Fresh Voices from the Periphery

Fresh Voices from the Periphery is evidence that history matters - not only the study of the past - but also by shedding light on how events of the past have impacted lives in the present. This unique book is a collection of thought-provoking essays written by young people whose families have lived as minorities in various countries in east-central Europe for four generations. They became minorities not because their families migrated to different parts of Europe, but because the borders were changed overnight by the Treaty of Trianon after the end of the First World War.

Much has been written about the outcomes of Trianon, but this book is very different. These essays are the result of a competition for students and young professionals who live in minority status in four different countries surrounding Hungary: Transylvania in Romania, Slovakia, Transcarpathia in Ukraine, and Vojvodina in Serbia. The writings of several Canadian students on this topic are included as well.

Voices from the Periphery examines how the current generation of young people perceive the impact of the treaty that has had such a long-term effect on their lives. Their essays not only examine the painful legacy of the past, but also recommend pathways to a more positive future. Their voices must be heard.

Dr. Susan M. Papp has had a distinguished career as an award-winning broadcaster and filmmaker. One of her documentaries received the prestigious Michener Award for Public Service. Dr. Papp is the author of several books and many scholarly articles, including a history of the Munk-Munkácsi family in the volume How it Happened: Documenting the Tragedy of Hungarian Jewry. One of her books, Outcasts: A Love Story, is based on a true story that took place during the Holocaust. Originally written in English, Outcasts has been translated into three languages and made into a documentary film. Susan Papp earned her Ph.D. in Modern European History from the University of Toronto. Her dissertation, The Politics of Exclusion and Retribution in the Hungarian Film Industry, 1929-1947, is presently being prepared for publication.

Emőke J.E. Szathmáry is a biological anthropologist whose career combined research, teaching, administration, and community service. She served 12 years as President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manitoba. Earlier she was Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at McMaster University, and before that, Dean of Social Science at Western University. She Is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Member of the Order of Canada, and the Order of Manitoba.Dr. Szathmáry's focus on the genetics of the indigenous peoples of North America included research on the causes of type-2 diabetes, the genetic relationships within and between North American and Siberian peoples, and the microevolution of subarctic populations. Her field research involved Ottawa, Ojibwa and Tlicho peoples in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. She has published over 90 scientific articles and reviews, and co-edited four books. As well she served terms as Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook of Physical Anthropology (1987-91), and the American Journal of Physical Anthropology (1995-2001).