University of Toronto Master’s student Sonya White is conducting a series of research conversations about memory, history and healing. She is inviting interested members of the diverse West Kootenay/Boundary Doukhobor community to participate in these research conversations.
Sonya is exploring the ways in which memories of conflict persist in the lives of people who have lived through experiences of conflict. Specifically, she will be asking questions about the different ways in which diverse members of the Doukhobor community in south-central British Columbia live with and remember their experiences of 20th century Doukhobor conflict. She is interested in speaking with people who experienced the 20th century conflict as direct participants or indirect non-participants.
Sonya White believes the research will hold many potential benefits for both Doukhobor and non-Doukhobor people who are interested in knowing more about how individuals find peace after conflict has been resolved. Specifically, the research will make an important contribution to the public understanding of Doukhobor history and experience in western Canada, and will validate and legitimize the knowledge of a minority Canadian cultural community. The work will also explore ways in which different generations of Doukhobors experieced the “Doukhobor troubles.” Finally, the research offers an opportunity to identify different strategies for living with difficult pasts and learning to heal from direct or indirect experiences of conflict.
If you have specific questions about this research and/or would like to participate in a research interview with Sonya, please contact her directly by telephone at (250) 421-2055, by e-mail at swhite@oise.utoronto.ca or by mail at Sonya White, 1631 Staple Crescent, Cranbrook, B.C., V1C 6J1.