Interview with Mrs. Katalina Milović, author of the book "La Montenegrina", a unique work that describes the creation of our largest colony in South America.

Katalina Milović during the promotion of the book La Montenegrina in Ćak As you know, our website has been mediating and facilitating better communication between Montenegro and the Diaspora for many years, and our team member Gordan Stojović is one of the people who has been engaged in research related to our emigration in South America for many years. The news that "La Montenegrina" will be published in Montenegro, which we received from you and Matica Crnogorska, made us very happy, first of all because we have been in possession of that book since 1999, and therefore we knew how invaluable it is for preserving the identity of Montenegrins in Argentina and other parts of South America, but also for us in Montenegro because it provides us with an original account of the creation of a small Montenegro in the middle of the Pampas and the great courage of our people. The public here in the edition of "Matica Crnogorska" finally got the opportunity to read the version of "La Montenegrina" in our language, thanks to your acquaintance with Gordana Stevović.

Katalina Milović during the promotion of the book La Montenegrina in Ćak Montenegro.com: The book was first published in 1997 in Argentina, can you tell us something more about what prompted you to start such a work, what were the reasons and how was the process of data collection and publication in general? Katalina Milović: First of all, I was encouraged by everything that I felt and that I feel towards this, above all, honest, hardworking and kind people here. The main reason was certainly to escape from anonymity and perpetuate the memories of the heroic group of Montenegrins who were the first to settle these parts of the world, one of which I am a proud descendant of. Those people founded a very advanced colony of farmers, which is very important for the Province of Ćako. In that colony, after its foundation, harmony and unity reigned among them above all, with which they showed us their descendants that only UNITY MAKES STRENGTH! They brought their customs, traditions, language, faith, songs, music, dances, art etc. to this country. They created, with numerous members of the community, which grew year by year, an entire small Montenegro in the middle of Argentina. I wrote down the information in the book from the stories of my parents and other members of our community. After all, I collected them throughout my life and I was and remain one of them, I lived the history of our community. The publication of the book was possible thanks to the financial assistance of state institutions, which is a sign that the interest in nurturing the cultural heritage of ethnic communities is becoming increasingly significant in the Directorate for Culture of the Ćako Province.

During the celebration of 80 years since the founding of Colonia La Montenegrina Montenegro.com: How did our emigrants in Ćak and our wider emigration in Latin America react after learning that you published La Montenegrin? Katalina Milović: Our people here received the news of the publication of the book with great enthusiasm, because it first of all talks about the heroic past and the exploits of their ancestors, who represent the most brilliant example of perseverance and harmony that the younger generations can look up to. This book also represents a great recognition of their human value, of which their descendants can and must be proud. Those people were truly a miraculous race, despite all the difficulties in the new world, they managed to secure the much-desired happier future for the generations that succeeded them in these desolate areas that they inhabited.

During the celebration of 80 years since the founding of Colonia La Montenegrina Montenegro.com: What is your estimate of how many Montenegrins there are in total today, i.e. descendants of our settlers in the province of Ćako, what do they mostly do, are they organized and in what way? Katalina Milović: In Ćak today, there are close to five thousand descendants of Montenegrin immigrants. Most of them are engaged in agriculture, and among them there are also teachers, civil servants, dentists, doctors, lawyers, politicians and others. For 50 years there has been a Yugoslav society around which we gather, and next to it there is also the Durmitor society founded in 1930. We often get together whenever something is being celebrated, but also when we are grieving for someone.

Consecration of the monument to the founders of the colony. Sopmenik was erected on the eightieth anniversary of its foundation Montenegro.com: What are your connections in Ćak with other colonies, relations with Montenegrins in Buenos Aires, General Madariagiu, Tandil, and is there communication with emigrant associations in other parts of the world, such as the USA or Australia? Katalina Milović: We still don't have many contacts, mostly because of the long distances, at least 1200 km from one place to another. This is a very vast country and everything is so far away. Likewise, we have no contacts with organizations in the USA or Australia. Since recently, there has been communication between Montenegrins in the Spanish-speaking area via the Montenegrin Internet group (yahoo group Montenegrinos), and mostly through that group we connect, communicate and exchange information with our people throughout Argentina and other countries. Montenegro.com: What are the relations with Montenegro, are you satisfied with the attitude of the state towards you and towards the Montenegrins in Ćak and Argentina? What would be your suggestions regarding the strengthening of cultural cooperation, exchange and relations in general? Katalina Milović: The last three Ambassadors Mr. Gojko Čelebić, Gojko Janković and Ivan Saveljić managed to strengthen ties. First of all, we want to be provided with primers and other books and a dance professor who helped us learn folklore, the same thing that other organizations of societies of other nations have here.

Monument to the founders Montenegro.com: How do the descendants of our settlers in the province of Ćak look at Montenegro today, what is it for you - just the homeland of your ancestors or something more? Katalina Milović: Today, the first generation of descendants of our settlers looks at Montenegro as their second homeland. We learned to love it through the stories of our elders and customs. I worry a lot about the future generations, because they don't have the opportunity to learn the language, that way they lose contact and every day they are further away. Montenegro.com: Tell us something about yourself, what you do, where you live and have you ever been to Montenegro? Katalina Milović: I am a retired teacher, I have time to read and write. I spend time with my children, family, friends. I am very active in our society, where I am the treasurer, so I have a lot of work to do with that. I live in the Presidency of Roque Saenz Penña and I have never traveled to Montenegro, which is my naïve dream and wish. Montenegro.com: We found out that you will visit us soon, what is your biggest wish when you arrive in Montenegro, what will you do first and what are your expectations from the visit? Katalina Milović: My biggest wish is to visit the place where my parents were born and present the book La Montenegrina to my people. When I arrive, the first thing I will do is jump into the arms of Montenegro and my Montenegrins. My expectation is to find that Montenegro that I cherish in my imagination and in my feelings, beautiful, with people who are sincere and full of love, just as we met here. I know that I will be well received in my heart, Argentina is like my mother, and Montenegro is like my grandmother, so I feel that all Montenegrins are my family. With this interview, he started a series of interviews with people (famous personalities, leaders of expatriate organizations, foreigners who cooperate with our organizations, etc.) in the diaspora. The following interview is with Mr. Vesko Karadžić, webmaster and public relations director of the Montenegrin Society of British Columbia from Vancouver. Montenegro Apartments