Welcome to the Immigrant Issue!
I’m proud to say this issue has been written solely by writers from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. It is the first issue of its kind, not just for Salient, but for all of the student media magazines in Aotearoa.
An immigrant is defined as a person who moves to permanently live in a foreign country. A refugee is defined as someone who has fled to a foriegn country for safety. While these definitions encompass a wide range of people living in Aotearoa, the terms ‘immigrant’ and ‘refugee’ often evoke images of coloured people. Those who are visibly different are easily othered. Immigrant has come to mean ‘not Māori or white’, which is why Salient has chosen to primarily platform immigrants of colour within these pages.
The 2018 census showed that roughly 25.9% of New Zealanders were tauiwi of colour. That number represents hundreds of thousands of immigrants, each with their own stories of how they came to be here. My hope is that immigrant or not, you read this issue and gain a deeper understanding for how complex and diverse the immigrant experience is.
Salient was ecstatic with the overwhelming number of pitches we received for this issue, and as a result we chose to omit the news section this week in favour of fitting in more stories from more immigrant students.
In our features this week: Etienne and Nabilah discuss the relationship between tauiwi of colour and tangata whenua, Ineke explains the asylum-seeking process, and I open up about the family I left behind when I came to Aotearoa. Our writers also talk about mental health, falling through trap doors, diasporic literature, and the importance of pronouncing names correctly. Our features are heavy because being an immigrant is hard. While you see diversity, colourful clothing, and tasty food, we experience identity crises, racism, and a shit load of introspection.
We also have plenty of content that celebrates the joys of the immigrant experience. There’s recipes, poetry, skate photography, reviews, and a guide on how to live your best Brazilian life.
To top it off, Salient orchestrated a photoshoot which reimagined what campus would look like if immigrant students felt safe enough to wear their traditional clothing. You can enjoy those photos on the front and back covers, and around the centrefold.
Every word in this magazine has been written by someone who has, at least once, questioned whether they belong here. Worried about whether they are wanted or welcome. The next time someone questions what value immigrants and refugees bring to Aotearoa, smack them across the head with a copy of this issue. Our unique experiences are what we bring to the melting pot of Aotearoa, and we deserve to be here.
With love, by immigrants, for everyone.