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As Ukraine continues its battle against Russia, a student group at the University of Saskatchewan is hoping to bring people together Thursday.
Jensen Beaudoin, a fourth-year dual biology and agribusiness student, is president of the University of Saskatchewan Ukrainian Student Association (USUSA).
She said a rally will be held beginning at 1 p.m. on the U of S campus in front of the Murray Library at the Lesya Ukrainka statue. Ukrainka was a Ukrainian writer and poet.
A prayer, some speeches and the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem will take place.
“I’m super excited to be able to have it and … we hope to see everyone’s face,” Beaudoin said.
The USUSA aims to connect students at the U of S with their Ukrainian heritage, though the group is not exclusively made up of Ukrainian students.
They hold several events throughout the year, including activities like making vinoks (Ukrainian flower crowns) and pysanky (those detailed and colourful Ukrainian Easter eggs). They also host research showcases for Ukrainian studies students to share their findings and facilitate student tutoring for Ukrainian language classes.
The group’s largest event each year is the work it does to promote awareness about the Holodomor, known as the Great Famine, which killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. The group wraps sheaths of wheat in black ribbon with a small piece of paper explaining the significance of the symbol.
Marta Krueger, secretary for the USUSA, said the group puts the wheat up around campus on light posts and spreads the displays through parts of Saskatoon as well.
“(We’re) hoping it will catch someone’s eye and stop them in their tracks for a second,” Kreuger explained, adding the hope is that people will do more research about the topic after hearing about it for what might be the first time.
“It’s a really important part of our Ukrainian cultural heritage because it’s something that happened that has been covered up for a really long time and you can’t heal from wounds if they’re not acknowledged.”
Anyone attending Thursday’s rally is encouraged to wear yellow and blue and bring Ukrainian flags and signs for the event.
