Researcher Profiles

Allison Penner

Fifth year student, Honours History major

Briefly describe the professor and research project you are working with.

I work as a research assistant for Dr. Alexander Freund in the History Department.  The project in which I am most actively involved right now is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada -funded study examining the history of refugees in Manitoba, and particularly Winnipeg, since 1945.  I involved in studies with  more recent refugees, those who arrived in the 1970s and later and about whom we know very little.  My own research centers on the oral histories of people who fled Afghanistan as refugees in the late 1990s and who subsequently settled in Winnipeg.  

As part of a broader oral history project, a large aspect of my work involves finding people with refugee experiences who are willing to be interviewed about their lives.  I then interview the individual, and then transcribe and process the interviews, preparing them to be deposited in the Manitoba Archives and the archives at the Oral History Centre at UWinnipeg.  Part of my position involves finding community groups serving people with refugee backgrounds.  Along with Dr. Freund, I assist in training these people and groups in the practices of oral history as well as working with them to develop oral history projects that are community-led and that reflect the interests and concerns of that particular community.  

Why do you want to do this kind of research?

The opportunities and benefits that oral history provides are immeasurable, especially for a group of people who have traditionally not been included in the history books of our province.  Manitoba, and Winnipeg in particular, have become so culturally rich because of the diversity of the people here.  It seems obvious to me that since these people make up a growing portion of our society, that we should know something about them, where they came from, and how they came to live here.  

On a broader scale, I appreciate the perspective that oral history provides.  So much of the history we read is the history of nations, governments, and the ‘big movers.’  Oral history provides an opportunity for the everyday person who has the authority of having witnessed and been involved with significant historical events to share her or his experience, contributing to an understanding both of those historical events as well as an understanding of how those events impacted and are remembered by the people who lived through them.  It humanizes history and, in the process, democratizes it as well.  

How do you think this research benefits you in developing your skills and abilities?

This work has allowed me witness and be part of a large-scale oral history project from inception and through the progressive stages.  It has demonstrated the benefits as well as the potential pitfalls of this type of community-based project.  I now have a much more realistic understanding what an academic oral history project entails.  I have also strengthened my own understanding of oral history and have developed leadership skills as I assist in as well as lead my own training sessions.  I have learned to network with a variety of organizations, and I am learning to get over my fear of public speaking.  I have been challenged to think creatively about how to find potential interviewees as well as how to work with these interviewees so that both parties gain what they are hoping for from an oral history project.  I have experienced the frustration of a long worked-on project seemingly going nowhere, and the excitement of finding a great interviewee or making connections with a great partner organization. The hands-on aspect of my work has been invaluable in taking my learning out of and beyond the classroom and applying it to a real project.

What is the best part, or what has surprised you in doing this research?

The best part about my research has been the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and better understand people with radically different (and sometimes surprisingly similar) experiences than my own.  I love talking to people, and I love hearing about their lives and experiences.  In everyday conversation, there is very little opportunity to really listen to people.  Listening to a person share their life story places anecdotes and actions within the broader context of a whole life, and by doing so, it has enabled me to better understand the people I have had the privilege of interviewing.  In turn, this has enabled me to better understand how history plays out in the lives of those who generally do not make the large decisions but are nonetheless impacted by them.  

What would you say to students thinking about attending UWinnipeg regarding research opportunities here?

I’m sure that students think it is part of my job to promote the university, as I always tell new students what a wonderful school the University of Winnipeg is with regards to research opportunities.  I believe that I have had academic opportunities here that I would not have had at a larger university.  Smaller class sizes allow students and professors to develop meaningful relationships and present students with opportunities to gain meaningful experience related to their area of study.  I consider myself fortunate to have found a professor whose academic interests complement my own and who has provided me with the opportunity to develop practical skills.  And this is not an uncommon experience; I have many friends and classmates working in a variety of departments on various projects.  The professors for whom we work often take on a mentoring role and take a genuine interest in the futures of their students.  The opportunity to work for Dr. Freund has provided me with invaluable experience in the design and execution of oral history projects and has allowed me to meet key figures in the field of oral history, and I will always be grateful for his guidance and the interest he has taken in my career as well as for the opportunities he has presented to me.    

What are your personal goals, how do you hope to use your education down the road?

I’m sure that I am not alone in being uncertain of the direction my career may take after I complete my B.A. in April 2013.  However, I feel fortunate in that my problem seems to arise from having to choose a direction from a wide range of interests and options, rather than the lack of interests and options.  I am leaning towards pursuing further education, beginning with a Master’s degree.  I have a strong personal interest in human rights work and social activism, and my training in oral history dovetails nicely with this interest.  

I believe that awareness is the first step in creating any social change: people cannot care about that which they do not know.  My hope is that I will be able to use my oral history training as a platform from which people who have traditionally been denied access to venues of power will be able to share their stories and experiences.