LETTER

In the June 12 Issue 23 of The New Pathway on page 7, Walter Kish in his article “The Sword and the Cross” wrote about two accomplished Canadians, in particular, “the promotion of Lt. General Walter Natynczyk, a native Winnipegger of Ukrainian descent, to the position of Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff.” Lieutenant-General Walter Natynczyk was previously the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

In The New Pathway, June 12, Walter Kish mentions that the newly-promoted General Walter Natynczyk is of Ukrainian origin. According to Colonel Oleksandr Ratsidlo, Military Attache at the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, Gen. Natynczyk, despite his Ukrainian name, considers himself to be of Polish origin and speaks some Polish. Col. Ratsidlo has met Gen. Natynczyk on several occasions.

Myron Momryk, Ottawa

Thank you for the clarification. Although the name has Ukrainian roots as noted, an individual’s ethnic self-identification is his or her own prerogative and should be respected. Ukraine’s turbulent history caused many of her native sons and daughters to be displaced in other lands, where over the centuries, many became assimilated into the local language and culture.  By the same token, countless numbers of other ethnic migrants have settled in Ukraine and have become “Ukrainians”.  History ensures that nothing is static and such ethnic mixing only strengthens the gene pool.

NP