Mental Calisthenics Righting the Wrong

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

Uncle Ilko is stressed out; more so than normally.  No, not angry or annoyed, he said over the phone: broken-hearted.  As soon as I arrive for our mental calisthenics - discussions on complex issues - he explains his downer.

“Many things in our community upset me”, he says, “but nothing as much as being hood-winked by the Canadian Museum For Human Rights.” 

Oh sure, he admits, the discussion between the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the CMHR significantly contributed to Canadians’ understanding of Holodomor; raised it on par with the Holocaust, where it should be.  The former USSR hushed it up; the media white washed it or worst: slurring those who spoke up as Nazi collaborators or war-mongers.  Of course, it needs full exposure in the Museum.  It was smart, says Vujko, to engage the Canadian Ethnocultural Council in the meeting with CMHR CEO Stuart Murray: enlarge the base; get fair-minded folks on side.

“Why, then, so despondent?”

“Because those who ‘speak with one voice on our behalf’ took the eye off the ball.  Who was representing UCC at CMHR?  Influencing and following decisions?  Who decided on the themes and exhibit space allocation?  When?  Get this: some requests for proposal issued in January 2010 on space utilization were made public by the UCC only earlier this January - 2011!”

Recently, someone brought up these documents on the Internet; too late for anyone wanting to bid; most closing dates had past. Besides, the content decisions apparently were taken in 2008!!   Uncle continues.

“That means that decisions dealing with allocation of exhibit space were taken years ago.  Did UCC know?  If they did, where was the fight?  Why was this not in their press releases?  Lots on historic commemorative stuff, death and congratulatory notices, for goodness sake, but nothing about our key issues: equal treatment at the Museum of Holodomor, and internment of our people as enemy aliens during WWI.  Or did I miss it?  Please tell me that in my dottiness I missed it.”

Vujko misses little.  It seems that after supporting the CMHR nearly a decade ago, our leaders provided little input.  Now there’s an uproar against Holodomor’s allocation in a general “atrocities” space ; on a rotational basis, yet!.  Only the Holocaust and the “Natives” – aboriginal First Nations - are singled out for permanent exhibits.

“The Holodomor is exactly were we do not want it to be: an add on; second-class; discriminated against.  ‘Not going to be kicked out again?’ ‘Never again?’  Our leaders use fine words but miss the boat.  Preferential treatment is in: the agony of some 10 million starved Ukrainians is deemed less valuable than the death of Jews. Where is Canada’s equity? And why did UCC raise a stink only after the fact?  Cripes almighty, the Museum is already calling for bids to handle opening ceremonies and the ‘spiznuchy’ are starting a campaign to protest unequal treatment!  Mushtarda po obidi!  Closing the gate after the horse escaped.”

He buries his head in his hands. “Vujku, please calm down.  Your heart.”

“Why was this mishandled?  Who’s accountable for this fiasco?  What?  The UCC assumed that one rep on some Museum community outreach committee would ensure content control to our satisfaction? Naive khlopchyky!”  It took decades to get the Holodomor through Parliament; most school boards are still sitting on their hands; Israel doesn’t recognize the Famine; and we assumed we’d get our due without a fight?”

I smell a whiff of serious mismanagement.  I had not seen a UCC press release, with the usual quote from the President, about differences with the Museum.  I heard of the rift during the Holodomor event on Parliament Hill in late November.  Then Murray’s ‘Malanka’ statement.  Well before then, I’m told, some of our community’s generous donors had made million dollar contributions to the CMHR.  Wouldn’t that have been yet another appropriate time to insist on content?

“Uncle, you know how Ottawa works.  Can this be salvaged?”

“Of course.  When the next Canadian Museum For Human Rights is built, we’ll be on top of things!”

The sarcasm is sharp but Vujko is not one to tolerate defeat.

“The best things about this fiasco is the Holod conscious-raising.  Canadian public opinion is on side.  To maintain leadership, UCC must submit a document - a counter proposal laying out how to ensure equal and inclusive treatment of the Holodomor.  With a caveat: failure to honour the terms will result in a Museum boycott, like a 24/7 eternal flame vigil or a plaque at the entrance. But there may be another way.”

“Here’s what UCC can do.”  He pulls at a government document from the pile on his side table.  “The Museum is a Crown Corporation reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Heritage and must comply with the Canadian Human Rights Act.  It’s purpose?  Let me read this: ‘…that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have… without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin…”

“So what are you saying, Uncle?”

“Haul the CMHR before the Canadian Human Rights Commission.  Get a Canadian Holodomor victim to charge the Museum with discrimination based on ethnicity; blatant dishonouring of the family dead.  Seek equal treatment.  Let’s see if the UCC can right this wrong.”