The team wanted to provide guidance to those who may be interested in being interviewed. Even though these may be more helpful for those who contribute to the Project, some of these reminder, values, and practices can be useful in different contexts.
Community Connections
Remember that you are being interviewed by people who are part of the communities you are part of in different ways – even as we may feel excluded from these same communities. The Project team is doing this work because we are a part of it, not simply because we are excluded from communities.
Your Sakhi
Remember that the stories you are sharing will be accessible to many people and the team’s questions will reflect a sensitivity that honors non-disclosure of some topics. You are allowed to keep your queer secrets!
Communicate With Us
Let the team know how you would like to use and engage the Project and interviews. We would love to incorporate your interests in the developing, final product.
For more resources on how narrators can prepare for these types of interviews, we recommend reviewing the section “For Narrators” created by the National Public Housing Museum (authored by BTA ‘22 graduate and Oral History Collective member, Ammie Kae Brooks (LCSW), and BTA Educational Coordinator, Noor Alzamami). They also created a resource list specifically for narrators (you!).
Values
Practices
Revisiting, sharing and reflecting on memories can be a very intimate and emotional experience. Our memories hold a lot of power, and can often bring up joy, celebration, and gratitude, alongside pain, mourning, and grief. Sharing these memories may leave one feeling very exhausted and tired as our bodies (re)engages key moments in our life. For that reason, we advise our participants to take measures of care both before and after the interview. We have listed a few suggestions that can be helpful to navigate the interview process as intentionally as possible.
Be sure to tend to your basic needs to ensure that you are well rested, nourished, and hydrated going into the interview.
Based on what you end up sharing in the interview, it is common to feel physically and emotionally exhausted and heavy after the interview. We suggest continuing to get a lot of rest, nourishment, and hydration to allow the body to replenish and letting your body and mind process the interview experience and what it may have brought up for you.
Think about scheduling your interview on a day when you have a more open schedule to rest and tend to your needs after the interview.
Use self soothing practices that tap into your senses, practices that can be used before, during, after the interview. Some examples include stretching, dancing before or after the interview, having something soft to hold onto during the interview, or lighting a candle.
Kirtan can be a very soothing and grounding resource. We have compiled a playlist below with a few shabads that we hope can be helpful for you.
LGBTQIA+ Sikh Oral History Project YouTube Playlist
A compilation kirtan done by Sikhs and Kaurs, curated by KaurLife
We realize that revisiting memories, especially more traumatic ones, can be triggering and can bring up unsettlement, grief, and unprocessed trauma. We have compiled a list below of a few affordable therapy and counseling resources that may be helpful if you are looking to get connected to professional support.
The Center for Somatic Psychotheraphy may be of interest to those seeking to explore how our memories manifest in our bodies.
An online resources for finding therapists that self-identify as having an inclusive practice.
The Sikh Family Center offers a range of resources that can be helpful for understanding cultural and interpersonal dynamics.
Sliding Scale Counseling Centers, compiled by UCLA Counseling
Umeed is an organization based out of Indianapolis that combats family violence through providing mental health and legal services
Sangat is a huge part of self care, and this can’t happen in isolation. For that reason, we have collected links to a few trusted spaces that have made a commitment to creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ Sikhs.
