Genealogy

10 pages, 199 KB

Open AccessArticle

Blak Humour: The Strategic Role and Healing Power of Humour in Aboriginal Wellbeing and Survival

by Angelina Hurley

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010022 - 9 Feb 2026

This article draws on my doctoral research, Reconciliation Rescue: An Original Blak Comedy Series and Aboriginal Cultural Perspectives on Humour, to examine how Aboriginal humour operates as a mode of resistance, truth-telling, and cultural continuity. My thesis consists of two components Reconciliation Rescue, [...] Read more.

This article draws on my doctoral research, Reconciliation Rescue: An Original Blak Comedy Series and Aboriginal Cultural Perspectives on Humour, to examine how Aboriginal humour operates as a mode of resistance, truth-telling, and cultural continuity. My thesis consists of two components Reconciliation Rescue, an original scripted Blak comedy series, and an accompanying exegesis that situates the work within broader discussions of Aboriginal sovereignty, identity, and the politics of reconciliation. In this article, I extend that research to demonstrate how Aboriginal voices, when centred in comedic storytelling, challenge colonial paradigms and reframe national narratives. Grounded in my lived experience as an Aboriginal woman and my longstanding creative practice, I explore the ways in which Aboriginal humour addresses intergenerational trauma, racism, and stereotypes. I contrast the collectivist values and relational worldviews of Aboriginal cultures with the individualism of Whitestream society, arguing that humour particularly the oration of humorous storytelling has long served as a powerful tool of healing, resilience, and community cohesion. This distinctive form of ‘Blak Humour’ confronts harmful assumptions, empowers our people, and strengthens cultural identity. By reflecting on the development of Reconciliation Rescue and the principles that shape First Nations comedic expression, this article illustrates how Aboriginal comedy can act as an educational and transformative force. It highlights humour’s potential to foster understanding, unsettle entrenched power structures, and contribute meaningfully to more culturally informed and socially just approaches to reconciliation in Australia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indigenous Well-Being: Connecting to Country and Culture)

50 pages, 2071 KB

Open AccessArticle

What Constitutes the Modern Multi-Ethnic Nation-State of China? An Analysis of How the Late Qing New Policies Shaped Modern Multi-Ethnic China

by Congrong Xiao, Yan Zhang and Dongkwon Seong

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010021 - 6 Feb 2026

Abstract

Situated within the field of modern Chinese political history, this study investigates the Late Qing New Policies (1901–1911) as a pivotal transition from a traditional tributary empire to a modern multi-ethnic nation-state. A critical limitation in current scholarship is the tendency to reduce [...] Read more.

Situated within the field of modern Chinese political history, this study investigates the Late Qing New Policies (1901–1911) as a pivotal transition from a traditional tributary empire to a modern multi-ethnic nation-state. A critical limitation in current scholarship is the tendency to reduce these reforms to mere expedients for dynastic preservation, thereby overlooking the complex mechanisms by which they fundamentally reconstructed national identity and interethnic power structures amidst the “triple crisis” of territory, sovereignty, and nationality. To address this, the article employs a comprehensive historical analysis to explore how institutional restructuring in administration, military, and ideology catalyzed the transformation from imperial autocracy toward a “responsible government” framework. The research is distinguished by its innovative application of Anthony D. Smith’s theories of “ethnic” versus “civic” nationalism to deconstruct the “myth-symbol complex” of the Chinese nation, bridging the theoretical divide between the “New Qing History” paradigm and empirical modernization narratives. Findings demonstrate that while the Manchu leadership aimed to secure formal primacy, the practical implementation of reforms engendered a de facto Han-supported power structure, compelling the reconceptualization of the state as a “multi-ethnic constitutional monarchy” and establishing the institutional logic for the “Five Races Under One Union” model. Consequently, this study offers significant academic value by redefining the New Policies as the foundational phase of modern China, providing a crucial theoretical framework for understanding the continuity of China’s multi-ethnic statehood and national identity beyond the dynastic collapse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genealogical Communities: Multi-Ethnic, Multi-Racial, and Multi-National Genealogies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3905 KB

Open AccessArticle

On Black Women, Memory, and History: Inserting Lillie Thomas Hines and Eddie Florence Gray into the Historical Narrative

by Deborah Gray White

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010020 - 2 Feb 2026

Abstract

This article introduces my mother and maternal grandmother into the American story. I bring together sources like the census and family bible, documented history, and my memory to demonstrate that genealogy and family history expand the archive on black women and the black [...] Read more.

This article introduces my mother and maternal grandmother into the American story. I bring together sources like the census and family bible, documented history, and my memory to demonstrate that genealogy and family history expand the archive on black women and the black family. I also reflect on the way history and memory are dichotomized and argue that autobiography/memoir holds a key to freeing black women’s history from the violence of the archive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Narratives of Impact: The Influence of Family Stories on Personal Meaning)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 368 KB

Open AccessArticle

Community Strengths That Support Rural Alaska Native Youth: “They’re There for One Another”

by Katie Cueva, Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, Taa’aii Peter, Roberta Moto, James Ay’aqulluk Chaliak, Jessica Black, Diane McEachern, James Allen, Lisa Wexler and Stacy Rasmus

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010019 - 2 Feb 2026

Abstract

This paper describes Alaska Native youth-identified community strengths that support young people’s well-being. Youth from three rural Alaska communities were engaged by the research team in digital storytelling and photovoice to explore their perspectives on what their communities were already undertaking to support [...] Read more.

This paper describes Alaska Native youth-identified community strengths that support young people’s well-being. Youth from three rural Alaska communities were engaged by the research team in digital storytelling and photovoice to explore their perspectives on what their communities were already undertaking to support youth. Each youth participant was then invited to complete an interview, which was then transcribed, coded, and qualitatively analyzed by the research team leads. The community strengths described by young people align with several community-level protective factors identified in a parent study as associated with reduced risk of youth suicide. Findings illustrate that protective communities help young people build and maintain supportive relationships with community members, family, and peers, and promote their connection to their culture, including by providing opportunities to learn their language, history, and culture; to be out on the land hunting and fishing; and to practice traditional ceremonies and spirituality. Communities implementing initiatives that support these factors may protect young people from youth suicide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Connectedness and Cultural Adaptation on Mental Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 413 KB

Open AccessArticle

White Supremacy in the Nordic Countries: Erasing Racism and Indigenous Voices

by Kristín Loftsdóttir

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010018 - 27 Jan 2026

Abstract

Recent scholarship has called for greater attention to white supremacy. This is closely linked to broader efforts to foreground the structural and institutional dimensions of racism. In the Nordic context, such a perspective challenges longstanding assumptions of exceptionalism by highlighting the historical and [...] Read more.

Recent scholarship has called for greater attention to white supremacy. This is closely linked to broader efforts to foreground the structural and institutional dimensions of racism. In the Nordic context, such a perspective challenges longstanding assumptions of exceptionalism by highlighting the historical and contemporary presence of coloniality and racism in the Nordic countries. This article examines the concept of white supremacy in relation to the Nordic countries, arguing that white supremacy has constituted a longstanding feature of Nordic societies and that the erasure of Indigenous concerns and voices presents one way in which white supremacy has been expressed. It uses two recent cases involving artist production connected to Iceland, Kalaallit Nunaat, and Denmark to analyze the links between the past and the present. The historical embedded analysis of these cases demonstrates that white supremacy has been an enduring feature of Nordic societies. Nordic Indigenous critiques, as well as discussions concerning Indigenous people within and beyond the Nordic countries, reveal thus how white supremacy operates through everyday structural and institutional practices in the Nordic context. These findings underscore the importance of addressing white supremacy as a pervasive and normalized aspect of Nordic social and political life. Full article

15 pages, 265 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Crown Gathers Wealth: The Symbolic Significance of the Crown in Yoruba Personal Naming Practices

by Eyo Mensah, Nancy Irek, Aaron Nwogu and Queendaline Iloh

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010017 - 26 Jan 2026

Abstract

The crown conveys a rich tapestry of history and deep cultural resonances among the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria, beyond its representation as an emblem of leadership, royalty, and nobility. This article explores layers of the meaning of crown in the Yoruba personal [...] Read more.

The crown conveys a rich tapestry of history and deep cultural resonances among the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria, beyond its representation as an emblem of leadership, royalty, and nobility. This article explores layers of the meaning of crown in the Yoruba personal naming system. It relies on an ethnopragmatic theory to analyse the cultural significance and symbolic impact of crown-related names among the Yoruba. Drawing on a qualitative research approach using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 25 participants who were purposively sampled in Ikeja, Lagos State, we argue that crown-related names are not mere identifiers or person reference labels, but they provide cultural insights and reflections on the foundation of authority and continuity, and carry the aspirational principles of the Yoruba traditional structure. The names symbolise personal journey; reinforce the hierarchical structure of the Yoruba society; and highlight the people’s deep connection to their ancestral lineage. This study concludes that crown-related names encapsulate the values, beliefs, and social structures of the Yoruba society, serving as enduring markers of dynastic identity and cultural values. In this way, crown-related names represent badges of honour that validate their bearers’ self-worth and dignity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Names as Heritage: Tracing Family and Community Identity Through Naming)

15 pages, 334 KB

Open AccessArticle

20 Years After the Intercountry Adoption Moratorium in Guatemala: Analysis of the Social Welfare System in the Global Era

by Karen Rotabi-Casares and Carmen Monico

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010016 - 23 Jan 2026

Abstract

Guatemala’s intercountry adoptions were suspended in 2007 after widespread illicit procedures and the persistent trafficking of children. This article is a historical and policy analysis of the related social welfare systems. It uses Midgley’s framework to examine the past and the changes that [...] Read more.

Guatemala’s intercountry adoptions were suspended in 2007 after widespread illicit procedures and the persistent trafficking of children. This article is a historical and policy analysis of the related social welfare systems. It uses Midgley’s framework to examine the past and the changes that have resulted in Guatemala’s reform era. Specific attention has been paid to non-formal systems, market-based or profit-oriented systems, non-profit and faith-based systems, and importantly, government-based systems. Previous (pre-reform) child welfare systems, particularly during the millennium adoption surge, are then compared to a relatively new and reformed system. An international child rights legal and policy context, to include the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, frames the discussion that also considers the passage of the 2007 Adoption Law. The article has a child rights perspective and considers the role of women, particularly birth parents, during Guatemala’s peak adoption years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Race, Family, and Identity: The Impact of Transracial Adoption)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 874 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience in African American Families: A Dimensional Conceptual Analysis of Dyads and Triads

by LaDrea Ingram, Aliyah D. De Jesus and Esthel Nam

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010015 - 15 Jan 2026

Abstract

Intergenerational trauma significantly affects the health and mental health of African American families, particularly women whose lives are shaped by systemic inequities and historical oppression. This scoping review examines how trauma and resilience are transmitted across generations in African American communities, with a [...] Read more.

Intergenerational trauma significantly affects the health and mental health of African American families, particularly women whose lives are shaped by systemic inequities and historical oppression. This scoping review examines how trauma and resilience are transmitted across generations in African American communities, with a focus on dyads such as mother–child and mother–daughter relationships and a conceptual grandmother–mother–daughter triad. The review aims to identify mechanisms of trauma transmission and resilience and to inform culturally responsive, multigenerational interventions. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2012 and 2025 were identified that included African American caregivers and children and addressed biological, psychological, social, cultural, and resilience dimensions of intergenerational processes. Data were synthesized using a dimensional conceptual analysis approach. Findings indicate that intergenerational trauma is perpetuated through chronic stress and discrimination, maternal mental health challenges, family structure and caregiving strain, and cultural narratives about strength and self-reliance. At the same time, resilience is transmitted through sensitive caregiving, spirituality and faith, social and kin support, racial socialization, and economic survival strategies that draw on cultural and historical knowledge. These results underscore the importance of addressing intergenerational trauma holistically by integrating dyadic evidence within a broader conceptual triadic framework. Culturally responsive, multigenerational interventions that leverage family and community strengths and make space for emotional vulnerability are essential for interrupting cycles of trauma and fostering healing within African American families. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3334 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Integration of Multi-Disciplinary Inputs into a Narrative of an Ancient Migration, Based on Greater Chronological Precision Provided by a Novel Y-DNA Clock and Phylogenetic Branching

by Desmond D. Mascarenhas, Balaji Rajagapolan, John W. Fox and Richard J. Johnson

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010014 - 14 Jan 2026

Abstract

An accurate DNA clock can strengthen cross-disciplinary inputs in the study of genealogies and ancient migrations. New Y-chromosome sequence data gathered from a Lotli Pai Kaundinya (LPK) Brahmin cohort whose staged migration from the Pontic Steppe to the West Coast of India was [...] Read more.

An accurate DNA clock can strengthen cross-disciplinary inputs in the study of genealogies and ancient migrations. New Y-chromosome sequence data gathered from a Lotli Pai Kaundinya (LPK) Brahmin cohort whose staged migration from the Pontic Steppe to the West Coast of India was previously reported, are used here to generate a more precise DNA clock. The formula distinguishes Y-mutation rates for transitions and transversions and corrects for dropped mutations in sequence reads. The formula is validated against a baptismal tree covering over four centuries (0–704 YBP interval), a published STR-based chronology for this same cohort (704–5200 YBP) and a comparison to Y-Full formation times for mutations older than 3000 YBP. Using this more precise clock, we support a proposed “founder effect” expansion in Khorasan during 4300–3800 YBP using a novel phylogenetic branching metric; and use archeological, numismatic, toponymic, climate reconstruction and ancient textual data to explore religious and professional dimensions of cultural kinship with other communities believed to have interacted with the LPK during their long migration. The availability of more precise dating facilitates the integration of such secondary data types, resulting in an enriched and more plausible migration narrative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ancestral Threads: Ancient DNA and the Weaving of Human History and Migration)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 316 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Framed as a Criminal, Rather than as Artist”: A Narrative Study into Meaning-Making by UK Drill Artists

by Rachèl Overbeek Bloem, Niké Wentholt and Carolina Suransky

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010013 - 14 Jan 2026

Abstract

While drill music is often talked about in relation to crime, it is often overlooked as an art form and cultural practice. Consequently, its artists are rarely heard from. To address this societal and academic gap, we have conducted in-depth interviews with ten [...] Read more.

While drill music is often talked about in relation to crime, it is often overlooked as an art form and cultural practice. Consequently, its artists are rarely heard from. To address this societal and academic gap, we have conducted in-depth interviews with ten UK artists from this genre and subculture. This article presents the shared meanings these UK drill artists attach to the motivation to make their own music, the music subgenre and its culture, and its ongoing criminalisation. We do so by conceptualising these meanings as counter-narratives. The article departs from the observation that these counter-narratives present themselves in drill, as a form of expression, on two dimensions: drill as the outcome of intra-group expression of emotions and social relations, and as the platform to engage with social injustice on the inter-group level. An interdisciplinary theoretical framework, combining psychological insights on needs, philosophical cues on (mis)recognition, and the lens intersectionality, allows us to study and bridge these two dimensions. We identify twelve counter-narratives that were validated by a majority of respondents. The study, besides analysing these in-depth counter-narratives, also foregrounds UK drill artists’ agency generally absent from both societal and academic discourse. Full article

15 pages, 318 KB

Open AccessReview

A Scoping Review of UK Immigration and Asylum Laws: The Endless Cycle of ‘Migration Fix’

by Samson Maekele Tsegay

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010012 - 11 Jan 2026

Cited by 1

Abstract

Historically, the number of United Kingdom (UK) emigrants has exceeded the number of immigrants, but this trend began to change in the early 1970s. The UK government has been enforcing strict immigration controls to reduce the number of immigrants, especially asylum seekers. The [...] Read more.

Historically, the number of United Kingdom (UK) emigrants has exceeded the number of immigrants, but this trend began to change in the early 1970s. The UK government has been enforcing strict immigration controls to reduce the number of immigrants, especially asylum seekers. The country even left the European Union to better control its borders and consider new arrivals based on their skills. However, despite tighter immigration policies, long-term international migration to the UK has continued to grow. The ongoing, and to some extent gendered and racialised, migration fix has not provided a sustainable solution for the country. Instead, it has increased the vulnerability and anxiety of refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants. Informed by a scoping review and the concept migration fix, this article examines UK immigration policies since World War II. This article is important for understanding the migration fix in UK immigration and asylum policies and their effects on asylum seekers, refugees, and other migrants. Full article

23 pages, 895 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genealogy and Law Without Borders: Comparative Nationality Regimes and the Global Circulation of Descent

by Oluwaseyi B. Ayeni, Oluwajuwon M. Omigbodun and Oluwakemi T. Onibalusi

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010011 - 6 Jan 2026

Abstract

Citizenship is not only a legal status but also a form of recognition. Every state defines who belongs by tracing lines of descent, yet the way ancestry is proven differs widely. This study compares nationality laws in Europe, Africa, and North America to [...] Read more.

Citizenship is not only a legal status but also a form of recognition. Every state defines who belongs by tracing lines of descent, yet the way ancestry is proven differs widely. This study compares nationality laws in Europe, Africa, and North America to show how evidence shapes access to citizenship. It asks what kinds of proof states require and what happens when those forms of proof are missing. The analysis draws on nationality laws, constitutional texts, case decisions, and administrative practice. The findings show that Europe relies on documents and registration systems that treat records as truth, while African states face gaps in documentation that leave many citizens unrecognised. In North America, technology and DNA testing have made biology a new measure of belonging. Across these regions, the law of descent has become a law of evidence. Documents and DNA dominate, while oral and community genealogy have lost authority. These evidentiary habits travel across borders, shaping how migrants and diasporas prove identity in a world that equates paperwork with legitimacy. The study concludes that certainty and fairness can exist together if states accept multiple paths to proof. When documents, sworn statements, and community testimony are combined, the law can recognise descent without excluding those who lack official records. Belonging should rest not only on what is written or tested but also on what is known and trusted. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

1 pages, 117 KB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Caballero (2025). Remembering Peter Aspinall. Genealogy 9: 101

by Chamion Caballero

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010010 - 5 Jan 2026

Abstract

The author wishes to make the following corrections to this paper [...] Full article

9 pages, 595 KB

Open AccessArticle

Body-Land: Embodied Memory, Coloniality, and Resurgence Across Abya Yala and Turtle Island

by Nathalie Lozano Neira

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010009 - 4 Jan 2026

Abstract

This essay theorizes the body-land, a living site where colonial violence, displacement, and resurgence converge through a hemispheric dialogue between Indigenous and decolonial feminisms from Abya Yala and Turtle Island. Drawing on Lorena Cabnal’s concept of the body-land as the primary terrain of [...] Read more.

This essay theorizes the body-land, a living site where colonial violence, displacement, and resurgence converge through a hemispheric dialogue between Indigenous and decolonial feminisms from Abya Yala and Turtle Island. Drawing on Lorena Cabnal’s concept of the body-land as the primary terrain of colonial invasion and regeneration, María Lugones’s analysis of the coloniality of gender as a system that fractures body, land, and relations, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s theory of embodied relational resurgence, and Diana Taylor’s notion of the repertoire as embodied memory beyond the archive, the essay argues that silence, gesture, and affect function as insurgent practices of knowledge transmission that contest colonial modes of erasure. Through an autoethnographic narrative spanning displacement from Villarrica, Tolima, and re-rooting on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, the analysis traces how colonial grammars of race, gender, and territory are inscribed in the body. Yet these embodied inscriptions also generate practices of resurgence. By bringing Cabnal, Lugones, Simpson, and Taylor into direct conversation, the essay demonstrates that resurgence must be understood as an embodied, relational, and hemispheric process, one in which the body becomes a generative territory for reimagining belonging and repairing the fractures of colonial modernity. Full article

28 pages, 362 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Human Rights-Based Perspective on the Integration Experiences and Vulnerabilities of Zimbabwean Migrants Living in Johannesburg, South Africa

by Mutsa Murenje and Sipho Sibanda

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010008 - 2 Jan 2026

Abstract

The integration experiences and vulnerabilities of migrants in host states are a critical area of study. This qualitative research, grounded in a human rights and social justice framework, investigates the systemic injustices and integration challenges faced by Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa. [...] Read more.

The integration experiences and vulnerabilities of migrants in host states are a critical area of study. This qualitative research, grounded in a human rights and social justice framework, investigates the systemic injustices and integration challenges faced by Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa. Through in-depth interviews with 16 participants and six key informants, the study employs thematic analysis to uncover the socio-cultural, economic, and political barriers that impede successful integration. The findings reveal pervasive issues such as prejudice, discrimination, xenophobia, and language barriers, which exacerbate the migrants’ vulnerabilities and make it difficult to support their families. They, at times, fail to buy food and pay school fees for their children. Despite these challenges, the resilience and creativity of Zimbabwean migrants are evident. The study’s unique contribution lies in its widening of the genealogy of theories of migration by incorporating African-centred migration perspectives, which are grounded in social justice perspectives. This critiques the Global North-dominated narratives that have historically sidelined the lived experiences of migrants from the Global South. The study offers a comprehensive examination of the interplay between systemic barriers and migrant resilience, offering new insights into how migration involves and affects families. This research calls for the development and implementation of rights-based integration frameworks to address systemic issues and enhance the well-being of migrants so that they can better support their families and kinsmen. Full article

16 pages, 274 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nurturing Igbo Identity: A Socio-Pragmatic Study of Naming Practices Among Diasporic Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria

by Akumjika Chikamma Michael, Olubunmi Funmi Oyebanji and Victoria Enefiok Etim

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010007 - 1 Jan 2026

Abstract

The paper explores how the diasporic Igbo community portrays its cultural identity through personal names and naming practices in a globalised context. The study employs a qualitative approach, involving computer-assisted semi-structured interviews with 26 diasporic Igbo individuals residing in the United States of [...] Read more.

The paper explores how the diasporic Igbo community portrays its cultural identity through personal names and naming practices in a globalised context. The study employs a qualitative approach, involving computer-assisted semi-structured interviews with 26 diasporic Igbo individuals residing in the United States of America (USA), to examine how names are constructed to reflect cultural identity, community ties, and connections to the Igbo society. The paper adopts the sociocultural linguistic theory of identity to examine how culture and society shape language use, analysing names as social acts that establish connections to the Igbo community and cultural heritage. The paper examines how Igbo migrants negotiate traditional naming practices in the diaspora and communicate their cultural identity and worldviews through naming. The findings reveal that the diaspora Igbo community conveys its cultural identity, migration history, and emotional connection to its homeland while maintaining social relationships in its host country. The study will provide insight into the role of names in preserving cultural identity and fostering a sense of belonging among the diasporic Igbo community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Names as Heritage: Tracing Family and Community Identity Through Naming)

20 pages, 1303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Not Quite at Home: Afro-Caribbean Identity, Resistance, and Cultural Capital Across Generations

by Karine Coen-Sanchez

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010006 - 1 Jan 2026

Abstract

This study examines the mobilization of social and cultural capital among first and second-generation Afro-Caribbeans in Canada, focusing specifically on Jamaican and Haitian populations. Employing an analytical model grounded in resistance and identity multi-positionality, this research utilizes Yosso’s theory of cultural wealth as [...] Read more.

This study examines the mobilization of social and cultural capital among first and second-generation Afro-Caribbeans in Canada, focusing specifically on Jamaican and Haitian populations. Employing an analytical model grounded in resistance and identity multi-positionality, this research utilizes Yosso’s theory of cultural wealth as a theoretical framework. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups and an intake survey aimed at exploring the dual objectives of defining Blackness and constructing an in-group Black identity alongside the establishment and contestation of social capital within these groups. The findings reveal a dynamic interplay between resistance and identity, highlighting how marginalized groups leverage their resilience to build robust social networks that challenge hegemonic norms. Significant generational differences were identified in experiences of racism, discrimination, and cultural preservation among the participants. This study contributes to the broader discourse on immigrant integration, social cohesion, and the role of cultural capital in mitigating systemic inequalities. The results underscore the necessity for intersectional approaches to comprehend the complexities of identity formation and social integration in multicultural societies. Moreover, the research emphasizes the critical importance of cultural heritage, identity, and community support as sources of strength and resilience for Afro-Caribbean communities in Canada. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genealogical Communities: Multi-Ethnic, Multi-Racial, and Multi-National Genealogies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 350 KB

Open AccessReview

Matrimonial Property and Inheritance Laws in Kosovo: Genealogical Insights on Family Continuity and Heritage

by Bedri Bahtiri and Kastriote Vlahna

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010005 - 1 Jan 2026

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Kosovo’s matrimonial property and inheritance laws on intergenerational inheritance and family connections. It explores how the division of property during marriage or upon divorce influences inheritance outcomes and the continuity of family lineage. The research employs a [...] Read more.

This study examines the impact of Kosovo’s matrimonial property and inheritance laws on intergenerational inheritance and family connections. It explores how the division of property during marriage or upon divorce influences inheritance outcomes and the continuity of family lineage. The research employs a comparative approach, including genealogical case studies, to analyze these effects. Findings demonstrate that legal provisions significantly influence the preservation of family property and help prevent intra-family disputes. Well-structured laws ensuring the participation of children and the surviving spouse promote gender and social equality, respect heirs’ rights, and support economic sustainability. Comparative experiences from Germany and France offer practical examples for harmonizing property management in Kosovo. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of accurate property data and the use of genealogical records to maintain continuity in material inheritance and the construction of family history. Overall, matrimonial property and inheritance laws are more than legal instruments; they uphold social order and safeguard families’ material legacies. The study concludes with concrete recommendations for policy and legal practices that address communities’ real needs while acknowledging family history. Full article

20 pages, 1450 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sovereign Childhoods and the Colonial Care System: Structural Drivers, Cultural Rights and Pathways to Transformation in First Nations OOHC

by James C. Beaufils

Genealogy 2026, 10(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy10010004 - 1 Jan 2026

Abstract

First Nations children remain dramatically over-represented in Australia’s Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system, particularly in New South Wales (NSW), which continues to report the highest numbers nationally. This narrative review, grounded in a relational First Nations Standpoint Theory and decolonising research paradigms, to critically [...] Read more.

First Nations children remain dramatically over-represented in Australia’s Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system, particularly in New South Wales (NSW), which continues to report the highest numbers nationally. This narrative review, grounded in a relational First Nations Standpoint Theory and decolonising research paradigms, to critically examine the systemic, structural, and historical factors contributing to these disproportionalities. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence across law, criminology, education, health, governance studies, and public policy, the analysis centres Indigenous-authored scholarship and contemporary empirical literature, including grey literature, inquiries, and community-led reports. Findings reveal that the OOHC system reproduces the colonial logics that historically drove the Stolen Generations. Macro-level structural drivers—including systemic racism, Indigenous data injustice, entrenched poverty and deprivation, intergenerational trauma, and Westernised governance frameworks—continue to shape child protection policies and practices. Micro-level drivers such as parental supports, mental health distress, substance misuse, family violence, and the criminalisation of children in care (“crossover children”) must be understood as direct consequences of structural inequality rather than as isolated individual risk factors. Current placement and permanency orders in NSW further compound cultural disconnection, with ongoing failures to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP). Contemporary cultural rights and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) frameworks highlight the urgency of restoring Indigenous authority in decision-making processes. The literature consistently demonstrates that cultural continuity, kinship networks, and ACCO-led models are sort to produce stronger long-term outcomes for children. The review concludes that genuine transformation requires a systemic shift toward Indigenous-led governance, community-controlled service delivery, data sovereignty, and legislative reform that embeds cultural rights and self-determination. Without acknowledging the structural drivers and redistributing genuine power and authority, the state risks perpetuating a cycle of removal that mirrors earlier assimilationist policies. Strengthening First Peoples governance and cultural authority is therefore essential to creating pathways for First Nations children to live safely, remain connected to family and kin, and thrive in culture. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Description

Genealogy

Latest Articles

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Highly Accessed Articles

Latest Books

E-Mail Alert

News

Topics

Conferences

Special Issues

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI