Rai Italia

November 18, 2014

Places of Emigration | The Aeolian Islands

Community traveled to Salina to document the migration story of the inhabitants of the Aeolian Islands. The history of Aeolian emigration, which began in the late nineteenth century, is now preserved in the Museum of Emigration on Salina. Serving as our guide through the museum was Mya Royal, a fashion designer from Boston, proud holder of an Italian passport and a new resident of the island. With her, we retraced the migration journeys of many Aeolians, including her father’s grandparents, and explored how she came to rediscover her roots. In September 2014, Royal received the “Aeolians Around the World” award for her contribution to promoting the Aeolian Museum of Emigration.

When did the first wave of migration from the Aeolian Islands begin? What were the main destinations for Aeolian emigrants?

“Aeolians were primarily sailors with a strong spirit of adventure. Their routes took them to America, Australia, and New Zealand. The first Aeolian emigrants arrived in New Zealand in the late 1800s, many of them from Stromboli. Four generations later, traces of Aeolian culture are still visible in the places where our relatives settled, from the names of boats to local cuisine. For many, the second destination was America, particularly the United States. Most arrived through Ellis Island in New York City. The earliest Aeolian immigrant society in New York was founded in 1887 and already had around a thousand members at that time. After World War II, when U.S. immigration laws changed, a new phase of migration began, with destinations shifting toward Argentina and Australia.”

When did you begin to take an interest in your Italian roots?

“It has always been important for me to be Italian. In the United States, there is a strong sense of belonging within Italian-American communities. I grew up with Southern Italian culture. My family’s food traditions, our mindset—everything was tied to being Italian. I have always felt Italian. Around the age of fifteen, I became a member of the Aeolian Society, the last remaining one in the United States, the Società Santo Stefano of Filicudi.”

What is your family’s history?

“My father’s grandparents were originally from Filicudi and Alicudi, the two small Aeolian islands, as well as from Palermo. My mother is American. My family emigrated to the United States more than a hundred years ago. They arrived at Ellis Island and settled in Brooklyn, New York City. From there, they later moved to Massachusetts, to a town near Boston called Waltham, where many Aeolian-Americans lived. My grandparents ran a business there repairing shoes and clothing. That’s where my father was born.”

Why did you decide to return to the Aeolian Islands?

“The Aeolian Islands have always been part of my life. I am deeply connected to these places. My first time in Italy was in 2003, and I immediately began forming relationships with people here. After completing my studies in Florence in 2012, where I earned a postgraduate diploma in fashion arts, I felt strongly that the right step for me was to return to the Aeolian Islands to reconnect with my family and my origins. From that moment, a beautiful chapter of my life began. I feel at home here.”

What was it like to return to your family’s place of origin?

“I was surprised. I knew that by coming here I would reconstruct an important part of my family’s story and my own life. I already knew I wanted to live in Italy, and I was preparing to become an Italian citizen. So after four years, I returned with an Italian passport in hand. Over the past three years, I’ve learned the language by immersion, met my relatives, and developed a deep appreciation for Italian fashion. I can say now that it was the right choice for me. I only wish I had begun this journey sooner.”