Canadian Friends f Ukraine Genocide Awareness

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Stalin-era Terror-Famine in Ukraine 1932-33, which claimed over 7 million lives, Canadian Friends of Ukraine have undertaken a number of joint Canada-Ukraine projects to strengthen international awareness of Ukraine’s Famine Genocide – Holodomor – or “murder by starvation”.

Canadian Friends of Ukraine have worked with Canada’s Government and Parliament to ensure the passage of Canadian legislation to remember the Holodomor and with the media to raise awareness of the genocide.

The Second Reading of Conservative Member of Parliament James Bezan’s Private Member’s Bill C-459 “The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act” was presented in the House of Commons on April 29^th. CFU have had the privilege to work with Mr. Bezan on drafting this important legislation which seeks to have the Holodomor recognized as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. Mr. Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake (Manitoba), is of Ukrainian descent.

Recently, Canadian Friends of Ukraine Executive Members Stefan Horlatsch, Margareta Shpir and Lisa Shymko met with several Canadian parliamentarians to urge all-party support for this legislation. At a Parliament Hill meeting between CFU representatives and the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, the Hon. Jason Kenney received a copy of CFU’s Government Brief on the Holodomor, presented earlier to Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the Hon. Maxime Bernier. The CFU has also encouraged the Canadian government to support multilateral efforts at the UN to have the Holodomor recognized as an act of genocide.

Canadian Friends of Ukraine are supporting several genocide-awareness projects in Canada, including the “Walk for a World without Genocide”. Initiated by Stefan Horlatsch, a Holodomor survivor, this symbolic walk across major Canadian cities raises public awareness of the Ukrainian Terror-Famine.

Ironically, while the tragedy of the Ukrainian genocide is discussed openly in North America and Europe, the psychological fear imposed by Stalinist terror still remains in Ukraine 75 years later in Famine survivors, who are afraid to discuss their experiences. For this reason, Canadian Friends of Ukraine have launched three genocide awareness projects in Ukraine.

The first CFU project is the collection of Holodomor Survivors Student Interviews and competition, undertaken in selected provinces (oblasts) across Ukraine by secondary school and university students conducting interviews with family members who witnessed the imposed famine in 1932-33. Participants are required to submit their written interviews in digital format along with photographs and biographical information about the Holodomor survivor being interviewed. Supplementary audio and video documentation will also be collected.

A three-person jury will judge submissions made in their respective oblast. All participants will receive a specially cast Ukraine Famine-Genocide memorial lapel pin and competition certificate. In August 2008, the competition’s short-list finalists will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine’s Capital, for awards presentation. Winners will receive a monetary prize, award certificate, laureate gift and multi-media prize package.

Canadian Friends of Ukraine plan to compile and publish the genocide survivor interviews, making them available in Canada and Ukraine to institutions dedicated to the study and prevention of genocide. The project’s Honorary Chair is Jurij Darewych.

The second project is the International Book Exhibition on the Famine-Terror, chaired by Lisa Shymko. CFU has partnered with the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine in Kyiv as well as several NGO’s to present a unique exhibition dedicated to Ukraine’s Terror-Famine. It will showcase books and journals printed outside Ukraine and published in various languages throughout the Diaspora. Ukraine’s parliamentarians, government officials, foreign diplomats, historians, journalists, and human rights activists will participate in the official opening of the exhibit, in late August 2008. It coincides with the Holodomor Survivors Student Interviews competition awards ceremony.

Thirdly, CFU initiated a genocide education curriculum development project entitled: “The Symbolism of Death: The Holodomor through the Prism of Art and Culture.” Chaired by Margareta Shpir, this pilot project will be implemented in Ukraine’s eastern and northern oblasts and Crimea region, where decades of Russification and Stalinist propaganda sought to deny the truth about the Soviet State’s complicity in the anti-Ukrainian genocidal policies. The curriculum will also be utilized by educators for summer youth-outreach programs. It will also be applied in Canadian Ukrainian-language schools and heritage language programs, with its unique approach to the Terror-Famine, addressed through art and culture. From a teaching course perspective, materials utilize varied historical sources in literature – poetry, prose - and fine art - paintings, drawings – plus graphic art posters and placards. Teacher training and preparation for implementing this curriculum development project begins in Summer 2008.

The Famine-Genocide awareness projects undertaken by Canadian Friends of Ukraine are made possible through the support of individual Canadian donors. To support our ongoing efforts in Canada and Ukraine to promote public awareness of the Holodomor Famine Genocide in Ukraine, kindly forward your donation to: Canadian Friends of Ukraine, 620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5S 2H4. Please indicate “CFU Famine-Genocide Projects” on your cheque. For additional information, call      (416) 964-6644 or visit our website at www.canadianfriendsofukraine.ca.