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About This Project
An Interview with Producer Becky Jones Mahlum
What story does the New Pioneers tell?
I think that it looks at this quiet wave of new settlers that we're having
in ND and helps us see the quiet and the beauty and the safety of this
region that we are too close to 'see'." We worry so much about out
migration, but we're starting to turn the tide. Kids might not be staying,
but new people are coming…New people that see the opportunity that
North Dakota offers, whether they're from some big city, or across the
globe. At some point, we're going to realize that this is a wonderful
place to live…and these new pioneers help remind us of that.
I think the New Pioneers also tells the story of people who have
come here with nothing and who have started over in this country and in
ND. It harkens back to the first pioneers - they often also arrived with
not much and started from nothing…If we can understand and remember
and be reminded of what our ancestors went through then we'll understand
what these news pioneers are going through as well.
We need to remember that when the Norwegians and Germans from Russia
came, they all wanted to live together, and speak their language. They
have to establish a new sense of community. Fargo has 500 Kurdish residents,
and 400 Somalians. It's the same as it was when the early pioneers arrived.
Yankees from other parts of the country, British Isles folks, had to adjust
to new immigrants as much as the new immigrants had to adjust to Yankee
ways.
What do you want viewers to take away?
I hope that this program will help viewers expand their understanding
of this new immigrant experience that people are going through, by relating
it back to their own ancestral experience. And that we'll all come to
know that this is a GOOD thing. We need new blood and these immigrants
provide it. This is just what the doctor ordered. They provide the sorts
of things that our young people are looking for when they leave - ethnic
diversity, excitement, things as simple as new restaurants. We're torn
between our welcoming spirit and our fear of the unfamiliar. Things are
turning around, and if we can welcome our new immigrants, no matter where
they come from, perhaps they'll stay. David Danbom talks about our "tribal"
sense. He says it would be better to let the people go who want to go,
and welcome the new people who want to come here to live.
One of the reasons I wanted to do this piece is that these new immigrants
have a work ethic from the old country…they work day and night. The
whole family is involved. Everyone works-Mom and Dad and five kids and
the grand parents if they're around…they don't even think of going
home at five. They work the way our grandparents worked when they came
here. We can relate to them through what they bring through their work
ethic and their creativeness and ingenuity in finding a niche and in figuring
out how they can fill it.
What did you take away from the production?
Personally, this is an experience close to my heart. My daughter is from
India. I've gotten to know some of the people through the International
Club. We have this wonderful culture right here under our noses. We don't
recognize it and celebrate it enough. I've loved getting to the people
that I've interviewed…the richness of their traditions, how they're
teaching their children their native language, and how to cook, and what
it means to be Indian, or Kurdish…But I also learned how they also
want their children to be typical North Dakota kids and enjoy skating,
and karate lessons, and even Christmas trees. They have a great capacity
to say "we're not in Kansas anymore. We're going to make a new community.
We're going to bloom where we're planted."
I also loved the people who moved away and are coming back…I always
thought I'd be one of them, I just left out the leaving part. Those who
left found that the North Dakota geography wasn't enough of a problem
to make them want to put up with the crime they found…or the traffic…or
the smog.
I found out that there are people in the world who need a safe place
to live, and we offer that. We have quiet and beauty for those who are
willing to see it. We can have a bright future here.
What is your favorite part of the production process?
Interviews. I meet such neat people. I was at an English as a Second Language
class and I got to hear all these immigrants reading the Star Spangled
Banner out loud together. It was so cool. All these different accents
learning history while learning to read. It gave me chills.
I liked meeting a variety of people I wouldn't get to know otherwise.
It gives me a license to be nosy, to pry, to ask questions I might be
too shy to ask otherwise. Also, just learn about other cultures.
During the production, I found out that according to research, North
Dakota has the strongest ethnic identity of in any state of the Union
other than Hawaii. We have the largest number of people who still identify
themselves with their immigrant ethnic group… Many of us are still
only two generations away from our own immigration. We're still very close
to our immigrant roots…
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