Rewriting Refuge

There are in Canada, as in other countries, many stories about refuge. Some of this history has been used to create powerful nation-building myths, which in turn have facilitated the inclusion of some and the exclusion of others. This edition of the Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge” seeks to explore the history of sanctuary and protection in a new light; by considering the movements of Indigenous peoples, the activism of migrants themselves, the creation of borders, and transnational connections. Featuring scholars working in a range of geographic contexts and temporal periods, the Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge” promises to offer important critical insights into both the past and the present-day.

Refuge histories in Canada and elsewhere are included in nation-building myths – stories that are used to assert who does and does not belong. The 2023 Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge,” explores these histories of sanctuary via Indigenous migrations, migrant activism, creating borders, and transnational connections. Ranging across geography and time, the featured lectures will offer critical insights into the past and present.

The opening event of the series took place virtually on October 16. The panel featured a discussion with Kate Reed, Marcia Schenck, and Gerawok Teferra, who highlight the contributions of refugee and host-community historians through their work in The Right to Research. Additionally, you can explore the insights shared by Dr. Christina Clark-Kazak, the author of Research Across Borders, as she delves into methods that transcend borders and cultures.

Opening Virtual Event:

October 16, 2023: Refugees and the Right to Research Panel

This Post courtesy of Nick Ward, Communications & Content Editor, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS), ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University. To view this article on the FASS website, Click Here.

The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN), the Department of History at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University, and the Canadian Immigration Historical Society (CIHS) are excited to announce a new research partnership to support student research on migration to and settlement in Canada as a means to help preserve Canada’s immigration history.

Together, LERRN, the Department of History, and CIHS will offer graduating fourth year students and graduate students enrolled in any social sciences or humanities discipline at any Canadian university the opportunity to win the annual Gunn Prize. Valued at $1,000, the Gunn Prize is a national, interdisciplinary award that recognizes excellence in a research paper which addresses the crucial topic of migration to and settlement in Canada from a historical perspective.

Galician immigrants at Immigration Sheds, Québec (Credit: Woodruff/Library and Archives Canada/C-004745)

“The history of migration and settlement in Canada invites multiple perspectives, and the more we can encourage different perspectives – from different communities, time periods, and so on – the more we can enrich our understanding of the past and the present,” explains Dr. Laura Madokoro, Professor of History at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´.

ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Professor Dr. James Milner (Department of Political Science), head of the LERRN partnership, also stresses the importance of accurately detailing and preserving Canadian immigration history.

“There is too often a tendency to approach each new chapter in Canada’s approach to refugees and immigration as an unprecedented ‘crisis’. More often, however, there are deep historical lessons to be learned from past experience and applied to contemporary situations. What has worked before? What are lessons that can be learned?” asks Milner.

The Chair of the Department of History, Dr. James Miller, and his colleagues have long been committed to developing relationships with groups beyond campus, and is delighted with this new partnership and the opportunities it will undoubtedly afford.

“The History of Immigration is central to so many questions we ask about the Canadian past, present, and future,” says Miller. “The opportunity both to draw on the expertise and experiences of some of the people who helped to make that history and to encourage students to research and write about it, as historians, is very welcome.”

He hopes the Prize will encourage students to see themselves as true historians.

I hope that participating in this process, and perhaps even researching and writing with a wider audience in mind, will help students to see greater value in their work, to see that they are creating original work of potential wider significance, not writing ‘just another paper for the professor’.

Dr. James Miller

Laura Madokoro

Associate Professor, ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University

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James Miller

Associate Professor & Chair, Department of History, ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University

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James Milner

Project Director, LERRN

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Milner explains that the LERRN’s mandate is to bring academic research into conversation with civil society partners working to enhance protection and solutions with and for refugees. “The Gunn Prize is another opportunity to demonstrate how academic research can contribute to better analysis and better responses,” he says.

“We truly hope that students who write and submit essays to this competition will recognize that their work can contribute to a broader conversation about Canada’s approach to refugee and immigration, and also that the Prize helps empower all students to realize the role that they can play in using the tools of research and analysis to advance conversations about policy and practice.”

Madokoro agrees that the Gunn Prize will help inspire students interested in the historical evolution of Canadian immigration policy and historical analysis of Canadian immigration relating to specific places, events, or communities.

“I think we sometimes forget to talk about how much we, as instructors, learn from students – in our class discussions but also from engaging with their research questions and projects,” says Madokoro.

I hope students will gain more of a sense of themselves participating in the rich and lively conversations around questions of migration to, within, and from Canada.

Dr. Laura Madokoro

To apply, students must submit their essays by June 30, 2022, to be reviewed by a committee from ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University and the CIHS. For more information, please contact prixgunnprize@carleton.ca.

The Gunn Prize is named after Al Gunn, one of the founding members of the CIHS and its longstanding Secretary until his death in 2009.

Hicham Kayed’s visit is part of the actives of the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, a research project led by Dr. James Milner (Political Science). LERRN is comprised of researchers and practitioners committed to promoting protection and solutions with and for refugees. Their goal is to ensure that refugee research, policy and practice are shaped by a more inclusive, equitable and informed collective engagement of civil society. Through collaborative research, training, and knowledge-sharing, LERRN aims to improve the functioning of the global refugee regime and ensure more timely protection and rights-based solutions for refugees.

Mr. Kayed is the Deputy General Coordinator of , an organization working “with communities that face marginalization in Lebanon in building on their strengths, and documenting and disseminating their empowering experiences and cultural contributions”.

He will participate in a Q&A after the screening of his 2019 documentary titled Aisle in which he presents the personal journeys of Ihab and Bahaa from Lebanon to Germany. Monday, October 28th, 6:30 p.m. at the Mayfair Theater. This event is free, but .

ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ the Documentary

While Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon are aware of the risks that come with irregular migration, 156,000 asylum seekers traveled to Germany in 2017, hoping to find the elements of life they were deprived of. This film explores Ihab and Bahaa who built a new life – but at certain costs.

Viewers get exclusive insight into the emotional effects of such a journey, their personal struggles and the life they left behind.

Workshops

In addition to the film screening, there will be 4 workshops taking place on campus, where ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Scholars will share their expertise with LERRN’s guest:

1. October 28, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Children and Youth Workshop with Dr. Monica Patterson (ICSLAC and Child Studies):  Sharing knowledge and insights on curating the experiences of children and youth. Facilitator: Dominique Marshall. Location: History Lounge – Paterson Hall 433
2. October 29, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Archives Workshop: Exploring the potential to archive some of Al-Jana’s work.Ěýąó˛ął¦ľ±±ôľ±łŮ˛ąłŮ´Ç°ů˛ő:ĚýChris Trainor (Archives and Special Collections), Dr. Laura Madokoro. Location:  Room 583 MacOdrum Library. Dr. Carol Payne (Art History) and Beth Greenhorn (Library and Archives Canada) of  will be part of the conversation.
3. October 29, 2:30-4:00 p.m. Oral History Workshop with Hearts of Freedom Project: Exchanging experiences on documenting oral histories. Presenters: Hicham Kayed, Al-Jana; Emma Harake, Concordia University; Colleen Lundy and Allan Moscovitch (Social Work), Hearts of Freedom project, ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University, the The Canadian South East Asia Refugee Historical Research Project;  Facilitator: James Milner. Location: History Lounge – Paterson Hall 433
4. October 30, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Guest Lecture in Professor Aboubakar Senogo’s (Film Studies) Documentary Filmmaking Course, Discussing approaches to documentary filmmaking. Location: St. Patrick’s 400.

For more information, and to participate in a workshop, please contact LERRN’s office: Nadiya Ismaeva.

History doctoral and senior undergraduate students Anna Kozlova and Malinda Pich are the coordinators of the events.