Co-chair of the Ukrainian Oral History Association, Natalia Khanenko-Friesen, a visiting scholar at the University of Regensburg, shared her reflections on documenting testimonies of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the state of oral history more broadly. As a leading expert in oral history and cultural anthropology, she addressed the methodological challenges currently facing oral history as a research discipline, issues related to researcher qualifications, ethical concerns in the collecting and analysis of testimonies, and the potential for archiving these testimonies for future study.
Natalia Khanenko-Friesen emphasized that war testimonies are being collected not only by professional researchers but also by journalists, volunteers, national and international non-governmental organizations, and private foundations. All of these groups are striving to quickly document wartime experiences while the war is ongoing and while global attention remains focused on Ukraine. The findings of the 365 Days of Oral History of War project, launched at the University of Alberta, reveal that 108 projects focused on personal testimonies were initiated during the first year of the war. These include video chronicles, blogs, vlogs, and diaries, with 65 of these projects specifically dedicated to collecting testimonies through interviews.
Dr. Khanenko-Friesen noted that many new documentary makers are unprepared and lack fundamental knowledge about the intricacies of interviewing. As a result, ethical issues arise, along with a tendency to publish information immediately, which can lead to potential harm. According to her, testimonies should not be collected solely for immediate online publication but should also be preserved as historical sources for future research. Therefore, she stressed the urgent need to enhance the professionalism of those involved in collecting war testimonies. The Ukrainian Oral History Association, through its leadership and members, actively engages in public discussions, shares professional expertise, and provides guidance to those in need of support.
Navigating the complexities of testimony research, Natalia Khanenko-Friesen advocates for a systematic and academic approach, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations, the protection of personal information, and the long-term preservation of documented records. The diversity within the field—marked by tensions between direct documentation and methodological rigor—is further complicated by differing perspectives and moral responsibilities among researchers. Given the ongoing war, a nuanced approach to oral accounts is essential, taking into consideration emotion, morality, and ethics to ensure that the testimonies collected today serve as reliable historical sources for future generations.
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