Holodomor Education Conference 2017 gives educators tools to teach Ukrainian genocide

Sophia Isajiw, Assistant to the Director of Education, HREC, Toronto.

Educators from across Canada, the USA and Ukraine assembled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to attend the second Holodomor Education Conference: “Education–Awareness–Action” (HEC–2017) on May 5-7, 2017, at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). The conference was organized by the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium (HREC), of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta, and held in cooperation with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The organizing committee included Valentina Kuryliw, Director of Education (HREC) and committee Chair, Sophia Isajiw and Oksana Levytska of Toronto, Val Noseworthy, Irka Balan, Dr. Orest Cap and Dr. Denis Hlynka of Winnipeg.

The HEC–2017 conference brought together 120 education professionals, who teach from kindergarten to university. Educators of senior grades made up approximately half of the participants, while the primary and middle years were well represented. Participants shared a desire to learn about new approaches and innovative strategies from 25 conference presenters, speaking on how to teach human rights, social justice and the Holodomor in their classrooms. They were especially grateful for the handouts and suggestions for implementing the teaching of this often forgotten topic in curricula. It was rewarding to observe that many of the participants came from diverse ethnic backgrounds with a strong interest in human rights and genocide.

Valentina Kuryliw delivered the opening remarks. John F. Young, the President and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights welcomed the gathering to the Museum. James Bezan is the Member of Parliament for Selkirk–Interlake–Eastman who introduced in 2008, in the Canadian House of Commons, the Bill recognizing the Holodomor as genocide; he spoke movingly on the reasons for this recognition. Greetings were offered by Mr. Blair Yakimoski, MLA for Transcona representing the Hon. Ian Wishart, Manitoba’s Minister of Education and Training along with Dr. David Mandzuk, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. Ontario’s Minister of Education, the Hon. Mitzie Hunter, sent written greetings which were read by Kuryliw. This conference was supported by the Faculties of Education of both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Joyce Apsel, Clinical Professor in the Liberal Studies Program at New York University and President of the Institute for the Study of Genocide, spoke eloquently about “Genocide, Human Rights and the Holodomor: Teaching Human Rights and Wrongs in the Classroom,” and stressed that the Holodomor and human rights need to be relatable and therefore made more personal for students.

Dr. Richard Hechter, Acting Department Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, moderated a very lively and diverse panel discussion on “The Teaching of Human Rights and the Holodomor.” It included presentations by Dr. John R. Wiens, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Educational Administration, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, Lise Pinkos, Manager of Education Programs, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Antonio José Tavares who is the Diversity Education and International Languages Consultant for the Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment Branch of Manitoba Education and Training. Tavares gave an insightful and grounded talk on “Holodomor and Genocide Education with Children of Refugee and War-Affected Backgrounds.” The panel also included Linda Connor, Social Studies Consultant for Manitoba Education and Training and Michael Anthony, who gave a very grounded presentation on “Teaching the Holodomor: Making Best Practices Better.” Anthony is Assistant Curriculum Leader for Canadian and World Studies at Weston Collegiate Institute in the Toronto District School Board. In post-conference remarks he said, “As someone who did not grow up with stories of the Holodomor, but who is teaching the Holodomor to students, this conference was a most important learning experience. I gained valuable information and insight from the many presenters. It has also been amazing to become part of the community of people who are Holodomor and human rights activists and educators in North America.”

To be continued

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