Virgin Islands Unveiled: Caribbean History, Storytelling, Spirit, and Sovereignty

Host Wendy Aris and Gabrielle Garrard of Caribbean Mystics dive deep into the complex history and colonial legacy of the Virgin Islands. This episode explores Caribbean history, spiritual traditions, and how U.S. territorial status influences identity, culture, and self-determination. Through storytelling, the conversation addresses language loss, gentrification, and diaspora connections, emphasizing the importance of family history and heritage in rebuilding Caribbean cultural resilience. Listeners will gain practical steps for preserving culture, engaging in genealogy, and participating in community action to protect and honor the rich Caribbean heritage for future generations.   Bio: Gabrielle Querrard is a multi-generational Virgin Islander and cultural storyteller whose work centers Caribbean history, identity, and the mystical traditions of the region. She first began sharing informational videos about Caribbean culture and news on TikTok in 2021, quickly building a global audience and creating space for Caribbean diasporic engagement online. Passionate about educating her community, Gabrielle expanded her content to Instagram and Facebook, where interest in Virgin Islands-focused storytelling grew rapidly. Her creative vision opened doors to roles in creative direction, work with the Mango Media Marketing agency, and special projects such as serving as location scout and photography assistant for a Roc Nation artist project. She was also invited to co-host Season 3 of Hot Ones Caribbean in 2023. Gabrielle is best known as the co-producer and co-host of the Caribbean Mystics Podcast, a series that blends supernatural storytelling with historical and cultural context from across the Caribbean. Together with her co-host, she brings ancestral narratives, folklore, and lived experience to listeners, helping preserve oral traditions and highlight the region’s spiritual heritage. In addition to her podcast work, Gabrielle’s background includes reporting for the Virgin Islands Source, creative direction, and educational content creation rooted in her love of culture and community. Her academic training includes a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in English, certification in Paralegal Studies, and Reiki healing certification, reflecting her diverse interests in education, law, and spiritual wellbeing. Gabrielle’s work bridges past and present, using storytelling and media to honor Caribbean voices, histories, and the unseen threads that connect them. Links: Podcast: https://www.caribbeanmystics.com/ Website: https://www.gabriellequerrard.com/about/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellequerrard/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.querrard.7/ Article: https://stthomassource.com/content/2025/03/18/op-ed-the-stories-we-inherit-and-the-stories-we-become/    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  Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add  Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)   #GabrielleQuerrard #CaribbeanMystics #VirginIslands #VirginIslander #USVirginIslands #VIHistory #CaribbeanPodcast #CaribbeanIdentity #IslandIdentity #FirstGenCaribbean #DiasporaVoices #MigrationStories #ColonialLegacies #USTerritory #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanStorytelling #OralHistory #CulturalPreservation #CaribbeanHeritage #AncestralMemory #PodcastInterview #PodcastEpisode #HistoryPodcast #CulturePodcast #IndigenousStories #BlackCaribbean #CaribbeanSpirituality #CaribbeanFolklore #MysticTraditions #AncestralWisdom