valerie 'ariel' van haltern

A fictionalized account of the exile of the Chagossian Islanders from the Chagos Archipelago in the 1970’s, this story follows youth, Ti Jean, through exile from his island Diego Garcia and on into adulthood. With “old ways” understanding and a true heart filled with the song of Chagos he brings forth the wisdom and spirit of his ancestors, the saga songs and dance, his own inner music. Jean’s work inspires and helps others to survive amidst prejudice, abuse, poverty, drugs and prostitution in the foreign land and slums of Mauritius where his people are forced to live. In his adulthood he unites adversaries and carries forth his dream and the dream of his people to return home to their island paradise of the Chagos Archipelago, to honor their ancestors buried there. For thirty years the world looks the other way. For ten years the world looks on and in the end, in Jean’s lifetime, the world hears his story and responds. (Three Book Saga)