In this episode of Across Archives, host Kristi sits down with Max Saakyan, the creator of Uncovering Roots. Max’s work focuses on the intersection of audio documentary and historical preservation, specifically centering on narratives that have been sidelined by mainstream discourse.

The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of memory, the ethics of handling trauma in storytelling, and the specific challenges of reconstructing history when official archives are sparse.

Inside the Episode

Max shares the origin story of Uncovering Roots, which began as a personal exploration of Armenian history and evolved into a global project. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on his series regarding Palestinians in Paraguay—a 1969 covert relocation plan that left many families stranded under false pretenses.

Key discussion points include:

* The Power of Oral Testimony: How to shape a narrative when official records are incomplete or intentionally obscured.

* The 1969 Relocation Plan: A look into the specific case of Palestinian migration to South America and the “false promises” of labor that drove it.

* Ethical Storytelling: Navigating the delicate balance between historical accountability and the sensitive nature of personal trauma.

* Archives as Tools for Justice: Why timing and accessibility matter when bringing these echoes of the past into current global contexts.

Key Topics

* Reconstructing the Past: The role of local newspapers and community memory in filling archival gaps.

* Community-Centered Narrative: The importance of elevating voices from within affected communities rather than observing from the outside.

* Storytelling & Accountability: How preserving history serves as a form of education and a check on power.

* Memory Reconstruction: The psychological and political significance of what a society chooses to remember—and what it forgets.

Resources and Links

* Uncovering Roots Podcast: uncoveringrootspod.com

* The Refugee Archive: therefugeearchive.org

About the Podcast

Across Archives is a production of The Refugee Archive, a research initiative dedicated to the lived experiences of displaced people worldwide. Alongside our companion series, The Archive Speaks, we explore how community storytelling can reshape history, amplify marginalized voices, and build global solidarity.

In this episode of Across Archives, host Pia from The Refugee Archive speaks with Dr. Benjamin Thomas White, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Glasgow and co-editor of RefugeeHistory.org.Benjamin takes us through the global history of refugees — from early humanitarian camps of the First World War to today’s refugee crises — and reveals what these histories can teach us about forced displacement, nationhood, and how the world responds to people on the move.As a Middle East historian, Benjamin shares how his research in Syria, Iraq, France, and the UK led him toward refugee history. He reflects on why refugee voices are often missing from official archives, how the modern refugee camp emerged, and why public debates often misunderstand the structural causes of displacement.This conversation offers a powerful reminder that refugee histories are global, connected, and essential for understanding the world we live in today.Key Topics• How Benjamin shifted from Middle East history to global refugee history• The origins of modern refugee camps and what they reveal about humanitarianism• Why refugee voices are often missing from archives — and why that matters• What refugee history teaches us about today’s refugee policies and narrativesResources & LinksRefugee History: https://refugeehistory.orgDr. Benjamin’s blog: https://singularthings.wordpress.comJournal of Global History article: “UNHCR and the Algerian War of Independence” (2022)University of Glasgow: School of HumanitiesAbout Across ArchivesAcross Archives is produced by The Refugee Archive, a storytelling and research initiative highlighting how archives, oral histories, and community storytelling preserve the lived experiences of migrants, immigrants, internally displaced people (IDPs), and refugees worldwide.Together with our companion series, The Archive Speaks, we explore how archives can amplify refugee voices, build solidarity, and reshape how the record of displacement is remembered.🎧 Continue the journey on The Archive Speaks, featuring the real voices of displaced women and single mothers around the world.

Across Archives is a storytelling space created by The Refugee Archive. Our mission is to highlight the voices, memories, and lived experiences of migrants, immigrants, refugees, and internally displaced people (IDPs) from around the world. Through conversations with archivists, scholars, advocates, and community storytellers, we explore how displacement is recorded, remembered, and reshaped.

Each episode dives into the archivists behind oral history projects, archival collections, and community-driven initiatives that safeguard the stories of people on the move. The voices, artifacts, memories, and lived experiences that connect generations and build solidarity.

We believe that through this project, we can identify underrepresented perspectives, including the experiences of female-headed households and single mothers in displacement. By amplifying these stories, Across Archives seeks to bridge divides, challenge dominant narratives, and create a richer record of migration and resilience.

Join us as we uncover how archives can preserve human rights, inspire collective memory, and reshape the history of displacement for the future.

The Refugee Archive: Global Center for Displaced FHH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.