Public Lecture at Ukrainian Museum of Canada Explores the Roots of Ukrainian Resistance Amid Russia’s Full-Scale War

Saskatoon, SK — January 21, 2026 — The Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon, presents a timely public lecture by Dr. Marnie Howlett that explores how history, memory, and lived experience shape Ukraine’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Titled Marnie Howlett: Understanding Ukrainian Resistance Amid Russia’s Full-Scale War, the lecture will take place on Wednesday, January 28, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM CST at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon.

Based on a year of fieldwork in Ukraine and a series of national public opinion studies conducted since 2022, Dr. Howlett’s talk looks beyond the headlines to ask a deeper question: why have Ukrainians responded to this invasion with such extraordinary resolve? Drawing on Ukrainians’ own voices, she examines how memories of past wars, shifting borders, and long struggles for self-determination continue to shape how people understand their land, their state, and their responsibility to defend them.

Accessible to a general audience, the lecture offers insight into how history lives on in everyday life—and how it helps explain both Ukraine’s resilience today and the choices it faces for the future, at home and on the global stage.

“This lecture helps people understand that Ukrainian resistance didn’t appear overnight,” says Jen Budney, Executive Director & CEO of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. “It’s rooted in lived history, memory, and a deep sense of responsibility to place and community. We’re honoured to host Dr. Howlett and to offer a space for thoughtful, informed conversation at a moment when understanding Ukraine truly matters.”

Dr. Howlett, who grew up in Saskatoon, is a Departmental Lecturer in Russian and Eastern European Politics in the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford. She completed her PhD in International Relations at the London School of Economics in 2021 and holds a BA (High Honours) in International Studies and an MA in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan.

Admission is free for museum members and $7 for non-members. No registration is required, and all are welcome to attend.