Digital Storytelling | Widad Dawood Gorgees
Born in Baghdad, Widad’s family fled to the town of Batnaya in northern Iraq after Saddam was toppled to avoid terrorists, kidnappings, and bombings. They lived there for seven years. Then ISIS came, and that made them flee again, this time to Sirsing which is north of Dohuk. They suffered a great deal before they were able to come to America. They since received images and videos of how badly ISIS had destroyed their home.
These interviews were conducted in the modern Aramaic language, in the Chaldean dialect, also known as Sureth, and sparingly in Arabic. They were translated and subtitled in English.
The interviews took place in 2021 and were filmed and edited by Michael Nafso.
This project was made possible with funding by Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Michigan Humanities.