Erica is a current PhD Spanish student within the Department of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde
Tell us a little bit about your background before beginning the course...
I am an Indigenous Garifuna woman, and it has been important to me to establish ways of promoting and preserving my culture. Since 2010, I have also been the Director of Arts and Cultural Performances for the Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United, Inc. (GAHFU) based in Long Beach, California, conducting lectures, workshops, and performances about my cultural heritage, internationally. Also, I am an entrepreneur and created a holistic wellness company in 2008 to coordinate and teach classes in health and fitness. My career path has included being a primary and secondary school teacher, actor, singer, and dancer.
Prior to starting my PhD journey in October 2022, I received my dual master’s degrees in June 2022, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s in International Project Management, from the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) in collaboration with the Barcelona Executive Business School (BEBS) in Spain. I received my dual Bachelor of Arts’ degrees in English and Theatre from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, in 2001. While at USC I spent a school year studying theatre at the British American Drama Academy (BADA) in London, England, and visited Edinburgh and the Highlands during BADA’s semester break. I fell in love with Scotland and leapt on the chance to continue my studies here.
What drew you towards undertaking a research degree?
I have wanted to undertake a research degree since I was in high school many moons ago. However, my journey to this point had mountains and valleys that I had to learn to navigate. As I stated in the previous question, promoting and preserving my culture is particularly important to me and I believe that focusing my research on Garifuna cultural heritage complements the grassroots work that I have been doing for years. My hope is that it provides another platform to be seen and heard as Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Tell us about the format of the programme. What is a typical working week like?
The format of the PhD in Spanish varies because PhD research is tailored to the project of each researcher and their supervisors. In my case, my research focuses on several aspects of Garifuna culture in a Spanish-speaking country (Guatemala), and I discuss with my supervisor the different avenues that can aid my project, such as academic literature, research methods and tools, workshops, and conferences. This allows me to explore and experience my research from different vantage points, which I can choose to use or not use in my thesis.
My typical work week involves researching, reading, and writing about Indigenous studies and methodologies, oral history, archival history, and academic texts related to my research. Prior to monthly meetings with my supervisors, I submit a written draft to them for our discussion, which is determined in our previous meeting. The topics have ranged from literature reviews to cultural objects analyses. Another aspect of the programme is attending internal and external development training to complete the required Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD). Completing courses, seminars, and conferences for the PG Cert has enhanced my personal and professional research skillset.
One highlight of my research project has been to submit abstracts for presenting at conferences. Initially, I was reluctant to pursue this in my first year because I had just started and felt I would not have enough material to discuss. However, my supervisors encouraged me to do so because it would help me receive feedback and create my research network in my field. I submitted abstracts to present at Strathclyde’s Doctoral School Multidisciplinary Symposium (DSMS) and Lancaster University’s Lancaster Historical Postgraduate Conference (LHPC) in June 2023. I was accepted to present, and it gave me the courage to submit abstracts for other conferences. I attended the University of Bristol’s MEMPAZ Summer School Workshop in July 2023, and presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Latin American Center Zurich (LZZ) and Workshop of the Swiss School of Latin American Studies (SSLAS) at the University of Zurich in Switzerland in August. This year, I will present at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) hosted by the Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA) at the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands in July.
Another highlight was going to Guatemala for my fieldwork from November 2023 to February 2024. It was an unforgettable experience, and, fortunately, my fluency in the Garifuna language facilitated my acceptance into the Garifuna community as one of their own. Being there also gave me a chance to practice my Spanish. For my primary data collection, I interviewed Garifuna individuals and recorded their oral histories about Garifuna cultural heritage in Labuga (“Livingston”), Guatemala.
Tell us a little bit about the research you are conducting...
My interdisciplinary research’s title is ‘Invisible Native Americans: Garifuna Language and Musical Culture in Guatemala.’ I am analysing Garifuna language, oral history, and musical culture in Labuga (“Livingston”), Guatemala, and how it fosters heritage, belonging and connection. Drawing from methods grounded in Indigenous studies, oral history, sociolinguistics, sociocultural anthropology, and archival history, I aim to theorize Garifuna concepts of cultural memory, landscapes, and seascapes by examining Garifuna cultural phenomena, belief systems and practices, and environments in Labuga.
What is the research community at Strathclyde like?
Strathclyde’s research community is incredibly supportive, beginning with my Supervisors, Dr. Charles Pigott and Professor Nigel Fabb. My very first meeting with them was via Zoom while I was still in Los Angeles, CA, making my final plans to move here to Glasgow. It was an informal welcome meeting, but it gave me a glimpse of how our meetings would be moving forward. Their colleagues have told me countless times that they are the “Dream Team” and I believe that I have grown as a researcher due to their guidance and support. Excluding one meeting, they have both been at every supervisors’ meeting since my arrival. My fellow PhD colleagues, Ijeoma A., Khutso D., McRhon B., Johnnie A., and many others have also provided an ear, laughs, and wellness breaks from research.
What are your future career goals?
My future career goals are to expand my research to a more general theory of Indigenous Garifuna cultural agency and sustainable, ethical practices in academia and non-academia. Garifuna people continue to face obstacles with indigeneity, resources, environmental rights, and cultural commodification in the Caribbean and Central America. It is my hope that this research will aid international, national, regional, and local entities in developing sustainable policies, programs, and preservation initiatives that positively serve and impact Garifuna communities and, by extension, other Indigenous cultures worldwide.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this course?
My advice for future PhD students is that before applying for this course, choose a topic that you will enjoy because you will study, eat, sleep, and carry your research with you everywhere. Lean on your Supervisors and do not be afraid to admit that you need clarification or help from them. The HaSS staff, your colleagues, and the academic support systems provided by Strathclyde are also available. Make sure you schedule self-care time for mental and physical breaks during your research journey. Also, submit your research for conference presentations at, or outside, Strathclyde to network and receive feedback. You do not have to wait until your second or third year to do so. I did four presentations in my first year and I have more scheduled in this second year. They were invaluable in terms of support, feedback, and networking.