The University of Saskatchewan Ukrainian Students’ Association (USUSA) and the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage collaborated in hosting two events on campus for Holodomor Awareness Week. On November 22, the film “The Living” (Живі) was screened in STM’s Father O’Donnell Auditorium. Students and members of community attended the screening, which served as a community outreach event. Those in attendance asked questions, shared comments, and otherwise engaged in conversation on this important topic.
On November 24, a ceremonial vigil at the Lesya Ukrainka Statue brought a crowd of 60 people together. Lead by STM’s Campus Minister Fr. Andre Lalach, prayers were conducted for the millions of Ukrainian men, women, and children who died during the Great Famine-Terror or Holodomor. The purpose of both events was to commemorate but also to bring awareness to the genocide on the University of Saskatchewan campus. As part of the commemorative program and as a consciousness-raising activity, around campus USUSA students strategically placed stalks of grain tied with black ribbon and an attached note identifying the famine.
