Ariadna Ochrymovych
- Duration
- 2:20 (minutes:seconds)
Biography
Ariadna Ochrymovych is a filmmaker whose parents came to Canada from Ukraine. She grew up as part of the tightly knit Ukrainian community that was both culturally and also politically active campaigning against the take over by Soviet Russia of their homeland. Ariadna's documentaries and fiction have been shown on CBC, Vision TV, TVO and other leading media outlets in Canada. She is currently working on a controversial project that is documenting the memories of the survivors of the Ukrainian famine of 1932 – 33 who are now living in Toronto. The famine was denied and ignored for many years, and it is only now being acknowledged as a historical fact. More details can be found on the site www.holodomorsurvivors.ca.
Summary
Ariadna Ochrymovych grew up in a large Ukrainian community in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was taught by Ukrainian nuns in school. Only when she went to university and started mingling with non-Ukrainians did she realize that her worldview was Ukrainian-centric and influenced in part by her parents's nationalism. Ariadna feels that the tradition and rituals practised by immigrants to new lands give deeper meaning to their lives. There is a superficial perspective of Ukrainian culture from outsiders but a deeper understanding requires greater knowledge. Most Ukrainian literature and music has not been translated, and often Ukrainian culture is not viewed as separate from Russian culture.