Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
Encyclopedia
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is an open-air museum that uses costumed historical interpreters
to recreate pioneer settlements
in east central Alberta
, Canada
. In particular it shows the lives of Ukrainian Canadian
settlers from the years 1899 to 1930. Buildings from surrounding communities have been moved to the historic site and restored to various years within the first part of the twentieth century.
"The Village", as it is colloquially known, has a very strong commitment to historical authenticity
and the concept of living history
. The Village uses a technique known as first-person interpretation which requires that the costumed performers remain in character at all times (or as much as is feasibly possible). Actors answer all questions as if it is the year their building portrays. Although this technique is off-putting for some visitors at first, it allows for a much stronger experience of immersion in history than traditional third-person interpretation where the actor acknowledges that he is, in fact, in a museum.
The Village is located east of Edmonton
on the Yellowhead highway
on the eastern edge of Elk Island National Park
.
, the Rural Community
, and the railway-centred Town site
.
Note: the spellings used for names and locations are those from the year the building portrays, and may not match those in use today
Name (indicates family name of original owners or name of original town location) and year restored
to:
was the first Ukrainian immigrant to Canada; his third house in Canada is preserved here. His family was Galician. The second house is that of Mykhailo Hawreliak – the Hawreliaks were a large Ukrainian Bukovynian family who settled in the Shandro area. By the 1920s Mykhailo Hawreliak was quite successful, and the house preserved here has five bedrooms and a cistern
that provided rainwater to the kitchen. The cousin of the owner of this house, William Hawrelak
, later became the first Ukrainian Canadian mayor of Edmonton
. The Nazar Yurko family was also from Bukovyna, but was of Romanian
descent. Their grandson, William Yurko
, became a member
of cabinet
in the Alberta government in the 1970s.
The Bukovynian
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Heritage interpretation
Heritage interpretation is the communication of information about, or the explanation of, the nature, origin, and purpose of historical, natural, or cultural resources, objects, sites and phenomena using personal or non-personal methods....
to recreate pioneer settlements
Dominion Lands Act
The Dominion Lands Act was an 1872 Canadian law that aimed to encourage the settlement of Canada's Prairie provinces. It was closely based on the United States Homestead Act, setting conditions in which the western lands could be settled and their natural resources developed...
in east central Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In particular it shows the lives of Ukrainian Canadian
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
settlers from the years 1899 to 1930. Buildings from surrounding communities have been moved to the historic site and restored to various years within the first part of the twentieth century.
"The Village", as it is colloquially known, has a very strong commitment to historical authenticity
Authenticity (reenactment)
In historical reenactment, authenticity is a measure of how close an item, prop, action, weapon, or custom is, to what would actually have been used or done in the time period being depicted....
and the concept of living history
Living history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...
. The Village uses a technique known as first-person interpretation which requires that the costumed performers remain in character at all times (or as much as is feasibly possible). Actors answer all questions as if it is the year their building portrays. Although this technique is off-putting for some visitors at first, it allows for a much stronger experience of immersion in history than traditional third-person interpretation where the actor acknowledges that he is, in fact, in a museum.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
on the Yellowhead highway
Yellowhead Highway
The Yellowhead Highway is a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, the highway should not be confused with the more southerly, originally-designated...
on the eastern edge of Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park , is one of 43 national parks and park reserves administered by the Parks Canada Agency. This “island of conservation” is located 35 km east of Edmonton, Alberta along the Yellowhead Highway, which nearly bisects the park...
.
Monuments
- Statue of Vasyl' Stefanyk
- Canadian LegionRoyal Canadian LegionThe Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
Monument/CenotaphCenotaphA cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
to the Ukrainian Canadian Soldier - Ukrainian Canadian InternmentUkrainian Canadian internmentThe Ukrainian Canadian internment was part of the confinement of "enemy aliens" in Canada during and for two years after the end of the First World War, lasting from 1914 to 1920, under the terms of the War Measures Act that would be used again, in the Second World War, against Japanese Canadians;...
Camp Monument - Pioneer Family Monument – by Leo MolLeo MolLeo Mol, OC, OM was a Ukrainian Canadian artist and sculptor.Born Leonid Molodozhanyn in Polonne, Ukraine, Mol studied sculpture at the Leningrad Academy of Arts from 1936 to 1940. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union he moved to Germany where he was influenced by Arno Breker...
- Joseph Oleskow Monument – by Leo MolLeo MolLeo Mol, OC, OM was a Ukrainian Canadian artist and sculptor.Born Leonid Molodozhanyn in Polonne, Ukraine, Mol studied sculpture at the Leningrad Academy of Arts from 1936 to 1940. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union he moved to Germany where he was influenced by Arno Breker...
- Alberta Centenary Pioneer Monument and Centennial Orchard
Buildings
The Historic Site is divided into thematic areas: the Overview, the FarmsteadsDominion Land Survey
The Dominion Land Survey is the method used to divide most of Western Canada into one-square-mile sections for agricultural and other purposes. It is based on the layout of the Public Land Survey System used in the United States, but has several differences...
, the Rural Community
Rural community
A rural community is a type of municipality in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.There are five rural communities: Beaubassin East, Saint-André, Upper Miramichi, Campobello Island and Kedgwick.....
, and the railway-centred Town site
Railway town
A railway town is a settlement that originated or was greatly developed because of a railway station or junction at its site.In Victorian Britain, the spread of railways greatly affected the fate of many small towns...
.
Note: the spellings used for names and locations are those from the year the building portrays, and may not match those in use today
Name (indicates family name of original owners or name of original town location) and year restored
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
to:
Overview
Provides an introduction to Galician and Bukovynian immigration to Canada by showing the homes of three important settler families. Iwan PylypowIwan Pylypow
Ivan Pylypiv or Iwan Pylypow and Vasyl Eleniak were the first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada in 1891–93.Pylypow was born in the village of Nebyliv in Kalush county in Austrian Galicia. He was a peasant logging contractor, and after falling on hard times considered finding a better life abroad,...
was the first Ukrainian immigrant to Canada; his third house in Canada is preserved here. His family was Galician. The second house is that of Mykhailo Hawreliak – the Hawreliaks were a large Ukrainian Bukovynian family who settled in the Shandro area. By the 1920s Mykhailo Hawreliak was quite successful, and the house preserved here has five bedrooms and a cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
that provided rainwater to the kitchen. The cousin of the owner of this house, William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak was a politician in Alberta, Canada, the longest-serving mayor in Edmonton's history, and a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
, later became the first Ukrainian Canadian mayor of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
. The Nazar Yurko family was also from Bukovyna, but was of Romanian
Romanian Canadian
According to the Canadian Census data of 2006, there are almost 200,000 Romanian-Canadians. Some sources estimates that this number might be as high as cca. 400,000 Canadians of Romanian descent.- Before World War I:...
descent. Their grandson, William Yurko
William Yurko
William Yurko, MLA, MP, was a Canadian politician, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Canadian House of Commons....
, became a member
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
of cabinet
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
in the Alberta government in the 1970s.
- PylypowIwan PylypowIvan Pylypiv or Iwan Pylypow and Vasyl Eleniak were the first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada in 1891–93.Pylypow was born in the village of Nebyliv in Kalush county in Austrian Galicia. He was a peasant logging contractor, and after falling on hard times considered finding a better life abroad,...
House (Edna-Star, AlbertaEdna-Star, AlbertaThe Edna-Star colony is the largest and oldest of the Ukrainian Canadian block settlements. Located east of Edmonton, in east-central Alberta, the boundaries of the block settlement include all or part of multiple counties and municipal districts, census divisions numbers 12 and 10.- Background :A...
; 1926-28) - HawreliakWilliam HawrelakWilliam Hawrelak was a politician in Alberta, Canada, the longest-serving mayor in Edmonton's history, and a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
House (Shandro, Alberta; 1927) - YurkoWilliam YurkoWilliam Yurko, MLA, MP, was a Canadian politician, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Canadian House of Commons....
House (Boian, AlbertaBoian, AlbertaBoian, is an unincorporated community in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the floodplain of the North Saskatchewan River, 6 km east of Willingdon, in Two Hills County...
; 1930)
Farmsteads
Shows different farmyards from different eras/stages of development.The newly arrived immigrants
- BurdeiBurdeiA burdei, or bordei is a type of half-dugout shelter, somewhat between a sod house and a log cabin. This style is native to the Carpathian Mountains and forest steppes of eastern Europe.-Neolithic:...
– a dugout-styleDugout (shelter)A dugout or dug-out, also known as a pithouse, pit-house, earth lodge, mud hut, is a shelter for humans or domesticated animals and livestock based on a hole or depression dug into the ground. These structures are one of the most ancient types of human housing known to archeologists...
shelter, somewhat between a sod houseSod houseThe sod house or "soddy" was a corollary to the log cabin during frontier settlement of Canada and the United States. The prairie lacked standard building materials such as wood or stone; however, sod from thickly-rooted prairie grass was abundant...
and log cabinLog cabinA log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
(re-creation, circa 1900)
The BukovynianBukovinaBukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
settlers
- Grekul House (1918-1919)
- Grekul Granary (1918-1919)
- Roswiyczuk Granary (1918)
- Makowichuk Barn (1918)
The Galician settlers
(under development)- Lakusta BarnBarnA barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
(1918) - Lakusta GranaryGranaryA granary is a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed. In ancient or primitive granaries, pottery is the most common use of storage in these buildings. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animals.-Early origins:From ancient times grain...
(1918)
Ukrainian-Canadian farmers
- Kitt Threshing MachineThreshing machineThe thrashing machine, or, in modern spelling, threshing machine , was a machine first invented by Scottish mechanical engineer Andrew Meikle for use in agriculture. It was invented for the separation of grain from stalks and husks. For thousands of years, grain was separated by hand with flails,...
Shed (1930) - Chernochan Machine Shed (1925-28)
Rural community (reflecting 1925–30 time period)
- Roadside ShrineShrineA shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
- Luzan Grocery (Luzan, Alberta; 1929)
- Kiew Hall – a community centreCommunity centreCommunity centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
; originally independent, later (1930s) affiliated with the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association (Kiew, Alberta; 1930) - St. Nicholas Russo-Greek Orthodox ChurchRussian Orthodox Church in CanadaThe Patriarchal Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada is a canonical unit of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada. The headquarters of the church is in Edmonton; home to St. Barbara Cathedral. From Edmonton, two traveling priests serve a number of rural churches...
(Kiew, Alberta; 1925-30) - Kolody SawmillSawmillA sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
(Vilna, AlbertaVilna, AlbertaVilna is a historic village in central Alberta, Canada.Vilna is located in Smoky Lake County, on Highway 28, northeast of the city of Edmonton...
; 1929) - "RussiaRus (name)Originally, the name Rus referred to the people, the region, and the medieval states of the Rus' Khaganate and Kievan Rus' polities...
" SchoolOne-room schoolOne-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
and Barn (Musidora, AlbertaMusidora, AlbertaMusidora is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Two Hills No. 21. It is located on Highway 45, approximately northwest of Lloydminster.- References :...
; 1927) - St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchUkrainian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
(also known as St. Mary's or Hlus' Church, Buchach, Alberta; 1928)
Town site (reflecting 1925–30 time period)
- St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox ChurchUkrainian Orthodox Church of CanadaThe Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada is an Eastern Orthodox Church in Canada, primarily serving Ukrainian Canadians. Its former name was the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada ...
(Vegreville, AlbertaVegreville, Alberta-Notable Vegrevillans :*Brent Severyn, former NHL defenseman*Cam Cole, Canadian sports writer*Laurence Decore, lawyer, former mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, and former leader of the Alberta Liberal Party*Roderick Fraser, former president of the University of Alberta...
; 1934) - Wostok Hardware StoreHardware storeHardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...
(Wostok, AlbertaWostok, AlbertaWostok is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Lamont County. It is located on Range Road 173, approximately south of Highway 45 and north of Highway 29. Lamont is approximately southwest of Wostok.- References :...
; 1937) - Market Square
- Radway Livery Barn (Radway, AlbertaRadway, AlbertaRadway is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Thorhild No. 7. It is located southeast of Highway 28, approximately northeast of Fort Saskatchewan and northeast of Edmonton, the provincial capital.- References :...
; 1929) - Pawlenchuk Lot Barn (1930)
- Andrew Alberta Provincial PoliceAlberta Provincial PoliceThe Alberta Provincial Police was a police force active in Alberta, Canada between 1917 and 1932. In 1917, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police left Alberta due to a lack of sufficient resources in light of its increased responsibilities for national security during World War I...
Post (Andrew, AlbertaAndrew, Alberta-External links:**...
; 1927-28) - Bellis Home Grain Co. ElevatorGrain elevatorA grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
(Bellis, AlbertaBellis, AlbertaBellis is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Smoky Lake County. It is located west of Highway 36, approximately northeast of Edmonton.The hamlet's name derives from the "white woods", referring to the local birch and poplars.- References :...
; 1929) - Bellis Canadian National RailwayCanadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
StationTrain stationA train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
(1928) - Hilliard Hotel (Hilliard, AlbertaHilliard, AlbertaHilliard is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Lamont County. It is located on Highway 15, approximately east of Edmonton.- References :...
; 1929) - Alberta Lumber Co. Office and YardLumber yardA lumber yard is a retail location for lumber and wood related products used in construction and/or home improvement projects. Lumber yards can also provide services such as the use of a planer and other large machines....
(Lamont, Alberta; 1928) - Demchuk BlacksmithBlacksmithA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
Shop (Myrnam, AlbertaMyrnam, AlbertaMyrnam is a village in east central Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately east of the capital city, Edmonton, and about east-south-east of the town of Two Hills. Its economic base is mixed farming, cattle farming, and grain farming.-History:...
; 1929) - Demchuk House (1929)
- WoodworkingWoodworkingWoodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
Shop (circa 1930)
See also
- Kalyna CountryKalyna CountryThe Kalyna Country ecomuseum is a heritage and eco-tourism district in East Central Alberta, Canada, named after the highbush cranberry plant, pronounced in the Ukrainian language....
, an ecomuseumEcomuseumEcomuseums originated in France, the concept being developed by George Henri Rivière and Hugues de Varine, who coined the term ‘ecomusée’ in 1971...
region, of which the village is a part - List of Canadian place names of Ukrainian origin – some of the places where the Village's buildings and machines are from are listed on this page (in the Alberta section)
External links
- Alberta Community Development – Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
- University of Alberta – Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
- Google Map to Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Route Map Overhead view
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.