Ukrainian National Museum hosts "Cultural Connection" program in Chicago (07/07/02)

Ukrainian National Museum hosts "Cultural Connection" program in Chicago

by Christina Taran and Orest A. Hrynewych

CHICAGO - The long and rich history of Ukrainian immigrants to America as well as their lives and activities in this new land can be found in the archives of the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago. The priceless old photographs, albums, magazines, newspapers and bulletin board notices speak of a hardy people who left their homeland for an uncertain future in the new world.

These risk-takers, mostly uneducated farmers, without a formal literary language and only a fierce desire to better themselves and make a better life for their progeny, built a community that included churches, choirs, insurance companies and fraternal and youth organizations. Most importantly they organized Saturday school to teach their children the history, culture and religion of their ancestors.

Almost immediately upon their arrival in America, Saturday schools were organized in both the Catholic and Orthodox parishes. It seems almost a miracle that these illiterate immigrants were perceptive enough to understand that without passing on to their children their culture and a history, they would have been exposed to rapid assimilation that would have wiped out, in one generation, all that they stood for and all that was dear and important to them.

Many immigrants changed their names, intermarried and became a part of the great American melting pot. It was difficult enough just to earn a living, take care of old parents and educate their children. Why bother with keeping up the old ways and the old language?

Yet there was a core group that wanted to save that which was valuable and important. At the heart of this group were the Ukrainian Saturday school teachers and the parents. They had to overcome many obstacles to send their - not always very enthusiastic - children to Saturday school. With little money and no support from local, state or federal agencies, these Saturday schools established an enviable record of educating generations of Ukrainian Americans. Graduates from these schools would greatly benefit the Ukrainian community and America.

One could write volumes about these dynamic humble schools that operated unseen and unheralded for so many years and the teachers who sacrificed their time and energy in order to preserve Ukrainian culture and heritage and inculcated the new generation in the values of the old world.

It is indeed only fitting that American educators and cultural anthropologists should show an interest in the way we Ukrainians were able to maintain our language, culture and religion. The Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago was honored in hosting, for the third time, an educational program sponsored by the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History called "The Cultural Connection of Chicago. " The theme of this year's program for the Ukrainian National Museum was "Ukrainian Saturday School, Culture for Homework," or ethnic education in the Ukrainian community.

The participants in the program were cultural anthropologists, teachers of secondary schools and college teachers. Christina Taran pointed out to the visitors that Ukrainian Saturday schools in Chicago are celebrating their 50th anniversary and are an outgrowth of earlier Saturday schools that had existed since the early 1900s.

Rosa Cabrera, public involvement manager of the Center for Cultural Understanding and Change of the Chicago Field Museum, welcomed the participants to the UNM and challenged them to reflect on the universal need to understand their own identity as individuals, as a community and as a society. She also emphasized that culture is dynamic and the program would deal with how the Ukrainian community addressed the need to preserve its culture and pass it on to future generations under new circumstances.

There were two sessions on Saturday, April 6. It was impossible to accommodate all of the participants at one time in the UNM, which is currently undergoing a major building expansion program. Chicago Access Network Television recorded the program for cable TV.

Orest Hrynewych, the executive director of the UNM, gave the participants a brief history of Ukraine and of the Chicago Ukrainian National Museum, including its role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian immigrants and as a resource for all people interested in Ukrainian history and culture.

Mrs. Taran, former principal of the "Ridna Shkola" Ukrainian Saturday school; Lydia Tkaczuk, the UNM tour guide; Maria Klimchak, a teacher of Ukrainian culture at "Ridna Shkola"; and Nadja Chojnacki, the current principal of "Ridna Shkola" - did a magnificent job of engaging the guests in a lively discussion and answering the many questions about the Saturday school.

Mrs. Taran explained the exhibits prepared by the students and UNM members. She outlined the history of the school and its current curriculum, and stressed the fact that because of the close cooperation between parents and teachers, the school is flourishing and growing. She explained that the school environment helps in maintaining social contact among the students and encourages them to maintain their culture and heritage as well as learning the Ukrainian language.

The guests viewed the family trees prepared by Mrs. Klimchak's students, as well as a photo exhibit of graduates of "Ridna Shkola" who have gone on to achieve success in their chosen fields. The photo exhibit of some graduates from 1957 through 1975 included responses to questions on what affect "Ridna Shkola" had on their lives and careers. The answer: the greatest affect was on building self-confidence and developing a desire to help the Ukrainian community.

Books and other educational material used in the Saturday school were also viewed and examined by the participants. The guests enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian lunch at the Ukrainian Cultural Center and were entertained by singing first graders dressed in embroidered costumes and several very talented young pianists.

The program concluded with a spirited discussion on similarities between Ukrainian and the guests' respective cultures. Jaroslaw Hankewych, president of the UNM, ended the session.

Mrs. Cabrera warmly congratulated the UNM and "Ridna Shkola" for performing an important role as guardians of Ukrainian culture and traditions in America.

| Home Page |