Archives, Community and Vegan Manti in Nijmegen
On April 25, our friends at Uncovering Roots and De Klinker Nijmegen hosted a film screening and fundraiser for Kooyrigs in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Supporters and allies gathered to view Aurora’s Sunrise, the beautifully animated story of Aurora Mardiganian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide who became a Hollywood star.
The evening was introduced and organised by Eva Pogosyan, who shared personal reflections on her family’s connection to Artsakh and the weight of remembrance across generations. As the only activist of Armenian descent in her community, she continuously works on finding ways to invite more people to join the cause.
Following the screening, Maxim Saakyan from the Uncovering Roots Podcast led a talk and hands-on workshop on using archiving as a form of resistance, diving into the importance of memory and why archives matter, especially for communities facing erasure.
“Aurora’s story reminds us that the archive isn’t just where history lives, it’s where power lies. Who gets remembered? Who gets forgotten? These are questions of justice,” says Saakyan. Participants reflected on what it means to document lived experience, and were invited to begin archiving their own stories, from their names, to objects or moments that carry personal or collective meaning. “Archiving isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival. It’s how we resist forgetting.”
And naturally, after an evening of deep questions and eternal truths, nothing tastes better than homemade manti made by the hands of community members.
As I reflect on this event from my desk in Detroit, I find myself thinking about the archives I wish I had. My great-grandparents’ records, books, and journals. Pieces of their clothing to wear, feel, smell and treasure. I wish they’d had iPhones and WiFi to capture their stories and send them into the cloud to last an eternity. Today, as I witness genocide and crisis unfolding in real time, I engage with livestreams and images that I know will become tomorrow’s history. It still stings to know that as Armenians, we’re left piecing together newspaper clippings, faded letters, and bones to prove our past even existed.
Our history needs to be preserved on our own terms. Thats why, at Kooyrigs, we’ve made it a priority to both respond to crisis AND document it. We are dedicated to amplifying Armenian stories not only in the heat of the moment, but in the still aftermath. We love to create opportunities for community members to tell their stories in real time through digital media, photography, exhibitions, and essays. Archiving, for us, is not only nostalgia. It’s survival. It’s how we extend the natural lifespan of mortal memory.
I’m proud to share that this gathering raised $300 in support of The Renovation Initiative for forcibly displaced families from Artsakh. Every euro helps bring us closer to safe, livable homes for people who have had to start over. Huge thanks to the organizers, attendees, and everyone who showed up, shared space, and carried the conversation forward- especially Eva and Max. Whether through film, food, or storytelling, this type of community work is truly what brings us together and keeps us strong.