Owning Your Story: Exploring Jamaican Genealogy and Caribbean Identity with Jacquie Stewart

Host Wendy Aris and guest Jacquie Stewart delve into Caribbean history, specifically focusing on Jamaican genealogy and the impact of colonialism on family identity. This episode explores the powerful role of storytelling in reclaiming heritage and understanding migration patterns through DNA testing and archival research. They discuss the ethical, social, and emotional challenges faced during genealogy research, offering insightful advice for beginners and cautioning against common pitfalls like unreliable online family trees. With recommended resources and encouraging listeners to preserve both personal and collective histories, this episode is a valuable guide to navigating Caribbean family history and heritage in the context of colonial legacies.   Bio: Jacquie Stewart is a dedicated genealogy researcher with over 15 years of experience helping individuals and families uncover, reclaim, and preserve their ancestral stories. As the founder of 1st Gen Genealogy, she specializes in guiding first-generation descendants and members of the African and Caribbean diasporas through the often-overlooked pathways of family history research. Her work combines rigorous archival investigation, oral history collection, and modern DNA analysis to help clients break through genealogical brick walls and build accurate, meaningful family trees. Known for her meticulous approach, Jacquie emphasizes the importance of historical context, source verification, and responsible storytelling—empowering people to truly own their narrative. Jacquie is also a passionate educator and advocate for accessible genealogy. Through workshops, community engagement, and one-on-one coaching, she teaches individuals how to research confidently, interpret DNA test results, and navigate both online and in-person repositories across the Caribbean and beyond. Driven by a belief that every family’s story deserves to be known, remembered, and honored, Jacquie Stewart continues to serve as a trusted guide for those seeking clarity, connection, and deeper understanding of their roots. Website: https://www.1stgengenealogy.com/    Other Sites: https://search.worldcat.org/  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22796133-dying-to-better-themselves  https://www.facebook.com/groups/130018917018113/  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1654137198165006/  https://www.facebook.com/groups/400932779957416/ Caribbean History Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_history_podcasts/   Caribbean Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/   History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/  Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV  Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3  Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0  Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk  Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip  Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/  Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/  Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations  Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf    Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) #DNAGenealogy #Caribbeanculture #coloniallegacy #Geneticgenealogy #Caribbeangenealogy   #AfricanDiaspora #DiasporaVoices #CaribbeanHistory #Genealogy #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanIdentity  #StorytellingThroughFood #HeritageAndMemory #AncestralMemory #DiasporaConnections #CaribbeanHistoryPodcast #DNAArchive #Heritage #DNAtesting #Caribbeangenealogy #Caribbeanheritage #archivalresearch #familyidentity