Diaspora, Memory, and Identity: A Search for Home

Karen F. Danielson, Ph.D., is a research consultant at Laurentian
University who specializes in leisure, textiles, family life, and Japan.

Diaspora in Canada refers to the people who have left their homes and
communities in many countries and for many reasons, to find themselves
in this new land where their activities, memories, and sense of identity
have been changed in complicated ways. This collection of 11 papers
reveals their resilience as they have adapted to dramatic changes in
socio-economic status, support systems, national identity,
qualifications, gender roles, and loyalties.

Many of the papers relate personal stories: Chinese couples explain how
they alter their relationships to adapt to new employment patterns.
Eritreans who were driven from their homeland continue to struggle with
the nature of their independence from Ethiopia. A young Canadian athlete
from Trinidad can compete for that country. The descendents of many
Japanese Canadians who were dispersed and resettled after the war are
biracial. Holocaust survivors treasure recipe collections that were
written during incarceration. Jewellery from India’s past may have
been looted, but parents can proudly take their children to exhibitions
of this history. A Sirdar’s daughter can find inspiration for
English-language poems in her beloved Punjabi language.

The 12 authors raise many questions about contemporary cross-cultural
studies. They discuss various definitions of “diaspora,” issues of
gender and religion, resistance and adaptation to change, the constant
reinvention of memories, the differences between memories and current
realities in many countries, and the notion that imagination can enhance
memories in ways that support our efforts to make a better world.

The book concludes with some philosophical considerations. For example,
researchers may discriminate, perceive incorrectly, and miss important
information. On the other hand, everyone else may also be indoctrinated
or inclined to misjudge their personal situation. Thus respectful
engagement is necessary so that there are opportunities for questioning,
clarification, and the discovery of points of understanding.

The book provides a good overview of the dynamics involved in finding a
place to call home. It is likely to be useful to anyone who assists
immigrants or works toward international peace.