can see here another
practice you can see here another
practice you can see here another picture so we had a great ceremony here
picture so we had a great ceremony here
picture so we had a great ceremony here you know the Commonwealth it’s a an
you know the Commonwealth it’s a an
you know the Commonwealth it’s a an annual a – it’s an annual award where
annual a – it’s an annual award where
annual a – it’s an annual award where the Commonwealth promotes good education
the Commonwealth promotes good education
the Commonwealth promotes good education practice award I did not win the award
practice award I did not win the award
practice award I did not win the award but we went for the final and there were
but we went for the final and there were
but we went for the final and there were 200 countries selected and Mauritius was
200 countries selected and Mauritius was
200 countries selected and Mauritius was among the ten countries so this was
among the ten countries so this was
among the ten countries so this was really a big achievement it gave us
really a big achievement it gave us
really a big achievement it gave us great encouragement to move forward for
great encouragement to move forward for
great encouragement to move forward for the recognition of coal museum what why
the recognition of coal museum what why
the recognition of coal museum what why does her Moishe matter so much to me why
does her Moishe matter so much to me why
does her Moishe matter so much to me why does it count to me
does it count to me
does it count to me this is part of the history of my people
this is part of the history of my people
this is part of the history of my people of my own community in 1992 I graduated
of my own community in 1992 I graduated
of my own community in 1992 I graduated at the University of the new Island for
at the University of the new Island for
at the University of the new Island for somebody like me in those days we used
somebody like me in those days we used
somebody like me in those days we used to say small Creole mystical mean you
to say small Creole mystical mean you
to say small Creole mystical mean you come from a working-class family
come from a working-class family
come from a working-class family it was really an achievement it was
it was really an achievement it was
it was really an achievement it was really great to go to a French
really great to go to a French
really great to go to a French University so my mother when I came back
University so my mother when I came back
University so my mother when I came back expected but I would speak French but I
expected but I would speak French but I
expected but I would speak French but I would eat camembert French cheese
would eat camembert French cheese
would eat camembert French cheese but I would drink wine and then to
but I would drink wine and then to
but I would drink wine and then to distinguish between white and red wine
distinguish between white and red wine
distinguish between white and red wine she would expect also that I speak
she would expect also that I speak
she would expect also that I speak French with my little brother and sister
French with my little brother and sister
French with my little brother and sister but deep down inside me deep down my
but deep down inside me deep down my
but deep down inside me deep down my soul I was Frantz Fanon I was Paulo
soul I was Frantz Fanon I was Paulo
soul I was Frantz Fanon I was Paulo Freire I was Steve Biko I was Kwame
Freire I was Steve Biko I was Kwame
Freire I was Steve Biko I was Kwame Nkrumah I was Arabic
Nkrumah I was Arabic
Nkrumah I was Arabic and so when the Catholic authorities
and so when the Catholic authorities
and so when the Catholic authorities assigned to me this job of piloting the
assigned to me this job of piloting the
assigned to me this job of piloting the project the literacy and numeracy
project the literacy and numeracy
project the literacy and numeracy project in coal militia
project in coal militia
project in coal militia I could either I could either be
I could either I could either be
I could either I could either be satisfied with the social mobility in
satisfied with the social mobility in
satisfied with the social mobility in life get satisfied with my executive
life get satisfied with my executive
life get satisfied with my executive chair be satisfied with the
chair be satisfied with the
chair be satisfied with the air-conditioned office and give some
air-conditioned office and give some
air-conditioned office and give some orders to the subordinates sending
orders to the subordinates sending
orders to the subordinates sending circular letters all challenged change
circular letters all challenged change
circular letters all challenged change the status code what I did I choose to
the status code what I did I choose to
the status code what I did I choose to make change happen
make change happen
make change happen I started rebelling
I started rebelling
I started rebelling I wrote newspaper articles I petition
I wrote newspaper articles I petition
I wrote newspaper articles I petition members of national assembly I cut I
members of national assembly I cut I
members of national assembly I cut I rallied the people around them went to
rallied the people around them went to
rallied the people around them went to talk to them and then gradually the
talk to them and then gradually the
talk to them and then gradually the people started to rally around backhoes
people started to rally around backhoes
people started to rally around backhoes but the most difficult thing was not to
but the most difficult thing was not to
but the most difficult thing was not to convince the government but to convince
convince the government but to convince
convince the government but to convince my own people my own community telling
my own people my own community telling
my own people my own community telling them that they have been in fact
them that they have been in fact
them that they have been in fact alienated for years and centuries of
alienated for years and centuries of
alienated for years and centuries of accepting but where linguish should not
accepting but where linguish should not
accepting but where linguish should not be at school I can understand this
be at school I can understand this
be at school I can understand this because we only role model but we could
because we only role model but we could
because we only role model but we could have in those days and still today is
have in those days and still today is
have in those days and still today is that former middle class is the class
that former middle class is the class
that former middle class is the class which speaks French and English but I
which speaks French and English but I
which speaks French and English but I had to convince the people but you can’t
had to convince the people but you can’t
had to convince the people but you can’t cut off your culture you can’t reject
cut off your culture you can’t reject
cut off your culture you can’t reject your face your culture you can’t reject
your face your culture you can’t reject
your face your culture you can’t reject your language you must speak French you
your language you must speak French you
your language you must speak French you must acquire English these are
must acquire English these are
must acquire English these are international languages they help you to
international languages they help you to
international languages they help you to move forward but you must keep your
move forward but you must keep your
move forward but you must keep your roots so I went on on a campaign for the
roots so I went on on a campaign for the
roots so I went on on a campaign for the recognition of coal militia around the
recognition of coal militia around the
recognition of coal militia around the country and at the same time at the same
country and at the same time at the same
country and at the same time at the same time we had the emergence in the country
time we had the emergence in the country
time we had the emergence in the country of an afro Creole identity movement this
of an afro Creole identity movement this
of an afro Creole identity movement this coin said coincided with the world that
coin said coincided with the world that
coin said coincided with the world that I was doing with his dedicated team of
I was doing with his dedicated team of
I was doing with his dedicated team of teachers and it is at that point in time
teachers and it is at that point in time
teachers and it is at that point in time but I realize that the issue of culinary
but I realize that the issue of culinary
but I realize that the issue of culinary science school is not just a question of
science school is not just a question of
science school is not just a question of communication it’s not just transmitting
communication it’s not just transmitting
communication it’s not just transmitting knowledge but it’s ours
knowledge but it’s ours
knowledge but it’s ours also it is based in fact it is
also it is based in fact it is
also it is based in fact it is underpinned by linguistic and cultural
underpinned by linguistic and cultural
underpinned by linguistic and cultural rights and as I realized when I started
rights and as I realized when I started
rights and as I realized when I started with the group the identity affirmation
with the group the identity affirmation
with the group the identity affirmation movement pure identity affirmation
movement pure identity affirmation
movement pure identity affirmation movement to lobby the government the
movement to lobby the government the
movement to lobby the government the general elections we had general
general elections we had general
general elections we had general elections in 2010 and what we did is we
elections in 2010 and what we did is we
elections in 2010 and what we did is we lobbied all the political parties we
lobbied all the political parties we
lobbied all the political parties we asked them to put on their manifestos
asked them to put on their manifestos
asked them to put on their manifestos curl Moishe and we said to them you know
curl Moishe and we said to them you know
curl Moishe and we said to them you know this is the way you have to deal with
this is the way you have to deal with
this is the way you have to deal with politicians if you want us to vote for
politicians if you want us to vote for
politicians if you want us to vote for you put curl Melissa in the manifesto
you put curl Melissa in the manifesto
you put curl Melissa in the manifesto and here okay we will vote for you put
and here okay we will vote for you put
and here okay we will vote for you put hermosa in the manifesto and we did it
hermosa in the manifesto and we did it
hermosa in the manifesto and we did it and after the elections in 2011 the
and after the elections in 2011 the
and after the elections in 2011 the newly elected government set up a
newly elected government set up a
newly elected government set up a high-powered committee I was part of
high-powered committee I was part of
high-powered committee I was part of that committee only not the only one
that committee only not the only one
that committee only not the only one with of economics and we work for
with of economics and we work for
with of economics and we work for modalities of curl militia and in 2012 a
modalities of curl militia and in 2012 a
modalities of curl militia and in 2012 a historical thing happened this was
historical thing happened this was
historical thing happened this was really a historical event her militia
really a historical event her militia
really a historical event her militia was recognized by the state of militias
was recognized by the state of militias
was recognized by the state of militias at par with other optional languages in
at par with other optional languages in
at par with other optional languages in fact in our system apart from English
fact in our system apart from English
fact in our system apart from English French you have also for sent for I
French you have also for sent for I
French you have also for sent for I would say till dating back to British
would say till dating back to British
would say till dating back to British colonization you have Indy Arabic and
colonization you have Indy Arabic and
colonization you have Indy Arabic and other Asian languages which have been
other Asian languages which have been
other Asian languages which have been offered as optional languages and so Col
offered as optional languages and so Col
offered as optional languages and so Col Moshe got into school on the same basis
Moshe got into school on the same basis
Moshe got into school on the same basis as these optional languages and the
as these optional languages and the
as these optional languages and the launching was done
launching was done
launching was done you by launching was done at Lamone
you by launching was done at Lamone
you by launching was done at Lamone government school this is work afro
government school this is work afro
government school this is work afro creole attentive mind as you can see
creole attentive mind as you can see
creole attentive mind as you can see there it is written there wanker I am a
there it is written there wanker I am a
there it is written there wanker I am a Creole in fact this movement is on the
Creole in fact this movement is on the
Creole in fact this movement is on the same basis like the black Black
same basis like the black Black
same basis like the black Black Consciousness movement in the US where
Consciousness movement in the US where
Consciousness movement in the US where you have you value your own culture your
you have you value your own culture your
you have you value your own culture your own person
own person
own person your own identity black is beautiful
your own identity black is beautiful
your own identity black is beautiful Creole is beautiful and so this is Ramon
Creole is beautiful and so this is Ramon
Creole is beautiful and so this is Ramon and the official launching in 2012 so
and the official launching in 2012 so
and the official launching in 2012 so January in an hour education system will
January in an hour education system will
January in an hour education system will resume school in January so for the
resume school in January so for the
resume school in January so for the resumption of school of studies in
resumption of school of studies in
resumption of school of studies in January 2012 the official launching of
January 2012 the official launching of
January 2012 the official launching of Colonel Morrison was done by the vein
Colonel Morrison was done by the vein
Colonel Morrison was done by the vein minister of education at LUMO on
minister of education at LUMO on
minister of education at LUMO on government school you will see this
government school you will see this
government school you will see this beautiful picture coming here as you can
beautiful picture coming here as you can
beautiful picture coming here as you can see okay you are the children here Ramon
see okay you are the children here Ramon
see okay you are the children here Ramon is a small village and the western coast
is a small village and the western coast
is a small village and the western coast of Mauritius and you can see that girl
of Mauritius and you can see that girl
of Mauritius and you can see that girl here holding proudly a book a school
here holding proudly a book a school
here holding proudly a book a school textbook the first Creole Moishe
textbook the first Creole Moishe
textbook the first Creole Moishe textbook maybe you can give a clap for
textbook maybe you can give a clap for
textbook maybe you can give a clap for his children you know there are many
his children you know there are many
his children you know there are many stories like but each story is unique
stories like but each story is unique
stories like but each story is unique there are many like me if you go google
there are many like me if you go google
there are many like me if you go google you will see so many Larry T’s like this
you will see so many Larry T’s like this
you will see so many Larry T’s like this but the uniqueness of my story
but the uniqueness of my story
but the uniqueness of my story especially from my family and Mary and
especially from my family and Mary and
especially from my family and Mary and in 2005 when I was involved I started to
in 2005 when I was involved I started to
in 2005 when I was involved I started to get involved in bad public advocacy okay
get involved in bad public advocacy okay
get involved in bad public advocacy okay I was 38 years old I’m now 50 my eldest
I was 38 years old I’m now 50 my eldest
I was 38 years old I’m now 50 my eldest son Audrina was eight my daughter Noemi
son Audrina was eight my daughter Noemi
son Audrina was eight my daughter Noemi who turns 16 on Monday she’s in the
who turns 16 on Monday she’s in the
who turns 16 on Monday she’s in the audience a people do you know me she was
audience a people do you know me she was
audience a people do you know me she was six and my little son was one today is
six and my little son was one today is
six and my little son was one today is 12 you can imagine when you are involved
12 you can imagine when you are involved
12 you can imagine when you are involved in such a public advocacy when people
in such a public advocacy when people
in such a public advocacy when people meet your wife meet your children and we
meet your wife meet your children and we
meet your wife meet your children and we say what’s your name
say what’s your name
say what’s your name you see I am my wife is natalie alleman
you see I am my wife is natalie alleman
you see I am my wife is natalie alleman my son are you related to uh uh you have
my son are you related to uh uh you have
my son are you related to uh uh you have a son of you have the wife of you are
a son of you have the wife of you are
a son of you have the wife of you are you are as if you are not you so you can
you are as if you are not you so you can
you are as if you are not you so you can imagine what’s the pressure is on the
imagine what’s the pressure is on the
imagine what’s the pressure is on the family when you are exposed so much
family when you are exposed so much
family when you are exposed so much exposing public around such a sensitive
exposing public around such a sensitive
exposing public around such a sensitive issue so what happened then what
issue so what happened then what
issue so what happened then what happened in fact my family my wife my
happened in fact my family my wife my
happened in fact my family my wife my children they became also rebel my wife
children they became also rebel my wife
children they became also rebel my wife became a strong supporter promoter of
became a strong supporter promoter of
became a strong supporter promoter of calm Alicia she works in a boy school
calm Alicia she works in a boy school
calm Alicia she works in a boy school and each time when the language issue
and each time when the language issue
and each time when the language issue crops up she’s very to defend that
crops up she’s very to defend that
crops up she’s very to defend that language but coach and the same for my
language but coach and the same for my
language but coach and the same for my children so we became we become we have
children so we became we become we have
children so we became we become we have become now a family of rebels we we
become now a family of rebels we we
become now a family of rebels we we write in Creole we speak live all at
write in Creole we speak live all at
write in Creole we speak live all at home we are a middle typical middle
home we are a middle typical middle
home we are a middle typical middle class family where usually you speak
class family where usually you speak
class family where usually you speak French but we are opted to speak Creole
French but we are opted to speak Creole
French but we are opted to speak Creole at home and we pray in Creole so my
at home and we pray in Creole so my
at home and we pray in Creole so my message would be my message would be
message would be my message would be
message would be my message would be wherever you are if you believe firmly
wherever you are if you believe firmly
wherever you are if you believe firmly in something if you believe in an idea
in something if you believe in an idea
in something if you believe in an idea if you believe in a cause if you believe
if you believe in a cause if you believe
if you believe in a cause if you believe that there is injustice and as a human
that there is injustice and as a human
that there is injustice and as a human being any curves such a cosmic ray
being any curves such a cosmic ray
being any curves such a cosmic ray occurs in not the cause of only one
occurs in not the cause of only one
occurs in not the cause of only one ethnic group emerges in fact I have
ethnic group emerges in fact I have
ethnic group emerges in fact I have friends from different communities
friends from different communities
friends from different communities versus diverse and during that struggle
versus diverse and during that struggle
versus diverse and during that struggle in my mind I made it but while fighting
in my mind I made it but while fighting
in my mind I made it but while fighting while struggling for backers but very
while struggling for backers but very
while struggling for backers but very social harmony but there is peace
social harmony but there is peace
social harmony but there is peace because for viscose you need the help of
because for viscose you need the help of
because for viscose you need the help of everyone each and every one so wherever
everyone each and every one so wherever
everyone each and every one so wherever you are I think in my case it was with
you are I think in my case it was with
you are I think in my case it was with particular cause it could be an idea it
particular cause it could be an idea it
particular cause it could be an idea it could be a project you have to believe
could be a project you have to believe
could be a project you have to believe in yourself you have to find your way
in yourself you have to find your way
in yourself you have to find your way you have to strategize you have to get
you have to strategize you have to get
you have to strategize you have to get people with you and there is one last
people with you and there is one last
people with you and there is one last thing to do you have to make a
thing to do you have to make a
thing to do you have to make a difference it’s not just being a rebel
difference it’s not just being a rebel
difference it’s not just being a rebel you have to be a creative rebel and for
you have to be a creative rebel and for
you have to be a creative rebel and for that how if you have to make your way I
that how if you have to make your way I
that how if you have to make your way I would say and I end here by saying no
would say and I end here by saying no
would say and I end here by saying no retreat no surrender thank you
”
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