Title: Latvian Ethnic Identity in North America
Author: Kathleen Woodhouse
Affiliation: Kent State University
Abstract: Latvian ethnic identity in North America is comprised of a variety of
historical and current. The majority who participate in Canadian and US Latvian
functions are members directly associated with the World War II DPs. This
identity is directly associated with a sense of exile from the homeland. As
Latvians make their impression on future generations, many aspects of this
personal and communal identity evolve. Ties to the homeland have remained a
fundamental element to Latvians. Since the regaining of independence in the
1990s, ethnics have moved throughout this once closed nation, regaining a
sense of connection to the land. However, longing for the homeland existed
throughout the decades of membership in the Soviet Union. During these times,
Latvia was seen as an unattainable paradise. As each generation told personal
stories connecting the homeland to the ethnic identity, third and fourth generation
ethnics developed their own sense of what Latvia represented. The intertwining
of personal stories and information (nonfiction) about the homeland has created
a unique perception of this important place. When reading autobiographical and
fictional texts, we see the emergence of important elements of identity rooted in
location. Strong ties to nature, the physical landscape, and Latvian history all
become a part of the myth and reality of the homeland. The information drawn for
these writings tell us a great deal of how ethnic communities create these solid
ties with different places. These connections may change over time, but they
always appear to maintain a prominent role in defining ethnic identity.