October is Family History Month, a time to remember the people, places, photographs, and memories that make up our families.
For many of us, family history lives not only in documents and records, but in the stories told around the table, the names of villages remembered across generations, old photographs tucked away in drawers, recipes passed from one person to another, and the memories of our elders. These are all part of turathna (our heritage).
At a time when many in our communities are carrying a deep sense of uncertainty, loss, and concern for the places and histories that have shaped us, preserving family memory takes on added meaning. Recording a name, saving a photograph, documenting a village connection, or listening to an elder helps ensure that our histories remain present and are passed forward.
This month, consider preserving one small piece of your family’s story. Ask a relative about a memory, identify the people in an old photograph, write down the story behind a family tradition, or share a discovery with someone younger in your family.
Each piece we preserve keeps our family history alive and strengthens the connection between our families, our communities, and the generations still to come.