Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage ST. THOMAS MORE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
ST. THOMAS MORE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

Oral History of Sociocultural Change amongst Ukrainian Canadians on the Prairies

Oral History of Sociocultural Change amongst Ukrainian Canadians on the Prairies began in 2002 when Dr. Theresa Zolner, then an affiliate of the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage, joined Dr. Natalia Khanenko-Friesen to coordinate the project.

The objectives of the project have been to document the historical and biographical experiences of Ukrainian Canadians in the context of socio-economic change in the latter half of the 20th century, to evidence their contribution to the development of the Canadian Prairies, and to record their attitudes and views on cultural plurality in Western Canada.

What better way to find the answers to the questions above than by talking to people directly? Understanding this, the project coordinators chose to pursue their research using the methodology of oral history, and specifically the method of life-story interviewing. In 2002, four interviewers, two coordinators and two student assistants (Anastasia Tataryn and Angie Wojcichowsky) conducted 120 interviews in various communities across Saskatchewan and Alberta.

During its interview phase, the project was financially supported by the University of Saskatchewan Summer Student Employment Program (USTEP), St. Thomas More College, and PCUH. With project data systematized in 2008, the interview collection is now housed in the Shannon Library at St. Thomas More College.

For more information, please go here.