My Latvian Heritage

What It Is

My first spoken language was Latvian.

My parents had been driven out of their childhood homes in Latvia by World War II. They met in England, after the war, and immigrated to Canada shortly after I was born. I grew up in the city of Toronto, actively involved in the sizable Latvian community there. I spoke Latvian at home, at church, and during the summers on Latvian country properties. I sang in Latvian choirs, danced in a Latvian folk dancing troupe, attended a Friday evening Latvian high school and wrote my first significant poetry in Latvian.

Though I left Toronto and my involvement with the Latvian community after I finished high school, the Latvian heritage did not leave me. The songs and ideas of the world that I formed in the early years of my life continued to weave themselves through my days like good supportive companions.

I have translated some of the songs that were special to me into English and written some stories about my childhood experiences among the Latvian community.

• Latvian Folksongs
  
  A selection of Latvian Folksongs, translated from Latvian into English.
• Always Singing: Eve of Janis
  
  Janits comes again each year, ligo ligo, To look upon his children dear, ligo ligo....