The Ukrainian National Home Association Fonds

 

The Ukainian National Home Choir, Winnipeg, MB, 1929 (With conductor, Yevhen Turula, shown seated second row, centre). The Ukrainian National Home of Winnipeg Photograph Collection, PC 331. U of M Archives & Special Collections.

Ukrainian School. Ridna Shkola. Ukrainian National Home, Winnipeg, MB, 1916 (Yuriy Genyk is the teacher shown standing in the top row, centre). The Ukrainian National Home of Winnipeg Photograph Collection, PC 331. U of M Archives & Special Collections.

The Ukrainian National Home Association (‘Ukrains’kyi  Narodnyi  Dim’) was founded in Winnipeg in 1913, after discussions that had begun as early as 1905. The Association in Winnipeg was the foundation for the movement which established a network of Ukrainian National Home Associations throughout Western Canada.  The Ukrainian National Home Association was a secular organization designed to support the cultural and educational needs of Ukrainian Canadians, regardless of their religious or political views or affiliations.  The building, located at the corner of McGregor Street and Burrows Avenue, eventually housed an auditorium for dramatic and musical presentations and concerts, meeting rooms, a library, a banquet hall,  a Ukrainian school (ridna shkola), and lodgings.  In later years, the Association funded and housed Ukrainian language courses sponsored by the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies at the University of Manitoba, during the tenure of Dr. Natalia Aponiuk as Director of the Centre and a long-time member of the board of directors of the Association. In the spring of 2011, the membership of the Ukrainian National Home, at the suggestion of the chair, Dr. Natalia Aponiuk,  voted to  to donate their archives and library holdings to the University. 

In May of that year, the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections acquired the Ukrainian National Home fonds, consisting of the organization’s textual records, photographs, rare books and artefacts.  In addition, the Elizabeth Dafoe Library’s Slavic Collection was gifted the remainder of the library, which chronicled nearly one hundred years of Ukrainian Canadian history.  One other important decision was made during the spring meeting, the association created an archival fund and a scholarship at the University of Manitoba. The Ukrainian National Home fonds, are available to view at the U of M Archives & Special Collections. 

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture with Vitaly Portnikov

 Dr. Roman Yereniuk presents a gift to the 2016 J.B. Rudnyckyj guest speaker, Vitaly Portnikov

at a luncheon held at St. Andrew's College, U of M, on Monday, March 21, 2016.

 Poster for the 23rd J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture, with Vitaly Portnikov.

 (Poster created by Solomiya Shavala)

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture took place on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, in the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The guest lecturer for the event was, Vitaly
Pornikov.  His lecture titled, The Emergence of a Contemporary Ukrainian Civil Society.  Mr. Portnikov discussed the emergence of a civil society in Ukraine following the Orange and Euromaidan Revolutions that took place in 2004 and 2014 respectively, -- and in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Special thanks goes to Dr. Myroslav Shkandrij (Department of German & Slavic Studies) for providing the simultaneous translation (from Ukrainian into English) of Mr. Portnikov's talk during the event.

Vitaly Pornikov is a journalist, author, political commentator and leading opinion maker from Kyiv, Ukraine, -- Portnikov has a large following in social media. His articles have appeared in publications around the world and is a frequent guest on TV shows.  He hosts a popular weekly radio program dealing with current affairs.  In addition, he has won numerous awards for his fearless commentary on events in Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe.

The well-received lecture had around 150 members of the university and external communities in attendance. The talk was sponsored by the U of M Archives & Special Collections, the Slavic Collection (Elizabeth Dafoe Library), and the Department of German and Slavic Studies. Following the lecture, Vitaly Portnikov continued to answer questions at the reception that followed his talk, and signed copies of two of his book, Bohorodytsia v synahozi (Mother of God in the Synagogue) and Tiurma dlia anholiv (Prison for Angels).

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

 

Cover of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy (2015)

Page 208 of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy showing the areas under control

of the Ukrainian Central Rada  in 1917 during the 'peaceful period'.

Researched and compiled by Ukrainian historian and cartographer, Iurii Loza,  the 320 page  Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine covers the ancient settlements of Ukrainian lands to the modern independent Ukrainian state. Special attention is paid to the various periods of Ukrainian history, and their respective territorial boundaries (e.g. Kyivan Rus; the Kingdom of Galicia-Volyn [Halyts'ko-Volyns'ke kniazivstvo]; the Ukrainian Kozak State; independent Ukraine [1918-1921]; Soviet Ukraine; and 21st century independent Ukraine). This new atlas builds upon Loza's earlier work which was published in 2010, and covers more recent events such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the ongoing conflict in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhask oblasts.

The atlas is well illustrated with hundreds of  coloured maps covering important periods and eventsin Ukrainian history. A copy of the atlas is available in the Slavic Collection's Reference area, under the call number, Slav Ref  G 2151 S1 M37 2016

A Concordance to the Poetic Work of Taras Shevcehnko

Published in 2001 by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, -- just 14 years prior to the bicentenary of the birth of Ukraine's national bard, Taras Shevechenko, this 4 volume set represents the many years of work by Professors Oleh Ilnyzkyj and George Hawrysch of the University of Alberta. The two academics compiled a thorough alphabetical index of the words found in Shevchenko's poetry in the original Ukrainian. Ilnyzkyj and Hawrysch's concordance shows where each of Shevchenko's words are located in the text of a specific work, as well as its context within that work. 

A Concordance to the Poetic Works of Taras Shevchenko is located in the  Reference section of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's Slavic Collection at the University of Manitoba.  Call Number Slav PG 3948 S51 A2 2001 t.1-4

Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia = Istoricheskaia Entsiklopediia Sibiri

Cover of Volume 1 of the Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia (Istoricheskaia Entsiklopediia Sibiri)

The Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia (Novosibirsk: Izdatel'skii dom "Istoricheskoe nasledie Sibiri, 2010) is the first such encyclopedia covering the histiography of Siberia from ancient to modern times. This important resource covers the region in its entirety, and looks at its  economics, demographics and its historical development over the centuries.

The idea of creating an encyclopedia devoted to Siberia goes back to the early 1930s, but such a project did not materialize until after the fall of the Soviet Union, -- with the completed work published in 2010. The encyclopedia consist of 3-volumes with individual entries arranged in alphabetical order. There are over 4000 articles, reflecting well-known indiviuals, geography, events, etc., -- with about half of them being biographical  sketches of individuals born and/ or associated with Siberia. Accompanying the text are various illustrations, inlcuding: photographs, maps and diagrams. In total, over 400 academics were consulted from over 50 universities or academic institutions, stretching from St. Petersburg in the west, to Vladivostok in the far-east.

 The Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia is available in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's  Slavic Collection (Call# " Slav DK 761 I885 2010.

U of M Polish Language Program Fundraiser Luncheon

 

Poster for the Fundraiser for the U of M 

Polish Studies Language Program

Keynote speaker, General Walter Natynczyk (centre, standing right of the PSA banner), is flanked by members of the U of M Polish Students' Association. Photo courtesy of the U of M Polish Students' Association

The Canadian Polish Congress, Manitoba Branch, sponsored a luncheon in support of the Polish Studies Program in the Department of German & Slavic Studies, in order to raise money for the Polish Studies Fund. The event took place on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the Garden City Canad Inn.

The keynote speaker at the event was General Walter Natynczyk, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affais and former president of the Canadian Space Agency. General Natynczyk was raised in Winnipeg's North End, and graduating from Sisler High School.  He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1975, and over the years his career would take him to Germany, Cypress, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia. General Natynczyk served as Canada's Chief of Defence from 2008-2012.  After returning to civilian life, he became president of the Canadian Space Agency, from 2013-2014. and is currently serving as Canadian Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The well-attended event, included several dignitaires, including:  His Excellency, Grzegorz Morawski, the Council General of the Republic of Poland (Toronto); the Honourable, Flor Marcelino, Manitoba's Minister of Multiculturalism and Literacy,  and  the Honourable, Melanie Wight, Manitoba's Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities. Present at the event,  and representing the University of Manitoba, were: Dr. Greg Smith, Associate Dean of Arts: and Dr. Stephan Jaeger, Head, Department of German & Slavic Studies. The event also honoured the Department's Instructor for Polish Studies, Professor Magda Blackmore, who over the past decade, has built-up and greatly promoted the Polish Studies Program at the university.