The Tamil Project - Ruth Thangiah
This interview was conducted in 2020
Ruth Thangiah, 26, is a Legal Services Coordinator at a non-profit legal centre.
Where did you grow up and what did your childhood look like?
I grew up in good ol’ Edmonton, Alberta. My childhood was the typical diaspora Tamil kid who had to navigate a dual identity in a pre-dominantly white environment, all the while dealing with the “normal” things that come with childhood! I eventually found myself but not without various growing pains. One thing I did have growing up that I didn’t realize was awesome until adulthood, were some of my cousins and my older sister who still to this day remain as some of the best people in my life.
Tell me about your experiences as a Tamilian living in Canada
I don’t think I can really narrow this down without writing a 20 page + paper lol! I would say that I’m lucky to have parents who encouraged me to always be my authentic self. This wasn’t something that came naturally, it took a lot of work on my part, my sister’s part, and my parents’ part to come to this point in our lives. We all work together to create our own pocket of joy in a world full of toxicity, expectations, norms, and stereotypes.
That being said, I truly find that in the last year or so I have unpacked a lot when it comes to being a Tamilian living in Canada. What that means to me is that remembering your roots but also staying critical of your roots. Same goes with living in Canada/stolen land, being grateful to live here but staying critical of the colonialist roots that run deep through this country.
Tell me about your family, how do you think they have shaped who you are today?
My family really are the people who have shaped me into who I am today, there is absolutely no denying that. My mother and my sister are key people in my life who hold me accountable and check in with me all the time. They are the reason I am so confidently myself.
What is most important to you and why?
Hands down, quality time with my family and my partner. These are my pockets of joy in life that I hold super close to my heart!
What is one thing you know for sure?
Karma will always come for you. Whether that’s negative or positive karma, it will impact you or your future generations. I fully believe this to be true and have seen it happen.
What does Tamil representation look like to you?
I wish there were more dark skin representation (and all types of dark skin representation not just thin, cis-gender, straight folks). We are getting better with this but it needs to be WAY better.
I wish it wasn’t so taboo to be a Tamil Canadian woman who likes to drink and go out, is tattooed, likes to wear what she wants, has open conversations with her parents and peers, and shows up unapologetically as herself! Someone I aspire to be!
