Tag Archives: migration

Migration, Identity and History

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To what extent through history has British identity been influenced by migration?
An event with speakers, short film screening and discussion

5.30pm – 7pm, Weds 16th October
at Manchester Histories Hub, lower ground floor, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Image for the event exploring Migration, Identity and History
Image includes some of the speakers at the event (upper section), and of some of the individuals who have migrated to the North West (lower section – photo credits at end of this article*)

Speakers from the Migration Stories North West project will explore the nature of migrant identity throughout British history and the intersections between the history of migration and issues at the forefront of Black history. There will be an opportunity for open discussion about various perspectives, including questions such as:

– Why are stories of individuals so important for retelling and understanding history?
– What do we gain by understanding our history through the lens of migration?
– How did colonialism affect migration, and what does it mean for Black history?
– Are the migratory roots of historical figures often overlooked or kept hidden?
– What do the stories from the project tell us about migration and human rights?

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In memory of Viraj Mendis

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Lifelong human rights activist Viraj Mendis sadly passed away on 16th August 2024, his critical perspectives and tireless praxis relating to systemic inequalities and the deep rooted power bases which drive them will be missed. All who knew him will remember his heartfelt humanity for those fleeing persecution and at the brutal end of the worst inequalities across the world, in particular in Sri Lanka.

Funeral of Viraj Mendis
Funeral of Viraj Mendis in Bremen, Germany on 31st August 2024

While there is much written about his anti-deportation campaign in the UK there is much less about his wider work both at that time and in Bremen where he has lived since leaving the UK, in particular with https://humanrights.de . Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Viraj’s deportation is that Sri Lanka was deemed safe by the UK government at that time, yet years later as a result of investigative reporting by journalists of the highest calibre it became evident to the world that this was plainly untrue, and that the Tamil population were in fact subjected to sustained attacks, murders and intimidation. Worth also reading the funeral tribute in the Tamil Guardian at https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/friend-colleague-and-supporter-tamil-eelam-struggle-viraj-mendis-laid-rest .

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Migration Stories Exhibition

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A history of migration in and out of North West England told through 100 stories from Roman times to the present day – the Migration Stories North West Exhibition.

PREVIEW AND LAUNCH: 4pm – 7pm, Wednesday 2nd October 2024, with speakers from the project and light refreshments.

Exhibition on show Thursday 3rd October to Friday 8th November 2024
at Manchester Histories Hub, lower ground floor, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Explore the region’s long history of migration and ways in which it has shaped and continues to shape our social landscape. Browse the stories of individual women, men and children arriving in and leaving the North West from and to other parts of the British Isles and other parts of the world. Find out how their journeys were driven by conflict, colonialism and trade, as well as in search of work, educational opportunities or a better life.

Image for the Migration Stories Exhibition

This ‘pop-up’ exhibition includes an interactive screen through which to browse the stories, and is touring across the North West of England. At this showing in Manchester Central Library there will also be a display by pupils and staff from The Derby High School in Bury about the stories which they researched and produced for the Greater Manchester section of the project.

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Migration Stories interactive digital map – online launch

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A groundbreaking new website documenting migration
in and out of the North West of England is to be
officially launched online on 5 December.

Image representing four Manchester stories which will be on the Migration Stories interactive digital map

Join the #MigrationStories NW project teams for the online launch of the Migration Stories interactive digital map, documenting stories of individuals who have migrated in and out of our region from the Roman period to the 20th century. Hear from those involved in the project about what they discovered during their research and be among the first to get a glimpse of the map on the project website.

Monday 5th December 6.30-8pm.

Booking required at:
https://Migration-Stories-Digital-Map-Launch.eventbrite.co.uk

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Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival!

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Crossing Footprints has developed a set of events focusing on Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival 8-12 June 2022. This year’s theme for the Festival is the history of climate change, for which Manchester has played a pivotal role as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Climate Change is a Race and Migration Is for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival 2022
photo credit: Joe Brusky

We’ve organised four events in solidarity with low income and racially marginalised communities, including a panel discussion ‘Climate Change is a Race and Migration Issue‘ followed by a powerful Bangladeshi theatre piece ‘GHOORNI‘ by Ayna Arts, both at Manchester Central Library on Friday 10th June from 6pm. Then on Saturday 11th June at 6.15pm the singer-songwriter Emmanuela Yogolelo from DR Congo will perform a music set focused on Climate Justice at Angel Meadow. Finally, throughout the Festival the ‘Climate Connections‘ set of short video films made mostly by low income and diverse communities in Oldham responding to climate change will be exhibited on a screen at Oldham Art Gallery, with an informal talk by project director Kooj Chuhan at 1pm, Saturday 11th June.

Video still from video by Emmanuela Yogolelo for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival

More details about our events for Climate Justice at Manchester Histories Festival below:

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Migration Stories refocuses North West history

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An Invitation to Get Involved!

Would you like to research the story of someone who migrated any time from ancient history to WWII in North West England? The Migration Stories project will provide training, good support and expenses, it’ll get started in early May 2022 and grow gently over a few months.

Image header for the Greater Manchester section of Migration Stories North West

The project’s called Migration Stories North West https://migrationstoriesnw.uk , it’s headed by Global Link https://globallink.org.uk/ based in Lancaster, and is a partnership with four other organisations across the North West out of which Crossing Footprints is the one covering the wider Manchester region.

This is a 3 year project unearthing histories of migration in the North West from ancient times to the present day, which will re-frame migration as something that has been fundamental to the UK for a very long time. In this first year Crossing Footprints will be recruiting 8-15 voluntary community researchers to each explore local archives to find individual stories, at least one per volunteer, possibly more if time allows and there’s enough material. Manchester-based author Mickela Sonola will initially be working alongside our director Kooj Chuhan to run this project, and we are honoured to have local historian Washington Alcott as a community research associate for Migration Stories North West.

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Viva Declaration! live in Morecambe 18th June

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Viva Declaration! uses global jazz music with live mixed video to evocatively place human rights as fundamental principles able to lever movements against structural racism and global inequality, both of which have become highlighted during the pandemic era and which underpin issues of migrant justice.  Created and performed by film and digital media artist Kooj Chuhan and multi-instrumentalist composer Tagné Tebu, with guest musician the saxophonist-flautist Helena Summerfield. Viva Declaration! live in Morecambe focuses on the story of migration from ancient history to the present day. Plus a Q+A after the show with the artists and Gisela Renolds and Zia Khan from Global Link.

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Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo

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How does climate change affect DR Congo and the chain of migration, what is the colonial context for this and what does it mean for how both People Of Colour and Europeans understand Climate Change and Justice? The video recording of the discussion that took place on 12 November 2020 is now available to view.

Video still from Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo
Alex Randall, Emmanuela Yogolelo and Kooj Chuhan (chair) online in discussion

The People’s History Museum (PHM) has a series of monthly ‘Radical Late’ sessions at 6pm, the November 2020 event was dedicated to the subject of Climate Change, Migration and DR Congo. Led by artist-activist Kooj Chuhan the online session included thought-provoking discussions with researcher-writer Alex Randall along with Emmanuela Yogolelo about the ways in which colonialism, conflict, race and migration connect with climate change, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and people arriving from there to the UK. The evening also included a pre-recorded performance by Samuella Ganda from Amani Creatives.

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Climate Migration and DR Congo – where do we go?

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A thought provoking discussion exploring the topic of Climate Migration and DR Congo, illustrated with music performed online. An event exploring the ways in which colonialism, conflict, race and migration connect with climate change, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and people arriving from there to the UK.

Thursday 12 November 2020, 6pm – 8pm (GMT)

Image of deforestation - Climate Migration and DR Congo

How does climate change affect DR Congo and the chain of migration, what is the colonial context for this and what does it mean for how both People Of Colour and Europeans understand Climate Change / Justice?

The first event involving Crossing Footprints since we have now just begun operation as a CIC, in collaboration with Amani Creatives and the Radical Lates programme of People’s History Museum (PHM). The event involves a brief performance by singer-songwriters Emmanuela Yogolelo and Samuella Ganda, and a key discussion with Kooj Chuhan from Crossing Footprints and Alex Randall from the Climate and Migration Coalition.

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Viva Declaration! counters post-Brexit threats against human rights

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Sat 22nd February 2020 @ 2pm – People’s History Museum, Manchester
TICKETS: ‘Pay What You Feel’, reserve your place at https://vivadeclaration.eventbrite.co.uk

Title poster image for Viva Declaration

A new music and multimedia performance raises the bar against the anti-human rights and anti-migration agenda hoisted onto Brexit.  Viva Declaration! uses global jazz music with live mixed video to evocatively remind us of how important our human rights are.  Created and performed by film and digital media artist Kooj Chuhan and the multi-instrumentalist composer Tagné Tebu, it focuses on the story of migration from ancient history to the present day.

The live show takes place at the People’s History Museum (PHM) on Saturday 22nd February at 2pm to launch their year-long programme of activity around migration.  At the heart of the Viva Declaration! project is a strong message about human rights, that they are vital and that they should not be watered down.  This is the potential scenario now that we have left the EU as was recently asserted loud and clear by Boris Johnson’s new Attorney General, Suella Braverman.

Plus post-show Q+A including members of Manchester-based human rights organisation RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research) who work extensively on issues of asylum and refuge.

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