Genealogy

This study investigates the semiotic and cultural functions of character naming in the Yemeni television series Duroob al-Marjalah (Branching Paths of Manhood) (2024–2025). It applies onomastic theory and Barthesian semiotics to examine how Yemeni screenwriters employ names as narrative and ideological tools. A purposive sample of ten central characters was selected from a Yemeni drama series for qualitative analysis. Each name was examined for linguistic structure, semantic meaning, intertextual associations, and socio-cultural alignment. Semiotic interpretation followed Barthes’ signifier–signified–myth model to decode narrative and cultural symbolism. The findings indicate that character names function as multifaceted semiotic tools, conveying heritage, while occasionally employing stylization for satire or fostering empathy through cultural resonance. However, many lack grounding in Yemeni naming conventions, creating a tension between narrative dramatization and socio-onomastic realism. The results suggest that while Yemeni screenwriters show partial awareness of naming as a cultural and narrative tool, the creative process often privileges thematic resonance over ethnographic accuracy. This research contributes to onomastic theory, Arabic media studies, and semiotic analysis by evidencing how localized naming practices—or their absence—shape identity construction, world-building, and cultural recognition in regional television drama. Full article

This essay highlights Natchez, Mississippi’s Confederate heritage tourism to illustrate interrelationships between memory, history, and imagination, and how performed commemorations critically shape nationalist ideals and beliefs. Memories—and the bodies that pass them—shape the politically charged terrain of imagined nations, which are uncertain and collectively negotiated. To illustrate the contested nature of historical memory and how performing the past reimagines and reshapes the present and future nation, I juxtapose the Confederate Pageant’s nostalgic, rosy-tinted view of the Old South with examples of contemporary Black-centered commemorations and heritage tourism in Natchez. The dissonance and tension between these opposing forces illustrate interrelationships between memory and history, how these are critical to sustaining nationalism, and how performed commemorations of the past—whether historically accurate or imagined—critically shape ideals and beliefs about race and the nation. I use Natchez to undergird broad questions about the nature of memory and history, which are axiomatically contested and fallible. I use examples of Black commemoration in Natchez to illustrate antiracist theories of historiography. Full article

American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high cancer diagnoses and death rates. This study aims to elucidate American Indian and Alaska Native understandings of cancer as voiced through poetry. Ten writers submitted poems in response to a call for American Indians and Alaskan Natives to share their perspectives, experiences, and knowledge about cancer through poetry. Poetry submissions were analyzed for emergent themes through an inductive-deductive approach using framework analyses grounded in the Native Wellness Model and Cancer Control Continuum. Four overarching themes, one within each of the four Native Wellness Model constructs (mind, body, spirit, and context) and 17 sub-themes, reveal that cancer is a holistic experience for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. Participant knowledge and experiences varied across the Cancer Control Continuum, with survivorship and palliative care most reflected in the poetry. Fewer poems addressed detection, etiology, and prevention. Poetry can serve as a culturally relevant data source to better understand cancer from American Indian and Alaskan Native perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. More holistic approaches to cancer education, prevention, treatment, and research with American Indians and Alaskan Natives could improve efforts to address cancer within this population. Full article

This article examines the migration patterns that shaped the early settlement of Dorchester County, Maryland. Dorchester County is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, an area distinctive in terms of its geography, history, and culture. In U.S. history, migration has generally proceeded from eastern areas to western ones and from northern areas to southern ones, a pattern dating back to the earliest colonial settlements. Settlement in Dorchester County proceeded primarily from east to west and south to north, with additional migration streams coming from the north out of Delaware and from the west out of Somerset County. This gave Dorchester County an unusual historical dynamic because of the different socio-cultural and religious backgrounds and settlement patterns from the regions in which those migrants came. The Eastern Shore’s geography, shaped by an extensive coastline and major riverways, contributed to this settlement pattern, for the Chesapeake Bay region, with its complex network of rivers and streams, forms one of the world’s three largest natural estuaries. In terms of genealogy and family history, this mix of settlers importantly shaped the cultural dynamics of the Eastern Shore, leading to complex family histories that blended different cultural, religious, and linguistic influences. Free European-American settlers dominated migration into early Dorchester, but unfree laborers, including slaves and, early on, white indentured servants, came to Dorchester in substantial numbers along these same routes and made important contributions to the cultural development of Dorchester and surrounding areas. In later years, out-migration from the Eastern Shore took settlers of all backgrounds throughout the growing United States and carried the influence of the Eastern Shore to the south and west as well as into the urban areas of the northeast. Full article

Western systems of child protection cannot protect First Nations children. Australia’s current child protection systems were born from a legislated and explicit intention of destroying the culture, language and identity of First Nations children, with the aim of assimilating and eliminating First Nations people. The ongoing overrepresentation of our children in ‘child protection’ systems does not so much reflect inherent risks in our families as it does the systemic failures and harm being imposed on our children and families. To ensure the safety of our children, we need to end the systemic and structural racism within Australia’s child protection systems, empower self-determination and commit to addressing the social, economic and cultural determinants that underpin child safety and protection. To achieve this, we need an effective system of care for our children that is best achieved through First Nations systems of child wellbeing and safety that are leading practice. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP), which recognises our systems of kinship care, is one such mechanism. However, it is currently compromised, undermined and underutilised across all Australian jurisdictions. Self-determination requires placing full control and decision-making over the well-being and safety of our children into our hands. Our systems have evolved over 65,000 years and are guided by strict obligations and cultural protocol, and laws. As such, they provide the strong foundation needed for the care and protection of our children. This paper uses a First Nations, rights-based analysis of literature to interrogate the historical foundations and ongoing impact of Australia’s child protection systems on First Nations children and families. It then centres First Nations systems of knowledge and practice as the foundation for a call to replace our current child protection systems with a First Nations Child Safety and Wellbeing system. Full article

Ethnicity-based public health inequities continue worldwide, reflecting established failures in law, governance, and social justice. International legal instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), obligate states to provide equitable access to healthcare and address structural components of inequality. This article critically evaluates the effectiveness of these frameworks in advancing health equity, adopting a black-letter legal approach integrated with the social determinants of health models to assess whether ratified commitments have translated into quantifiable changes for marginalized ethnic populations. Case studies from Canada, Australia, and the United States—high-capacity health systems with entrenched inequities—portray the gap between normative commitments and practical implementation. Findings demonstrate that while international law has shaped discourse, promoted civil society advocacy, and influenced select policy reforms, weak enforcement, reliance on voluntary compliance, and insufficient accountability mechanisms curb its capability to generate consistent outcome-based change. Recommendations include establishing a framework convention on global health equity, strengthening the WHO’s mandate on racial justice, improving ethnic-disaggregated data reporting, and ingraining affected communities in policymaking. Normative strength is apparent, but operational impact remains dependent on an enforceable framework and sustained political will. Full article

This article examines the current statutory care and protection landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa), focusing on the operations of Waikato-Tainui, a post-treaty settlement entity operating on behalf of the Waikato tribe (iwi), within this complex colonial context to safeguard and nurture mokopuna (descendants) and whaanau (families). Waikato-Tainui supports indigenous mokopuna within a fundamentally flawed settler-colonial care and protection system while concurrently reimagining an indigenous-led model rooted in ancestral wisdom and knowledge systems. Mokopuna Ora (Thriving descendants) is an indigenous whaanau-led and mokopuna-centred care and protection initiative that has been piloted, tested, researched, evaluated, and expanded over the past eleven years within the current settler colonial system. Drawing from deep empirical ancestral wisdom, the authors reimagine a new approach, building a roadmap for mokopuna and whaanau success. Ki Tua o Ngaku Mokopuna is presented as a cultural practice framework encapsulating Waikato ancestral wisdom and knowledge. While still in its early implementation stages, its development has been generations in the making, belonging to Waikato paa (communal meeting places) and hapuu (sub-tribes). Beyond a tool for frontline staff, this framework offers a vision, measures of success, and standards of excellence to inform theory and practice. This work addresses continuous indigenous resistance against negative colonial impacts, reflecting a shared indigenous experience and system of care and protection. In contemporary Aotearoa, the neo-colonial challenge is exacerbated by the current right-wing coalition Government and its ideological stance. The swift and extensive legislative reforms driven by harmful racist ideology are unprecedented, facilitating the exploitation of people, Papatuuaanuku (the earth mother), and te taiao (the natural world) for corporate gain and profit. Maaori tribes, organisations, sub-tribes, families, and individuals are actively countering these racist ideologies, legislations, strategies, policies, funding decisions, and operational practices. This ongoing colonial violence is met with the strength of ancestral knowledge and wisdom, envisioning a future where mokopuna thrive. The framework represents indigenous love, growth, prosperity, and abundance amidst enduring colonial harm and ideological warfare. Full article

This article examines how Oaxacan chefs from Columbus, Ohio make their home and build their success. Prior scholarship shows how chefs establish home to offer themselves a springboard for future success, how chefs foster home through cooking and enjoying familiar dishes, and that food is only truly ‘at home’ when found outside of its original context. Ethnographic interviews with Oaxacan chefs working in food hall stands, taco trucks, bakeries, and restaurants in Columbus demonstrate how they move and adjust to the city; obtain their eateries; and shape their menus and future goals. Oaxacan chefs in Columbus have cultivated a sense of belonging and established a foothold in the city by employing strategies that combine preservation of cultural heritage and adherence and adjustment to local tastes. Full article

This study examines the way world history is taught in two Arab states of diverse backgrounds and international statuses, i.e., the Syrian Arab Republic before the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the United Arab Emirates. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) is applied to analyze extracts taken from each country’s history textbooks, highlighting the commonalities and differences between them. More specifically, historical narratives are juxtaposed and various insights into the interplay between state ideology and international relations are provided. Findings reveal the relevance of domestic politics and regional geopolitics in determining Syrian and Emirati views of other Arab peoples, colonialism, the Ottomans, and the Western and non-Western worlds alike. More importantly, the study sheds light on what these societies consider important to be taught as part of their building and indexing of national identity, amidst turbulent times in the entire region. Full article

This article draws upon the findings of a Churchill Fellowship that the author undertook in 2023 exploring how First Nations people and their communities internationally are reclaiming child protection decision making. From visiting Aotearoa (New Zealand), the United States of America, and Canada as well as the experiences of Queensland and Victoria in Australia, the author will highlight the preconditions to change; the processes that First Nations communities and their community-controlled organisations engaged in; the strengths and limitations of these approaches; and what has maintained and supported long-term change. The findings in this article aim to contribute to the key elements for guiding the development of a roadmap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to engage in their own journey of reclaiming child protection decision making within Australia. Full article

This paper examines inheritance rights within the Albanian diaspora, emphasizing the tension between long-standing traditions and contemporary legal frameworks. It specifically investigates traditional inheritance practices rooted in the Kanun and familial customs, alongside the challenges that arise when these traditions intersect with the laws of host countries where Albanians reside abroad. This study assesses the impact of migration on the preservation of cultural identity and evaluates how the modern legal systems of Kosovo, Albania, and various European and American states address inheritance matters for Albanians living outside their homeland. Furthermore, the paper presents concrete cases of conflicts between tradition and legal frameworks, underscoring the necessity for further harmonization that respects cultural heritage while ensuring legal justice for the Albanian diaspora. Finally, the study provides recommendations for enhancing legal policies and safeguarding inheritance rights to support the maintenance of cultural identity and familial bonds within Albanian communities abroad. Full article

This study critically examines the state of Indigenous education in Taiwan through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates policy analysis, statistical evaluation, and localized case studies. Despite the implementation of progressive legislation, Indigenous students continue to encounter persistent disparities in both secondary and tertiary education. By drawing on national datasets and school-level examples, this paper uncovers systemic mismatches between mainstream educational practices and the linguistic, cultural, and communal realities of Indigenous populations. To contextualize Taiwan’s challenges, this study includes a comparative analysis with Indigenous education in Canada, highlighting both shared obstacles and divergent strategies. The findings indicate that, despite policy reforms and targeted programs in both nations, entrenched inequalities endure, rooted in colonial legacies, insufficient cultural integration, and a lack of community-driven educational initiatives. The article argues for a transformative shift in Taiwan’s education system: one that emphasizes the indigenization of curricula, the inclusion of Indigenous voices in educational policymaking, and greater investment in culturally responsive support mechanisms, particularly at the high school and university levels. In summary, meaningful improvement in Indigenous education requires moving from an assimilationist paradigm to one rooted in cultural respect and self-determination. Full article

Background: This systematic review examines the lived experiences of Black students in UK higher education (HE), focusing on their encounters with racism and racial disadvantage, and how institutional and social factors contribute to these experiences. Methods: We conducted a systematic search across seven databases (Academic Search Complete, Education Abstracts, PsycINFO, Race Relations Abstracts, Scopus, Web of Science, and SocINDEX) in April 2023, with periodic updates. The grey literature, which refers to research and information produced outside of traditional academic publishing and distribution channels, was reviewed. This includes reports, policy briefs, theses, conference proceedings, government documents, and materials from organisations, think tanks, or professional bodies that are not commercially published or peer-reviewed but can still offer valuable insights relevant to the topic. Hand searches were also included. Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed, published between 2012 and 2024, written in English, and focused on the experiences of Black students in UK higher education. Both qualitative and quantitative studies with a clear research design were eligible. Studies were excluded if they lacked methodological rigour, did not focus on the UK HE context, or did not disaggregate Black student experiences. Risk of bias was assessed using standard qualitative appraisal tools. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise findings. Results: Nineteen studies were included in the review. Two main themes emerged: (1) diverse challenges including academic barriers and difficulties with social integration, and (2) the impact of racism and institutional factors, such as microaggressions and biased assessments. These issues contributed to mental fatigue and reduced academic performance. Support systems and a sense of belonging helped mitigate some of the negative effects. Discussion: The evidence was limited by potential bias in reporting and variability in study quality. Findings reveal persistent racial inequalities in UK HE that affect Black students’ well-being and outcomes. Institutional reforms, increased representation, and equity-focused policies are needed. Future research should explore effective interventions to reduce the awarding gap and support Black student success Full article

This paper argues for a conceptualisation of self-determination with respect to Indigenous Peoples’ child protection that is grounded in human rights which are plural, relational, and collective as well as individual. This challenges the idea that human rights are universal and static standards based on a code of enumerated rights with a focus on individual rights. Conceptions of the best interests of the child, permanency in care arrangements, and attachment within colonial institutions such as children’s courts often presume non-Indigenous understandings of family and culture. These child protection concepts, which are often framed as consistent with or even necessary to attain children’s human rights, implicitly embed colonial understandings and values with respect to family and community relations. An acknowledgment of the role of law in structuring relationships is necessary for the human rights of Indigenous children to be upheld. We argue that a relational and distributional conceptualisation of these rights can help to clarify how the law can contribute to strengthening, rather than undermining, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and community relationships. Full article

Before colonization, Indigenous child protection looked like an interdependent community. Indigenous knowledges and relational actions kept all within its fold safe and well. Colonial dispossession of land, degradation of subsistence rights, boarding schools, ongoing child removal, capitalism, and systems of oppression attempted to disconnect Indigenous peoples from their language, lands, ceremonial practices, stories, dances, songs, family, community, and themselves. However, Indigenous communities have held on, persevered, and have begun to turn the tide of intergenerational trauma through the revival of Indigenous wellness and self-determination. We believe local-based Indigenous relational knowledges can end colonial harm and promote wellbeing for all families and children. Our work builds off an Indigenous Connectedness Framework that recognizes the importance of the interrelated wellbeing of a person, family, community, ancestors/future generations, and the Earth. This framework was adapted based on community feedback to better fit the Nome Eskimo Community (NEC) and Bering Strait regional context. This paper shares results of community focus groups that led to the creation of a NEC Piaġiq (wellness) Framework, and shares intentions for pilot implementation of a wellness curriculum and pilot intervention. We will offer insights and lessons learned. We believe self-determined Indigenous wellbeing efforts can lead to improved outcomes for our sacred children and families for generations to come. Full article

In 2020, Bill C92, or an Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families, came into force in Canada. The Act historically recognized and affirmed Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services and established national minimal standards for service delivery. In 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the constitutionality of the Act in an appeal from a Quebec Court of Appeal reference case. The Court stressed all parts of the Act must be viewed as “integrated parts of a unified whole” and required the braiding together of Indigenous laws, state laws and international laws into a “single strong rope.” The Act’s aspirations remain in tension with ongoing challenges in implementation. This article outlines the main provisions of the Act. It then examines the law-making efforts and accomplishments of Indigenous governments exercising jurisdiction using the Act, along with some of the hopes and obstacles encountered through this work. Next, it considers some of the emerging jurisprudence interpreting the Act, and some of the implications this case law has on whether the stated purposes of the Act are being achieved. It concludes by highlighting the ongoing uncertainty and hopes for realizing the full potential and aspirations of the Act. Full article

This article examines how national identity is constructed through religious representations in the poetry of Nikoloz Baratashvili, one of the leading figures of 19th-century Georgian Romanticism. Through a text-centered analysis of four key poems, it explores how a religious memory woven around motifs of sacred silence, divine absence, and sacrificial imagery is transformed into a poetic narrative within a postcolonial context. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Søren Kierkegaard, Paul Ricoeur, Edward Said, and post-Soviet Georgian thinkers, the study interprets Baratashvili’s poetry as an expression of an existential national narrative. It argues that the poet’s poetics articulate both individual and collective trauma and that the nation is reimagined as a metaphysical community. In this regard, the study offers an interdisciplinary contribution focused on how the Georgian national genealogy is constructed poetically, the role of Orthodox cultural symbolism, and the impact of colonial modernity. Full article

After decades of decline, Detroit has begun advocating for immigrant inclusion as a regional revitalization strategy. Yet, some migrants do not share the city’s enthusiasm. Chaldean Iraqis, for instance, tend to underscore their distinctiveness from the city and its residents. Nevertheless, their insistence on difference seems spatially specific. Drawing on ethnographic observations in and around Chaldean community organizations in metro Detroit, as well as a sociological discourse analysis of urban policy documents, this paper traces newcomers and the city’s mutually constitutive nature of identity formation. Moreover, I show how community members strategically link their collective memories from Iraq to those of Southeast Michigan, resulting in highly complex place-identity projects. The carefully curated public narrative, in turn, has real consequences for Detroit’s social fabric, reproducing, and challenging Detroit’s own regional identity. Theoretically, the findings point to the limitations of a one-dimensional, spatially bounded, and temporally delimited notion of identity formation. Empirically, Chaldeans’ identity formation highlights the heterogeneity in newcomers’ identity construction, one that differs from that of other co-nationals. Full article