2025 UHCNA Conference in Saskatoon

From September 25 to 28, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada had the privilege of hosting the Ukrainian Heritage Consortium of North America (UHCNA) Conference, in partnership with the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage and Musée Ukraina Museum.

This biennial gathering, last held in Detroit in 2023, brought together museum professionals, scholars, community leaders, and cultural practitioners from across North America to share dialogue, exchange ideas, and chart new paths for preserving and advancing Ukrainian heritage.

This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Heritage: The Role of Museums and Heritage Organizations in Cultural Revitalization and Post-Colonial Recovery,” guided rich discussion and reflection throughout the program. Attendees took part in keynote addresses, panel sessions, delegate presentations, and site visits that deepened both professional and personal connections. A highlight for many was the moving welcome and tour at the Gabriel Dumont Institute, led by Karon Shmon and staff, and the powerful presentations at Wanuskewin Heritage Park by Candace Wasacase Lafferty and Honey Constant-Inglis, which opened important conversations about shared histories, colonial legacies, and possibilities for collaboration.

The conference also launched Folk Imaginaries: Ukrainian Clothing as Memory and Imagination at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, and featured remarkable contributions from international colleagues, including Anastasiia Manuliak of the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv, who introduced their new guidebook Supporting Decolonization in Museums: Focus on Ukraine. At the Gala Dinner, keynote speaker Mariam Naiem offered a deeply resonant reflection on decolonization, sharing passages from her forthcoming book Як вдихнути вільно? (How to Breathe Freely? A Guide to Decolonization).Her words, and the collective energy of our time together, left many of us inspired and renewed in our work. The world-class performance from PFE was an outstanding, surprising, and perfect end to the evening.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our sponsors and partners whose generosity made this gathering possible: SUS Foundation of Canada, Shevchenko Foundation, Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan – Olha Kobylianska Branch, Saskatoon, Evan Howlett, Rose Marie Fedorak, Discover Saskatoon, MirKo Ukrainian & European Grocery Store (in-kind donation), Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, Werezak’s Pharmacy, Cecilia Kachkowski, and Andy Iwanchuk.

Special thanks are also due to our event coordinator, Dawn Wasacase, whose skill and dedication ensured a smooth and welcoming experience for all delegates.

As the conference came to a close, participants left Saskatoon with new ideas, strengthened relationships, and a shared sense of love, purpose, and responsibility for safeguarding Ukrainian heritage into the future.

For those who were unable to attend, many of the presentations were recorded and will soon be available on our YouTube channel. Please keep an eye out for links in the coming weeks.

On behalf of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada and our partners, thank you so much for being part of this historic gathering. We look forward to building on the momentum of Saskatoon 2025 and to continuing this vital work together. Дякую!