Writers address community gathering in Vancouver (04/17/05)

Writers address community gathering in Vancouver

by Paulette MacQuarrie
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

VANCOUVER - In keeping with a 19th century tradition, five Canadian and American authors of Ukrainian descent spent an evening with members of Vancouver's Ukrainian community at a Prosvita-like gathering on April 2.

This gathering, however, was more about continuity than déja-vu. Although the language spoken was English, like their predecessors in the Prosvita reading rooms these latter-day literary pioneers advanced the concept of Ukrainian self-identity by sharing their knowledge and expertise.

Some authors had "returned" to their roots, while others had never "left." This diversity of personal and professional experiences reflected the realities of living in a North American environment that is, at best, indifferent to Ukrainians.

Irene Zabytko shared one of her amusing escapades from "When Luba Leaves Home," a collection of short stories about growing up (and trying not to be) Ukrainian in Chicago. Her first novel, however, parallels her inevitable return to her roots. "The Sky Unwashed" is a story about people who defied the Soviet government and returned to the only home they had ever known - in Chornobyl's "dead zone." She drove home that parallel with a poem by Taras Shevchenko cited in the novel.

Bostonians Askold Melnyczuk and Halyna Hryn never really "left" their Ukrainian roots but in a sense allowed those who did to have a place to come back to. Since 1972 Mr. Melnyczuk has published many Ukrainian writers in translation and launched several Ukrainian American writers in Agni, the literary journal he founded. His first two novels, "What is Told" and "Ambassador of the Dead," were highly acclaimed - no surprise to his Vancouver audience after he introduced the Kruk family from the latter.

Mr. Hryn read a hilarious excerpt from Oksana Zabuzhko's "Field Work in Ukrainian Sex," one of her many translations of Ukrainian literary works. Although she insists she is not a writer, Ms. Hryn has many works of translation published (several in Agni) and has just completed her doctorate. An expert on Ukrainian literature, she has taught Ukrainian language, literature and culture at several universities, including Harvard, where she currently teaches and is the new editor of the academic journal Harvard Ukrainian Studies.

Another who never really "left" is Jars Balan, a well-known name to Ukrainian Canadians. Mr. Balan admits he had the best of both (Ukrainian) worlds growing up in Toronto. Having one parent from pre- and one from the post-World War II immigration, he retained his Ukrainian identity without feeling stifled by it. As a result, his prolific writings have inspired legions of Canadians reclaiming their Ukrainian roots.

His recollections of a trip to Ukraine with Mr. Melnyczuk in 1990 underscored the theme of continuity, particularly his vivid description of Ukrainian youths thrashing a toppled statue of Lenin with tree branches - a striking parallel to the baptism of Kyivan Rus' when pagan idols were similarly thrashed.

Lisa Grekul is a fourth-generation Ukrainian Canadian who felt compelled to write her Ph.D. thesis (the subject of her second book, "Leaving Shadows: Literature in English by Canada's Ukrainians" - on the phenomenon of Ukrainian writers in North America and their near-invisibility in literary circles. She shared with the audience how her professors (now peers) at the University of British Columbia discouraged her from pursuing this "obscure" topic.

The audience shared her delight in being vindicated by the Orange Revolution, and responded with equal delight to the poignantly funny scenario she read from her first novel, "Kalyna's Song," which anyone trying desperately to reclaim their Ukrainian roots could relate to.

The theme of returning to roots resonated with audience, generating a lively discussion on issues such as an ingrained inferiority complex and the difficulties in retaining Ukrainian cultural attributes. Acknowledging the significant contribution Ukrainian writers have made to address those issues, the inevitable question of how best to support them came up. The answer? A resounding "Buy the books!"

Held at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Center in Vancouver, the evening was sponsored by the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada, Vancouver branch. President Sophia Trylowski and Cultural Coordinator Ann Kvitka Kozak, in cooperation with the local radio program "Nash Holos," organized the event. This is the first in their series of events promoting Ukrainian writers, reviving and continuing the Ukrainian Prosvita tradition.

Paulette MacQuarrie produces and hosts the radio program "Nash Holos," whose website www.nashholos.com was the initial point of contact for this event.

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