ConcordTV is proud to present Down the Braided River: My Journey as a Deaf Refugee. This 3-part series, produced and directed by independent producer Julia Freeman-Woolpert, tells the story of author and advocate Bhawani Dangal, a Nepali refugee born hearing who became deaf as a child.
From the producer:
In the early 1990s, Bhutan expelled over 100,000 citizens in a little-known campaign of ethnic cleansing. Among them was seven-year-old Bhawani and his family, who spent 20 years in Goldhap Refugee Camp in Nepal before being resettled in Concord, NH. Born hearing, Bhawani became deaf as a child, enduring loss, stigma, and profound isolation. In the camps, the arrival of Nepali Sign Language classes changed everything: for the first time, Bhawani and other Deaf refugees could communicate.
In the United States, the resettlement system was ill-equipped to support refugees with disabilities, including many Deaf Bhutanese. Bhawani ultimately succeeded in building a life for himself and his community.
Refugees with disabilities are doubly marginalized, facing exceptionally high risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse, with their needs frequently overlooked. The stories of Deaf refugees remain rarely told due to language and cultural barriers.
In the 3 part series, Bhawani interviews people who have been part of his journey. The interviews are conducted in English, American Sign Language, and Nepali Sign Language, and translated into either English or American Sign Language.
The series premieres on November 7th at 10:00 AM on the ConcordTV public access channel, with repeat plays on Monday at 10:00 AM and Tuesday at 7:30 PM. You can also catch the series on its YouTube channel, and on demand on the ConcordTV website.