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Stories Without Endings: Lived Experiences of Yazidi Women in Winnipeg

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Stories Without Endings: Lived Experiences of Yazidi Women in Winnipeg Stories Without Endings: Lived Experiences of Yazidi Women in Winnipeg by Kirby Borgardt A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Joint Master’s Program in Peace and Conflict Studies University of Manitoba/University of Winnipeg Winnipeg, MB Copyright © 2020 by Kirby Borgardt Borgardt Thesis (2020) i Table of Contents Abstract ………………………..……………………………………………………………iii Acknowledgments ……………….…………………………………………………………...…vi Dedication ………………………….…………………………………………………….…….vii List of Tables …..…………..…….………………………………………………….…………viii List of Acronyms………………………………………………………………………………...ix Introduction to the Study ………………………………………………………....……......…...1 Significance of the Study ……………………….…………….……..………….…………......3 Framework of the Study ..…………………………………...….…………………………….4 Caution Statement …………………………………………….…………………...……….....5 Context ………………………………………………………………………….......…......…..…7 Who Are the Yazidi People? …………………………………….…….……………………...7 Misconceptions of Yazidism…………………………………….…………………………...10 Iraq……………………………………………………….……………………………..……12 Ferman…………………………………………………………………………………….…16 Daesh…………………………………………………….………………………………...…21 Events of August 2014……………………………………………….………………………23 Missing Women, Girls, and Men ...………………………………………….………………28 Health and Wellness of the Yazidis ……………………………………………………..…31 Canada’s Role in the Resettlement of Refugees .. ……………………………………..……33 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………….……………...…35 Review of Literature …………………………...............……………….………......…….…….37 Violence: Structural, Direct, Cultural, and Gender-Based ….………..…………………….38 Dehumanization…………………………………………….……………………………44 Slavery ………………………………………..……….……………….……...…………47 Genocide………………………………………….……………..……….………………50 Trauma………………………………………………..………………..…….………………56 Collective Trauma…………………………………………….………….………………59 Protective Factors……………………………….…………….………….………………61 Storytelling………………………………………………………….…….….………………65 Conclusion ……………………………………………….…….………..…...……...……….68 Methodology ..……………………………………….………………..................……………...70 Research Strategy…………………………………………….………………………………70 Qualitative Research…………………………………….……………….………………70 Narrative Inquiry and Storytelling…………………………………..……………………71 Rationale for Methodology……………………………...………….……………………72 Participant Profile …..……………………………………….………….……………………73 Research Procedures………………………………………………....………………………77 Selecting the Participants ……....…………………………….………….………………77 Data Gathering Techniques……………………………………………...….……………78 Data Analysis ………………………………………………………………………..…..79 Ethics Approval and Maintaining Confidentiality……………….…………………….…80 Borgardt Thesis (2020) ii Role of Researcher and Reflections………………………………….………………….……82 The Researcher’s Role .....……………………………………….………………...……82 Trauma-Sensitive Approach …....…………………………………….……………..…83 Personal Reflections .........……………………………………….……...………………86 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………..…89 Discussion and Results: We Were Lucky We Came So Soon ..........………………………..90 Life in Shingal was Simple, but Difficult ……...………….………..……………………….90 Traditional Gender Roles and Newfound Freedom……………..…....….…….….…….…...96 Importance of Kinship, Community, and Yazidi Identity …………………...…..………….99 I Want You to Know What Happened to Us on August 3, 2014 …….……….…..……..…102 Betrayal from Our Neighbours ……………………………………………….…….………115 Life is Hard in the Refugee Camp ………………………………………………..…...…...118 Conclusion ..………………………………………………………………………….....…122 Discussion and Results: We Will Never Forget ......................………………...……….……124 Shingal is Home, But It is Not Safe for Yazidis ………………………….……………...…125 Canada is Good, But Life is Hard…………………………………..............……………….132 The World Has Forgotten, But We Will Never Forget ………...…………………..………141 Unknown Fate of Missing Yazidis …………..…………………………………………….150 Gaining Strength from Our Children, Community, and Yazidi Identity….………………..154 Sharing Our Stories ……………………………………….……………….…………....….158 Future Challenges and Opportunities for Our Children …………………….………………163 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………….……….….…....167 Reflections and Conclusion ..........................………………………….…….…………….......169 Reflections on Key Findings …………...…………………………….....………………….169 The Impact of Sharing and Hearing Stories ……...……………………...………………....174 Recommendations ……………………………………………………….…………….…...176 Sharing and Listen to Trauma Stories ………………………………………………….176 The Need for Closure on Missing Loved Ones………………………………………...177 Timely Family Reunification……………………………………………….…………..179 Support for Shingal……………………………………………………………………..180 Reconciliation…………………………………………………………………………..181 The Value of the Community-Based Farming Program………………………………..183 The Need for Further Resettlement of Yazidi Refugees…………………….………….184 Limitations of Study …...……………………………………………….…….……………185 Future Research ………………………………...……………………….…………………187 Final Conclusion ……………………………………...………………….………………...187 References ……..……………………………………….……………………………….……..189 Appendix …………………………………………….………......…………………….………218 Borgardt Thesis (2020) iii Abstract Throughout history, the Yazidis, a minority ethnic group from the Middle East, have faced centuries of religious persecution, socioeconomic deprivation, human rights violations, and genocides. In 2014 a genocide took place when the so-called Islamic State entered the area of Mount Shingal in Nineveh Province of northern Iraq and carried out a plan to eradicate the Yazidi people. This attack and mass exodus of the Yazidis from their homeland resulted in the upheaval of 400,000 people and the abduction or death of 11,000 to 14,000 Yazidis. In addition to this genocide, Yazidi community has experienced both individual and collective trauma. This study explores the personal narrative and lived experiences of eight Yazidi women in Winnipeg. It is an act of witnessing their experiences of trauma, survival, bravery, and hope, and provides an opportunity for the reader to bear witness to the survivors of this study. These stories help to identify the complex and ongoing challenges this group has faced and continue to experience. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured, open- ended questions which allowed the participants to express their personal experiences and narratives. The lived experiences of the participants were analyzed and divided into two sections that focus on the periods of violence and post-violence. We Were Lucky We Came So Soon pertains to the period of violence as the participants share their experiences in the subsections pertaining to: (1) Life in Shingal was Simple but Difficult; (2) Traditional Gender Roles and Newfound Freedom; (3) Importance of Kinship, Community, and Yazidi Identity; (4) I Want You to Know What Happened on August 3, 2014; (5) Betrayal from our Neighbours; and (6) Life is Hard in the Refugee Camp. The section - We Will Never Forget - identifies the second theme that emerged and focuses on the experiences of the participants after the events of August 2014, Borgardt Thesis (2020) iv themes include: (1) Shingal is Home But It is Not Safe for Yazidis; (2) Canada is Good, But Life is Hard; (3) The World Has Forgotten, But We Will Never Forget; (4) Unknown Fate of Missing Yazidis; (5) Gaining Strengths from Children, Community, and Yazidi Identity; (6) Share Our Stories; and (7) Future Challenges and Opportunities for Our Children. Based on the lived experiences of the participants, several key areas emerged to provide a framework for recommendations which could aid the Yazidis on their journey to heal from the 2014 genocide. The first includes the need for participants to find closure around the events of August 2014. Participants expressed the need to know what happened to missing loved ones, including those who may have been killed by Deash as well as those who were taken into captivity. Exhuming and analyzing the bones found in mass graves was another important factor on what happened to their loved ones and the community at large. Participants also expressed the desire to rescue those still held in captivity by Daesh. All participants expressed a deep fear for those Yazidis still in Iraq and cited a lack of safety and security for Yazidis in Shingal. It is important for international governments to work towards establishing peace and security in countries plagued by violence, including Iraq. At the same time, it is paramount for governments, including the Canadian government, to continue to sponsor Yazidi refugees. It is evident through this research that participants gained strength from several factors, including their family, community, religion, and their religious and cultural identity. All participants expressed a deep sorrow for being separated from their families and community. As this tight-knit communal community is settled around the globe, the Yazidis are at risk of losing their culture, religion, and identity. Increasing the diaspora population will help this ethnic minority to continue to prosper outside of their traditional homelands as well as Borgardt Thesis (2020) v aiding with successful integration into their new communities. Participants spoke highly of a community-based farming program organized by Operation Ezra. It is important to continue to invest in this type of activity as it not only provided participants with an additional food source, but also connected them to their traditional agricultural way of life . Borgardt Thesis (2020) vi Acknowledgments I would like to thank first and
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