The Canadian Caribbean Indian
Cultural Collective
Honoring the Arrival of the First Indians to the Western World
Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in the Annual Celebration and Commemoration of the Arrival of Indians to the Caribbean, which began when two sailing ships, the Whitby and the Hesperus, reached British Guiana (now Guyana) and the surviving Indians made landfall on May 5, 1838.
The Indians were brought to the Caribbean under a new scheme known as Indentureship allowing the British to collect people from India to replace the recently freed African slaves to work on British sugarcane plantations.
2026 THEME
From Indentureship to Citizenship:
Telling the stories of Indo-Caribbean Resilience, Creativity and Leadership
What We Do
The 2026 Annual Celebration and Commemoration of the Arrival of Indians to the Caribbean event will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Vedic Cultural Centre, 4345 14th Avenue, Markham. This year's theme explores adaptation, creativity, and legacy across generations and continents. 2026 begins a new chapter in our history as we enhance our programming to include more public awareness and engagement using digital tools, greater youth participation and storytelling meant to meet the interests of a community with increasingly multi-ethnic identities.
VIP Experience
Guided artifact tour for special guests
Cultural Performances
Inspired by Indo-Caribbean traditions, including an evening stage show featuring youth talent
Interactive Exhibition
Public presentations and educational displays
Magazine Launch
Featuring emerging Indo-Caribbean voices with an online reach of 3,000+ readers
Our Intentions
01
Recognize & Preserve
Indo-Caribbean cultural custom, history, memory and identity
02
Examine & Reveal
The beauty and contributions of our ancestors for our children and ourselves
03
Celebrating 188 years of Indo-Caribbean heritage, resilience, and achievement. Join us in honoring the legacy of our ancestors and celebrating our vibrant community.
Links
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Caribbean Indian Heritage Event
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© 2026 Canadian Caribbean Indian Cultural Collective. All rights reserved.
The CCICC is a registered Not-For-Profit.
Honoring the Past • Celebrating the Present • Inspiring the Future
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