Shaking the Family Tree
Your Indo-Guyanese
Family History
Resource Hub
To empower the Indo-Guyanese diaspora to preserve cultural heritage and strengthen family bonds by transforming fragmented memories and oral histories into enduring family narratives for generations to come.
Our Mission
Preserving Stories Before They Fade
"To empower the Indo-Guyanese diaspora to preserve cultural heritage and strengthen family bonds by transforming fragmented memories and oral histories into enduring family narratives for generations to come."
The Indo-Guyanese experience is characterized by multiple migrations — first from India to the Caribbean, and then to diaspora hubs like New York, Toronto, and London. This history often involves lost records, language shifts from Indian dialects to Creolese to standard English, and the silencing of difficult pasts. Through the Shaking the Family Tree curriculum, we help participants reclaim their narratives and document their heritage before elder generations pass away.
Explore the Hub
What You'll Find Here
Genealogy Guide
Step-by-step instructions for tracing Indo-Guyanese ancestry through the National Archives, ship registers, and emigration passes.
Explore
The Course
Learn about the Shaking the Family Tree curriculum, pricing, venues, and how to adapt it for the Indo-Guyanese community.
Explore
Cultural Context
Understand the indentureship history, jahajee bonds, oral traditions, and food memories that shape Indo-Guyanese identity.
Explore
Community Hub
Connect with diaspora organizations, digital communities, and cultural groups across New York, Toronto, and beyond.
Explore358
Ship Registers
in the Guyana National Archives
1838
Year of First Arrival
Indian indentured laborers
297K+
Indo-Guyanese
in Guyana (2012 census)
6
Week Course
Shaking the Family Tree
Get Free Writing Prompts
Join our mailing list and receive "5 Questions to Ask Your Ajee Before It's Too Late" — a free guide with writing prompts to help you start capturing your family's stories today.
Begin Your Journey
Whether you're ready to trace your roots or join the next cohort of the Shaking the Family Tree course, we're here to help.