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Minority voices - rätten till berättelsen

Article

Minority groups In Sweden, minority groups have experienced persecution, and their cultures, languages, and voices have been largely erased. Only recently has Sweden adopted a minority rights protection, and the wounds are still healing. The art of sharing and witnessing stories, past and present, in a non-judgmental, empathetic way is a democratic act to reshape the future. This starts with the individual sharing and connecting historical narratives.

Project Introduction

Through voicing experiences, individuals can find healing and empowerment for their onward journeys in a Stockholm-based project. The project will create workshop-circles in safe spaces for Swedish minorities to explore memories and thoughts through storytelling and other forms of social arts, like singing. It invites them to acquire tools and practice storytelling methods which strengthens empathy, tolerance and communication, creating a common ground of humanity which lifts us above individual differences.

The circles will focus on life stories and wisdom tales. It will give the individual tools and skills to speak their truth while respecting the other and establishing networks. The project team and participants will grow knowledge skills in storytelling practice for further storytelling projects.

Project Updates

In June 2024, Moa was invited to the Roma Division of the Swedish Public Radio (Sveriges Radio) to share information about the storytelling circles for minorities and third to fourth-generation Holocaust survivors.

In the episode, Moa gave examples of why it is important to find your voice as a minority in democracy. Specifically focusing on the Roma population, Moa discussed recent societal shifts from assimilation to more liberal governmental policies, pointing out educational efforts about the strategical historical abuse against Roma.

  • Listen to the episode here.

In July 2024, Moa was interviewed by the Swedish Public Radio again, this time in Meänraatio, in the north of Sweden. Notably, the program was dubbed in the local minority language.

In the episode Moa discusses her storytelling project and how minorities can find healing through voicing their history together in the storytelling circles. “I am talking about how the assimilation politics carried out earlier had an impact on my own family and my grand mother and down the line me.” Moa explained.

  • Listen to the episode here.

In November 2024, Moa arranged two-day long workshops together with Historieberättarna, an artistic NGO that runs a peace project. The workshops invited minorities to share their thoughts on being a minority in the Swedish democracy. The first workshop was aimed at descendants of Holocaust survivors. The second workshop was open to all identifying as a minority but amplifying the indigenous and recognized minority groups: Roma, Jews, Swedish-Finns and Tornedalians.

“How does my story matter? What does the public need to know about being a minority in Sweden? What do I want to say to people in Sweden about our heritage and about the Holocaust. What do I dream about?” These are some of the questions that were explored with paper, pen and crayons.

Updated June 2024