Hodge Podge

Put your Hodge Podge here ...

Thank you for registering your event with Reverence for Life — "Music for Life". A sunflower has been placed on the map for you, our very first in Canada! You are helping the wave to grow! Please pass the word along about peace. We are very much looking to add additional events in Canada. Thank you!

Amanda E. Daly
Global Coordinator, Reverence for Life/"Music for Life"
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Boston, MA

Submitted by Mae Popoff, Saskatoon — May 14, 2007 (Also sent to DOVE)

Submitted by Johnny Popoff

By Koozma J. Tarasoff, November 27, 2006.

From the Slavic Research Group Prospectus 2006, page 3

— Happy Thanksgiving, Mae Popoff, Saskatoon

— Mae Popoff, Saskatoon

Jennifer Anderson, PhD candidate
Department of History, Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa K1S 5B6

— Koozma J. Tarasoff, Ottawa

‘I taught at the Twin Rivers Elementary School in Castlegar, BC for five years from September 1984 to June 30, 1989. Shawn Horcoff was in my class and I always thought he was such a well-behaved boy. He excelled in all sports, but he never flaunted his superiority nor did he ridicule the less able athletes. I was very disappointed when Castlegar didn’t even mention the fact that Shawn scored one of the three winning goals when Canada played against Russia and won the gold medal a few years ago. Castlegar made up for it when Edmonton played for the Stanley Cup. There were signs all over saying: “Go Shawn, Go!”’

'I was born in 1930, three miles east of here. In September I started school. Dad put me on a horse and away I went. My first teacher was Miss Madeline Hewitt who taught me from grades one to three. The only problem I had in school was with sandwiches which is an English tradition. We had huge, round loaves that were baked in brick ovens and mother had difficulty cutting the bread into slices to make sandwiches. After completing grade ten in Cowley I went to Pincher Creek, staying in a dormitory as I completed my high school in 1949.'

'People were poor but our family was never hungry. We had all kinds of vegetables, eggs and dairy products. I was hungry for candy and ice cream. I thought that if I had an allowance of 5 cents a week, I'd be the envy of all the children. Some people in Cowley were poor. One boy found a piece of licorice and said he'll wash it first. But by the time we got to school he ate it. One time someone peeled an orange and threw the peel away. He picked it up and ate it. I was washing carrots in the river one day and a fisherman came by and asked if he could have one. Children from one family often came either early or late to school. When the teacher asked them why, they replied: "We have no clock." They kept time by the train. Today that family is very wealthy.'

‘With the depression in the 1930s several families left to try and make it on their own, and in 1938 the Doukhobor creditors sealed the end of the communal lifestyle after they repossessed land and sold it back to individual families.

‘Out of the 300 original Cowley-Lundbreck Doukhobors, 200 decided to stay, the rest set off for BC. After the settlements disbanded, the remaining Doukhobors used fellow members’ houses to congregate, pray and hold meetings. Later in the 1950s the group built a prayer hall in Lundbreck. Today he says there are maybe a dozen in Lundbreck and Cowley who meet occasionally, at the prayer hall in Lundbreck and for funerals in the little cemetery north of the hamlet.

‘He’s spoken to the Alberta government about the possibility of preserving the prayer hall, which is the only one of its kind in the province, but because it was built in the 1950s it doesn’t qualify for heritage status.

‘Verigin has worked closely with archivists in the province, as well as private historians interested in the religion. It’s dedication like this that will mean that even when the last of the Doukhobor die out, their legacy and contribution to the development to the development of the area will remain on paper.’

‘In 1895 in Russia, a group of Christian villagers, believing deeply in Peace and Sharing, burned the Weapons given them by the Tsar. We become those villagers driving wagons through the countryside, visiting homes to collect Firewood & Weapons. We take these to the Village Center and make Ploughshares. Watch for Tsar’s patrolling soldiers who will confiscate our wagons and send us to prison. Learn love and courage so, with the guidance of Wise Elders, we will remain determined in our Cause. We might even inspire some Soldiers to drop their weapons and join with us. It will be an adventure filled with danger and great rewards. To fulfill our task, we must be gentle as a Dove & wise as a Serpent. This is a game of collaboration, learning & discussion; a game full of exciting strategy, with each of us making an important contribution.’

"Growing up on a farm near Canora has helped Jon Kalmakoff understand environmental law, which is part of his job at SaskPower. He also participated in drama and debating clubs at school, which has helped to develop his public speaking abilities for giving presentations at work."

— Found by Johnathan Kalmakoff in the Winnipeg Free Press, June 8, 1943.
"COnchie" was a common term for "draft dodger" at that time.

Hodge Podge
In the Doukhobor Inquirer (1954-1958), two popular sections were "Hodge Podge" and "Briefly Stated", very short stories about Doukhobors today, or then. These short items are so impressive to read 50 years later that I decided to continue this instant history in the making which doesn't merit a full article but should be passed along because it helps to shape our culture. Please contribute to Hodge Podge if you have a short story which should be preserved. The more the better.
Jan 12, 2008 — Baba's Home Cooking On Line Oct 12, 2007 — Uncle Bill Invents 'Dilly Core' May 26, 2007 — 'Doukhobor Place Names', Jon Kalmakoff, Univ. of Sask. May 26, 2007 — Mark Zeabin makes casket furniture, Crescent Valley, B.C. May 25, 2007 — Borderlands Cultural Focus, Seattle WA May 22, 2007 — 86 of 112 Canadian Doukhobor Cemeteries online Apr 14, 2007 — Variety Night in Saskatoon Apr 11, 2007 — Lena Sherstobitoff MA Thesis: Doukhobor Language Mar 17, 2007 — Iraq War Rally, Castlegar Feb 23, 2007 — New Vancouver Doukhobor Organization — VIDCA Dec 14, 2006 — Additions to Doukhobor Genealogy Website Dec 13, 2006 — Dr. Lev Tarasov gets Canada Research Chair Dec 7, 2006 — Doukhobor Novelist Vi Plotnikoff (1937-2006) Dies Nov 27, 2006 — Doukhobor Bread in Saskatoon – August 2006 Nov 21, 2006 — A Word from the Director, Andrew Donskov, F.R.S.C. Oct 7, 2006 — Doukhobor Bread For Sale Oct 5, 2006 — International Guest the Doukhobor Dugout House Oct 2, 2006 — Canadian-Soviet Friendship Society research Oct 1, 2006 — The 21st Century Space Age Manifesto for Global Peace Sep 19, 2006 — Students Invited to Use the Tarasoff Archives Sep 1, 2006 — Edmonton Oilers Shawn Horcoff (Castlegar) hockey big time. Aug 23, 2006 — Oospenia Spring Commemorates Doukhobor Pioneers Aug 26, 2006 — Spirit wrestlers keep faith alive Aug 12, 2006 — Wedding of Dr. Jeff Popoff and Dr. Naureen Wasey Aug 12, 2006 — Cowley, Alberta, celebrated its 100th anniversary Jul 23, 2006 — Deacove farm (Perth, Ontario) ‘Ploughshares board game Jul 16, 2006 — The National Doukhobor Heritage Village, Verigin, Sask. is 25 years old May 31, 2006 — Regina laywer Jon Kalmakoff featured in Canora Sask. news May 24, 2006 — Nik Semenoff: Honorary Doctor of Letters May, 2006 — Doukhobor / Peace Thesis by Stacey Makortoff, Vancouver Jun 8, 1999 — "Vechnaia Pamyat" Art Exhibit, Grand Forks, B.C. Jun 8, 1943 — Conchie Who Tore Up Call-up Order Jailed
Put your Hodge Podge here ...
2008 Jan 12 — Baba's Home Cooking On Line Anne (Potapoff) Hlookoff-Kehler — Baba — announced her 50 recipes on DVDs, now you can see them online. See Baba cooking her favorite dishes on your home computer. Download any of 50 recipes on line for $2 for one play. Learn to cook and save money on groceries. "No need to pay for shipping and no need to wait for delivery!" 10 recipes are Russian dishes: borscht [borshch] (soup), lapsha (noodles), pyrahi [pirogi] (pastry), golupsti (cabbage rolls), nalesniki [blini] (crepes), haloonki [galushki] (dumplings), vinaigrette [vinegret] (beet salad), vareniki (pyrogies, ravioli).
2007 Oct 12 — Uncle Bill Invents 'Dilly Core' Innovative chef 'Uncle Bill" William Anatooskin of Burnaby, British Columbia is known for his Russian, Ukrainian and West Coast recipes in his famous cookbook, From Uncle Bill's Kitchen (1996). Now Bill has designed a new kitchen product called 'Dilly Core', a dill pickle corer sold with a recipe for stuffed dill pickles. Uncle Bill designed the corer specifically for dill pickles so it is much smaller than an apple corer that often destroys a dill pickle. The product includes his Flavourful Famous Stuffing Recipe in every order. The corer is made from stainless steel, 'so it is dishwasher safe and will not rust or tarnish and it cleans easily', says Bill. The cost per unit is $10 and includes all taxes and shipping costs to Canada and the United States. Delivery takes 4 to 10 days after receipt of payment. Order from Uncle Bill at wanatoos@shaw.ca. See Koozma's book Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers.... (2002), pp. 267-268 for a feature on 'Uncle Bill's Culinary Creations'. It was Bill's late mother Margaret, who as an excellent cook with a wide repertoire of tasty dishes, influenced Bill to develop a passion for cooking at a young age. However, it was only at the age of 63 that Bill gave up his profession as builder and manager of multimillion dollar construction projects to take up his favourite passion of becoming a master chef of many tantalizing and healthful meals. See his recipes online.	Click to enlarge.
2007 May 26 — 'Doukhobor Place Names', Univ. of Sask. Jonathan J. Kalmakoff will present his research on "Doukhobor Place Names" at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for the Study of Names, to be held in conjunction with the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 26-27, 2007. 'Doukhobor Place Names' will be presented 10:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Saturday May 26, Room 100, Arts Building. Jon, host of the Doukhobor Genealogy Website, will focus on the names of early Doukhobor settlements in Saskatchewan, 1899-1907; Doukhobor place naming, beliefs, collective history and world view; geography, settlement patterns and land use; Russian language and orthography; and types of Doukhobor place names according to their meaning and mechanism of origin. All are invited. More information is posted on the Doukhobor Message Board.
2007 May 26 — Mark Zeabin makes casket furniture Who says you can't take it with you? By Regina and Douglas Haggo, The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario Here's a guy who thinks outside the box. Mark Zeabin started making coffins 10 years ago, after his grandmother died. A Canadian of Russian Doukhobor heritage, Zeabin was proud of his craftsmanship, but bothered that his fine work had to be buried. Then he had a brainwave. Since his caskets couldn't be appreciated afterward, perhaps they could be enjoyed before their end use — in a slightly different form. Zeabin started making furniture that could function as final resting places. He crafts beds, sofas, display cases and end tables that can be turned into caskets when the time comes. The family business in Crescent Valley, B.C., near Nelson, has a website, casketfurniture.com, which reveals that a sofa or coffin/coffee table will set you back $3,995 US. For $5,995 US, you can have an "eternaltainment centre" that "transforms easily into a his-and- hers casket combination."
2007 May 25 — Borderlands Cultural Focus, Seattle WA Panels, Stories, and Performances from the 49th Parallel. The 2007 Cultural Focus is Borderlands, a presentation of the extraordinary arts, artists, customs and traditions in border communities of the Pacific Northwest. Meet artists, musicians, dancers, craftspeople, smokejumpers, packers, border guards, water-witchers and yodelers from both sides of the US-Canadian border at the 2007 Folklife Festival, held at the Seattle Center. Of the 14, these are named on the audio: Andrei Bonderoff, Harry & Florence Hadikan, Andrei Sherstibetoff, Johnny Popoff. Hear the 14 minute audio presentation in MP3 format.	14 Doukhobor singers talk about the connection between Doukhobor heritage, pacifism and song
2007 May 22 — 86 of 112 Canadian Doukhobor Cemeteries online The Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project, an ambitious project headed by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff to document and transcribe all 112 Doukhobor cemetery and burial sites across Canada, is entering its third and final year. To date, 86 cemetery transcriptions are complete and available online, with the remaining twenty-six in progress. To learn how you can contribute to this worthwhile heritage project, visit the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.
2007 April 14 — Variety Night in Saskatoon Saskatoon Doukhobors joined 349 peace groups around the world in a month-long series of musical peace celebrations leading to a Global Wave of Music on April 22, 2007. The international peace event was hosted by the United Nations, Global Youth Services Days, Earth Day Network, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, young musicians around the world, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, New England Conservatory, Longwood Symphony Orchestra, and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Mae Popoff organized the Variety Night and registered it on the website: www.reverenceforlife.org. Participants are shown with a sunflower placed on a global map. Click on map, right. Also see: www.myspace.com/reverence4life. Here is a note recieved by event organizer Mae Popoff on April 4: Thank you for registering your event with Reverence for Life — "Music for Life". A sunflower has been placed on the map for you, our very first in Canada! You are helping the wave to grow! Please pass the word along about peace. We are very much looking to add additional events in Canada. Thank you! Amanda E. Daly Global Coordinator, Reverence for Life/"Music for Life" Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Boston, MA VARIETY NIGHT at the Doukhobor Society of Saskatoon On April 14, 2007 folks gathered in peace, and global community for song, dance, and entertainment to celebrate another Variety Night. After the words of welcome offered by Wm Woykin and Mae Popoff, the program started with the Saskatchewan Doukhobor Choir who sang to “honoring Peace and Freedom” with universal applications. Our souls were touched with the solos, gospel songs, yodeling, duets, family entertainment, humor, humanitarian soul connectedness, travel distances, accordion and guitar accompaniments. There were a record number of guitars!!!(10+) The Russian Dance Group from Calgary were a special highlight with the four seperate appearances and costume changes. We appreciated Alex Kalesnikoff and his efforts for the Russian Dance Group appearance. Please come again. The audience was most appreciative and showered the entertainers with applause and requests for more favourites, like the Auctioneer Song. Special compositions honored Bill Woykin and his consistent efforts to bring the spirits of welcome to all. As the Saskatchewan Doukhobor Choir sang the farewell hymn, the activities downstairs geared up with pie, coffee, laughter, connections and memory building. Whatever geographic location, heritage, ethnicity, or country of origin, the folks at the Saskatoon Doukhobor Variety Night were representative of celebrating peace through love and musical connections. Together, we are better!!! Submitted by Mae Popoff, Saskatoon — May 14, 2007 (Also sent to DOVE)
2007 April 11 — Lena Sherstobitoff MA Thesis: Doukhobor Language "Flowers and Weeds: Negotiating the Contemporary Doukhobor Diaspora" by Lena Sherstobitoff, Simon Fraser University, MA Thesis May 2005 (Supervisor: J. Rak) — Contemporary Canadian Doukhobors are facing a situation where a significant segment of their populations do not speak the Russian dialect of their predecessors. Consequently, English translations and substitutes are becoming increasingly popular, even necessary. Although these translations are direct evidence of Doukhobors' assimilation into Canada, Doukhobors have not entirely forsaken their connection to a Russian ancestry. The investigation of this subtle negotiation between here and homeland will be facilitated through personal interviews with contemporary Doukhobor youth. — Abstracts, 49th Annual Conference, Western Social Science Association, Calgary, Alberta Canada, April 11-14, 2007
2007 March 17 — Iraq War Rally, Castlegar The Kootenay Region Branch of the United Nations Association in Canada together with the USCC Working Group on Peace and Justice held a march and rally on Saturday, March 17 to mark the start of year 5 of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. About 75 people marched from Stephenville Square to the Castlegar Courthouse where the programme was conducted. People made placards or carried a traditional Peace Dove. The rally attracted about 25 people to join in. About 100 people listened to the speakers and Music: J J. Verigin Jr., Jayme Hadikin, Leonard Voykin, Alex Atamanenko, KRUNA/USCC members, Robson Community Choir, and others.
2007 February 23 — New Vancouver Doukhobor Organization — VIDCA V.I.D.C.A. stands for Vancouver Island Doukhobor Community Association, not Cultural. It seems a lot of people have this wrong. Not a big deal, but should be clarified, since we are a registered Society in BC, and have been for nearly 15 months now! Also, our Victoria Doukhobor Choir Concert is on Saturday, April 21. Watch for our ad in the ISKRA! VIDCA is donating the proceeds to orphanages in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, Russia. Submitted by Johnny Popoff
2006 December 14 — Additions to Doukhobor Genealogy Website Jonathan Kalmakoff, a Regina Saskatchewan lawyer and Doukhobor genealogist and historian, just added dozens of new pages to his extensive Doukhobor Genealogy Website: 1000+ Russian language terms transliterated and translated for family relationships, archives, geographic, weights and measures, dates, numbers, occupations, nationalitites, and language. Name Cross-Index for 100s of transliterated first names in Russian-English and English-Russian Doukhobor Cemetery Project. Volunteer to help document all Doukhobor cemeteries and burial sites in Canada — 30 cemeteries added, 84 of 112 are online. 13 new items in History stories and articles 12+ new Links 4 new articles in Research Sources, with 4 publications (2 more coming soon) for purchase. Holidays and Rituals of Doukhobors in the Caucasus, plus a Calendar
2006 December 13 — Dr. Lev Tarasov gets Canada Research Chair As of January 2007, Lev Tarasov — theoretical physicist, social thinker, teacher, sportsman, and my son — has been appointed for a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Modeling Climate Dynamics, Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada. See his academic website, especially his pages on: Strategy for Social Change, Some Thoughts on Pedagogy, and Wilderness Sports, which reflect Lev’s philosophy. We named him after Lev N. Tolstoy. Years ago he changed his surname from Tarasoff to Tarasov "to be close to the original roots". — Hear Lev's interview on the radio show: "On The Go", CBC Radio, aired Thursday Mar 15, 2007 (13 minutes, Real Media format). As the world warms up, and the glaciers retreat, the seas will rise? But by how much, and when? And what forces will drive that change?	Lev Tarasoff, on farm near Guelph, Ontario, May 31, 1987.
2006 December 7 — Doukhobor Novelist Vi Plotnikoff (1937-2006) Dies "Violet Plotnikoff, author of the book Head Cook at Weddings and Funerals, passed away on November 20, 2006. Vi was born on a farm near Veregin, Sask. and was the first of seven daughters born to Annie and Ignace Makaeff. When Vi was very young, the family moved to Grand Forks, BC where they settled In 1958, Vi married Serge Plotnikoff and in 1959, they moved to Castlegar, where they have lived for the past 48 years and raised two sons, Ron and Larry. Vi worked as a copywriter at CKQR Radio for many years. She enjoyed writing and storytelling and a dream of hers was realized when her first book, Head Cook at Weddings and Funerals, was published in 1994. Vi continued to enjoy writing and storytelling and has participated and spoken at many writers’ workshops and conferences over the past several years. Vi was particularly proud to have founded the Castlegar Writers Guild, of which she was still an active participant, and was in the process of completing her second book at the time of her illness. She was active in the Doukhobor Cultural Association for more than 38 years. Vi enjoyed her yard and her garden very much and greatly valued spending time with friends and family. Vi was predeceased by her parents and two of her sisters, Linda and Dawn Makaeff. Left to mourn her loss is her husband of 48 years, Serge; sons Ron (Kylie) and Larry (Peggy); and grandchildren: Jill, Tom, Mikisha and Alexandra. Also her sisters: Mary Persoff, Anna (Jack) Konkin, June (Curt) Whachell and Judy (Thom) Pritchard; her special aunt Vera Makaeff, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held November 24, 2006 at the Brilliant Cultural Centre with interment at the Park Memorial Cemetery." (From Grand Forks Gazette, Nov. 29, 2006, page19) Also see: Photos and tribute by Vi's friend Linda Lee Crosfield: Acclaimed Doukhobor Writer, Vi Plotnikiff, Dead at 68 Head Cook at Weddings and Funerals and Other Stories of Doukhobor Life. Vancouver: Polestar Press, 1994. The first collection of Doukhobor short stories published and the first widely published literary writings by a Doukhobor woman. The Mysterious Death of a Doukhobor Leader. 2001 CD narrated by the author Vi Plotnikiff. Shining Waters: Doukhobors in the Castlegar Area. The story of Doukhobor culture and lifestyle as it evolved in the Castlegar area between 1908 and 1938. Printed in Castlegar, a Confluence (Karen W. Farrer (ed), Castlegar: Castlegar & District Heritage Society, 2000).	Vi Plotnikoff holds painting that she used for the cover of her first book, in her residence, Castlegar, BC, July 18, 1995. Photo No. C987_7 by Koozma J. Tarasoff. All rights reserved.
2006 November 27 — Doukhobor Bread in Saskatoon – August 2006 By Koozma J. Tarasoff, November 27, 2006. The 2006 (August 8 through 13) baking and selling of loaves and slices of Doukhobor bread during the Saskatoon Exhibition Week was again a great success. The week-long Exhibition at Prairieland Park brought thousands of visitors to the Doukhobor booth. Here three brick ovens and a staff of volunteers worked day and night to keep the fires going, the bread dough flowing, and the loaves being baked in the ovens in the manner of their grandparents a century earlier. The technology was similar. A fire was lit inside the brick ovens, then embers were removed. The ovens stayed hot enough to bake the bread until the next round. Bread-baking in the City began in the mid-1950s when the Doukhobor community built its Community Home in the West end. At first brick ovens were built on the grounds of the old Western Development Museum. However with the relocation of the Museum to the City’s Exhibition Site, the Doukhobors moved its facility there as well. Each set of three ovens produced approximately 100 loaves at a time. This year, at least 1200 loaves were baked each day. A total of 175 bags of flour were consumed during the week.. Each loaf was sold at $4 Canadian or $1.50 per slice with butter and jam. All proceeds from the event went to charities and the Doukhobor Society. It is a labour of love. Inspiration for this very successful community project comes from the bread, salt and water as the basic staff of life. And the taste is terrific. It is superior to ordinary bread from the supermarket because it tastes like bread should. Notes: See article by George Stushnoff ‘Doukhobor bread-baking in Saskatoon: a success story’, in Koozma J. Tarasoff (compiler and editor), Spirit-Wrestlers’ Voices: Honouring Doukhobors on the Centenary of their migration to Canada in 1899 (Ottawa: Legas, 1998): pp. 145-153. The article states the basic facts and figures about bread-baking in the City along with a layout schema of the baking complex. For example, the first batch of bread from the old clay oven produced by the Saskatoon Doukhobors was in July 4, 1955. The book is still available for sale. And see Mae Popoff's article below: 2006 October 7 — Doukhobor Bread For Sale.	Breadbaking in Saskatoon July 12, 1999. By Koozma J. Tarasoff. All rights reserved.
2006 November 21 — A Word from the Director, Andrew Donskov, F.R.S.C. From the Slavic Research Group Prospectus 2006, page 3 The Slavic Research Group at the University of Ottawa is proud to celebrate its eighth anniversary with the appearance of Prospectus 2006, which we hope will make our work and output better known among the academic community in Canada and abroad and our own community of students, faculty and administrators at the University of Ottawa. Our task involves a great deal of bridge-building — both among the Slavic cultures and among the various academic disciplines involved in the study of Slavic-speaking countries. These efforts are especially important in view of the social and political changes that have been taking place since the late 1980s in Central and Eastern Europe. They are reflected particularly in our establishing co-operation agreements with prominent scholarly institutions in Canada and abroad, including national academies of arts and sciences in Russia, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro. We look forward to broadening our outreach and activities to other languages and cultures of the East, West and South Slavic realms. We are happy to announce at this time several new and forthcoming publications which will add up to a grand total of 32 volumes (19 published to date, 8 co-sponsored in the Canada-Russia Series with Carleton University, plus 5 forthcoming). We are indeed encouraged by the excellent reviews many of these have engendered, which have more than justified our decision to base the bulk of our publishing output on archival sources, with research and documentation by leading specialists in their fields — all of which makes them especially valuable. We are also heartened by the enthusiastic reaction of the Ottawa and university communities to the many events (lectures, exhibits and special programmes) offered by our Group over the past eight years. We look forward to continuing outreach — through our activities, co-operation agreements and publications — both in Canada and abroad.
2006 October 7 — Doukhobor Bread For Sale Verigin, Saskatchewan Doukhobors made an official sign about "Doukhobor Bread" for sale at Verigin heritage site. It was amazing how many folks stopped this Thanksgiving weekend. Tannis Strukoff said that they sold 100+ loaves on Friday and 50+ today, Saturday, even though it rained in every region. Some folks bought 15 loaves at a time. The highway sign did wonders. — Happy Thanksgiving, Mae Popoff, Saskatoon
2006 October 5 — International Guest at the Doukhobor Dugout House When Koozma Tarasoff and guest Alexei Oslopov visited the Saskatoon region in May, 2006, they visited the Doukhobor Dugout House near Blaine Lake. As a special courtesy to an out of country guest, Brenda and Dan Cheveldayoff as well as Elizabeth Cheveldayoff provided a private tour with an abundance of hospitality, staple Doukhobor snacks ( [pirogi] "perahee" and bread) and refreshments. Alexei Oslopov was deeply moved by the authenticity and foundations of the heritage Doukhobor site. He was amazed at the architectural expertise of our forefathers who migrated to Canada at the turn of the last century. The structural styles of the buildings reminded Alexei of the Doukhobor homelands in parts of Russia. Koozma Tarasoff had the opportunity to record the visit in photographic images as did Mae Popoff who had the good fortune to be present with Koozma and Alexei. Yes, it was a "Come Home to History" time, as described in the printed brochures. — Mae Popoff, Saskatoon	L to R: Doreen Konkin (nee Rebalkin), Alexei Oslopov, Mae Popoff, ___, Mabel Androsoff (former Mayor of Blaine Lake), and Koozma Tarasoff Tarasoff (left) and Oslopov at the Dugout House. Cheveldayoff's host guests above the Dugout house
2006 October 2 — Canadian-Soviet Friendship Society research I am researching the Canadian-Soviet Friendship Society (CSFS), its activities, and members' perceptions of the USSR, especially in the post-WWII era. The CSFS drew members and subscribers from Canadian progressive groups, including Russian, Ukrainian, Jewish and Doukhobor organizations. Individuals who would like to participate in this study will be asked to participate in an oral interview, and to sign a consent form giving me permission to use the material in my project. This project has received approval from the Carleton University Research Ethics Committee. Please contact me if you are interested in participating in this study. Jennifer Anderson, PhD candidate Department of History, Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa K1S 5B6
2006 October 1 — The 21st Century Space Age Manifesto for Global Peace Press Release on the eve of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday and the 100th anniversary of Sathyagraha: We the concerned Scientists and Philosophers for Social Action hereby call upon the leaders and preachers of all faiths and religions, and heads of all sovereign states to abide by the Declaration of Human Rights as enshrined by the United Nations. Weapons of Mass Destruction and the suicidal bombers — both are equally destructive of human life and liberty. Please consider the millions homeless, and orphaned children turned destitute in every region due to the violent conflicts in the 21st century Space Age. Whereas powerful countries with the Weapons of Mass Destruction and with technologically advanced military-industrial establishments have unleashed global violence threatening the life and liberties of entire human civilization; less powerful cultural, and religious chauvinists directly or indirectly are involved in the war of attrition against " the other" human beings. More....
2006 September 19 — Students Invited to Use the Tarasoff Archives My collection of audio-taped interviews since the 1960s includes 100s of interesting items that some day ought to be transcribed. Some of these interviews were four or more hours in length. The questions were autobiographical, historical, and sociological in nature. These are original source materials. Many of the informant have since died, but their spirit awaits someone to discover their gems of wisdom. It is a project that ought to be done, but probably requires scholarship or other financial assistance. Personally I do not know if I will have the energy or the time to do this — although it would be a great piece of work and a source of rich information. Some of the interviews were entirely in Russian, and Russian words often come up during many interviews, but fluent knowledge of Russian is not necessary for this project. These interviews can be found in the Saskatchewan Archives in Saskatoon, Saskachewan. — Koozma J. Tarasoff, Ottawa
2006 September 1 — Edmonton Oilers centre Shawn Horcoff of Castlegar, BC is now in hockey big time. In July he signed a three-year, $10.8 M deal with the club making him the team’s highest-paid forward. Find 200,000+ web pages about Shawn. Nick Verigin of Pass Creek, BC knew Shawn as a student. Nick writes: ‘I taught at the Twin Rivers Elementary School in Castlegar, BC for five years from September 1984 to June 30, 1989. Shawn Horcoff was in my class and I always thought he was such a well-behaved boy. He excelled in all sports, but he never flaunted his superiority nor did he ridicule the less able athletes. I was very disappointed when Castlegar didn’t even mention the fact that Shawn scored one of the three winning goals when Canada played against Russia and won the gold medal a few years ago. Castlegar made up for it when Edmonton played for the Stanley Cup. There were signs all over saying: “Go Shawn, Go!”’
2006 August 26 — Spirit wrestlers keep faith alive By Darlene Polachic, The StarPhoenix — BLAINE LAKE — "The Doukhobor Prayer Home here, built in 1931, is distinguished as the only original facility that reflects the spiritual culture of Independent Doukhobors. Its members celebrated the home's 75th anniversary earlier this year. The celebration coincided with Peter's Day, which commemorates an event of great significance to Doukhobors," says Mabel Androsoff ... "That event, known as the Burning of the Arms, took place in Russia in 1895." ... Doukhobor Society of Blaine Lake is governed by a six-member board: president Alex Strelioff, vice-president Marion Burak, secretary-treasurer Doreen Konkin, Agnes Murphy, Mabel Androsoff, and Edna Androsoff. ... The anniversary service June 25 included three traditional prayers by the men and three by the women, followed by three hymns. About 150 people attended the commemoration. "Because it was Peter's Day," Mabel Androsoff said, "the songs were about the Burning of Arms. They are deeply meaningful to us because some of our relatives were exiled to Siberia and never came back." The Prayer Home, located on Main Street, is made of bricks after the Russian style. The Town of Blaine Lake has declared it a heritage building.
2006 August 23 — Oospenia Spring Commemorates Doukhobor Pioneers: "A spring near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan has been officially named to commemorate the Doukhobor settlers of the area. Oospenia* Spring, the name proposed by Doukhobor researcher and writer Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, was recently approved by the Saskatchewan Geographic Names Board." It's near the Doukhobor Dugout House, a few miles south east of Blaine Lake. [Press Release submitted by Jon who created the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.] [*Also spelled Uspenia.]

2006 August 12 — Wedding of Dr. Jeff Popoff and Dr. Naureen Wasey From international (Australia, Holland, England, United States) and interprovincial Canadian regions, with multifaith, cultural, language and ethnic diversity folks gathered at the Banff Springs Hotel, August 12, 2006 to celebrate the marriage of Jeff Popoff and Naureen Wasey doctors in love. In the reception area, Lori, sister of the groom, played wedding music on the piano. The two young nephews of the groom and many other relatives took many candid photographs. The guests assembled in the Cascade Ballroom. The bride made a spectacular entry in her wedding finery from Pakistan. The bride, the groom and their attendants sat on centre stage, facing the audience. Their parents Ateka, Mohammed Wasey and Mae, John Popoff stood behind their children on the stage. The mayor of Banff performed the marriage. During the Nikah ceremony, there were Muslim prayers, Arabic words as well as Doukhobor prayers and Russian singing to bless the future home of the bride and groom. The global community celebrated the love of the newlyweds Naureen and Jeff. During the three days of marriage celebration, with the mende, the wedding, and the barbecue, there was ethnic cuisine, like pirogi and shasliki, along with connections through dialogue, music, hugging and laughter. One could feel a spiritual presence, a sense of mutual respect, a sense of love and peace as families and friends gathered in a celebration of LOVE for the newlyweds Naureen and Jeff. The language of love was truly an interprovincial, international extravaganza at Banff Springs Hotel August 12, 2006. We appreciate all of you! Submitted by mother of the groom, Mae Popoff, Saskatoon, on September 22.
2006 August 12— The Village of Cowley, Alberta, celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 12th. The immense contribution to the development of the community by the Doukhobors was noted in the photographic displays, and in the kick off parade, Michael and Doris Verigin were featured in the parade, representing the Doukhobor community. (Submitted by Larry A. Ewashen, Curator, The Doukhobor Discovery Centre.)
2006 August 12— The town of Cowley, Alberta celebrated its 100th anniversary. This is the area where Doukhobors settled in the early part of the 1900s. Nick Verigin of Pass Creek, BC was there; he was born in Cowley. His brother Mike is still living there. Nick had an opportunity of speaking at the official opening. 'I was born in 1930, three miles east of here. In September I started school. Dad put me on a horse and away I went. My first teacher was Miss Madeline Hewitt who taught me from grades one to three. The only problem I had in school was with sandwiches which is an English tradition. We had huge, round loaves that were baked in brick ovens and mother had difficulty cutting the bread into slices to make sandwiches. After completing grade ten in Cowley I went to Pincher Creek, staying in a dormitory as I completed my high school in 1949.' In public school Nick recalls playing softball, Fox and Geese, Anti-I-Over, snowballs, marbles and tag. He also had fun on the teeter totters and the swings. In those days, students were allowed to bring jack knives to school. Nick also recalls life in the town of Cowley. Electrical power came in 1941. There were rails for hitching horses when farmers came to town with wagons or horseback. A Chinese cafe was operated by Slim, a fellow who was respected by other nationalities in the area. Mrs. Christie had a store in which she displayed toys in a small room. 'To go and view the display,' said Nick, 'was equivalent to a visit to Disney Land today.' Mr. Bundy, the CPR Station Agent, was nice to the boys; he gave them Life and Weekly magazines after he had read them. There was also a pool hall, a barber shop, implement dealers, blacksmith shop and a bank. 'I don't know who used its services as no one had any money.' There was also a central telephone office and a fire hall with a hand pulled cart with a mounted water tank. 'People were poor but our family was never hungry. We had all kinds of vegetables, eggs and dairy products. I was hungry for candy and ice cream. I thought that if I had an allowance of 5 cents a week, I'd be the envy of all the children. Some people in Cowley were poor. One boy found a piece of licorice and said he'll wash it first. But by the time we got to school he ate it. One time someone peeled an orange and threw the peel away. He picked it up and ate it. I was washing carrots in the river one day and a fisherman came by and asked if he could have one. Children from one family often came either early or late to school. When the teacher asked them why, they replied: "We have no clock." They kept time by the train. Today that family is very wealthy.' In August Mike Verigin visited the local burial site at Lundbreck where more than 150 people might be buried in the little plot. To reporter Jocelyn Mercer of The Boundary (August 18, 2006: 10) he observed that the history of the Doukhobor connection to the area seems almost forgotten. Michael Verigin and his wife Doris, two of the few remaining Doukhobors in Cowley today, said that back then (beginning in 1915) the Doukhobors lived much like the Hutterites today. The exception was that they each earned a personal income and would often supplement it by working outside of the settlement. ‘With the depression in the 1930s several families left to try and make it on their own, and in 1938 the Doukhobor creditors sealed the end of the communal lifestyle after they repossessed land and sold it back to individual families. ‘Out of the 300 original Cowley-Lundbreck Doukhobors, 200 decided to stay, the rest set off for BC. After the settlements disbanded, the remaining Doukhobors used fellow members’ houses to congregate, pray and hold meetings. Later in the 1950s the group built a prayer hall in Lundbreck. Today he says there are maybe a dozen in Lundbreck and Cowley who meet occasionally, at the prayer hall in Lundbreck and for funerals in the little cemetery north of the hamlet. ‘He’s spoken to the Alberta government about the possibility of preserving the prayer hall, which is the only one of its kind in the province, but because it was built in the 1950s it doesn’t qualify for heritage status. ‘Verigin has worked closely with archivists in the province, as well as private historians interested in the religion. It’s dedication like this that will mean that even when the last of the Doukhobor die out, their legacy and contribution to the development to the development of the area will remain on paper.’	Mike and Doris Vergin in their home, Cowley, Alberta. By Vasilie Davidoff, May 29, 2006.
2006 July 23 — Jan and Jack Tarasoff of Calgary and I visited my friends Jim and Ruth Deacove on their farm in rural Perth, Ontario. Of Doukhobor and Polish background, born in the Kamsack area of Saskatchewan, Jim is the inventor of Family Pastimes Cooperative Games (see details in my book Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers’ Strategies for Living, 2002: 236-241). Based on the principle of cooperation, this home industry has had remarkable success in its 35 year history. In 1972 Jim first made a few co-op games for his own family and was encouraged by friends to make more. The games are made in small quantities as a labour of love. The format is kept simple but attractive. Today over 200 games are manufactured locally, but sold all over the world, some in several languages. One of the interesting board games, ‘Ploughshares’, was developed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Arms Burning by the Doukhobors in southern Russia. Jim describes the game as follows: ‘In 1895 in Russia, a group of Christian villagers, believing deeply in Peace and Sharing, burned the Weapons given them by the Tsar. We become those villagers driving wagons through the countryside, visiting homes to collect Firewood & Weapons. We take these to the Village Center and make Ploughshares. Watch for Tsar’s patrolling soldiers who will confiscate our wagons and send us to prison. Learn love and courage so, with the guidance of Wise Elders, we will remain determined in our Cause. We might even inspire some Soldiers to drop their weapons and join with us. It will be an adventure filled with danger and great rewards. To fulfill our task, we must be gentle as a Dove & wise as a Serpent. This is a game of collaboration, learning & discussion; a game full of exciting strategy, with each of us making an important contribution.’ This game will make us think about so many deep issues. To order a free catalogue, contact Family Pastimes, www.familypastimes.com	Jim Deacove (back) with Alberta friends Jan and Jack Tarasoff, displaying his ‘Break A Leg’ cooperative game at his family-based factory in rural Perth, Ontario. ‘Ploughshares’ cooperative game by Family Pastimes, illustrating the story of the arms burning in Russia in 1895.
2006 July 16 — The National Doukhobor Heritage Village in Verigin, Saskatchewan is 25 years old. In celebrating this event, Laura and Peter Verigin guided a day tour of the North Colony. The tour stopped at cemeteries and the former villages of Semeonovo, Vera, Voznesenie, Pakrovka, Mikhaylovo, Gromovoye, Pavlova, Arkhangelskoye, Perekhodnoye, Uspeniye and Troitskoye. Remnants of the community/ prayer home and buildings remain at the Uspenie village site. At the Heritage, a Sunday prayer service was held followed by a brunch and an afternoon program of singing, a duet with guitar, and speeches. Alex Sherstabitoff described the historical developments with the complex in Verigin, then he and his wife Mary cut the cake in celebrating the event. [See Iskra, September 2, 2006: page 22, for a detailed report by Mae Popoff. Saskatoon].	Mary and Alex Sherstabitoff cutting the cake commemorating the 25th Year Heritage Village in Verigin, Saskatchewan July 16, 2006. Photo by Mae Popoff.
2006 May 31 — About Former Residents: Growing up on a farm has been invaluable experience for Regina laywer.(PDF) — A big photo and interview with Jonathan Kalmakoff, appears in The Canora Courier, Canora Sask. Page 8. "Growing up on a farm near Canora has helped Jon Kalmakoff understand environmental law, which is part of his job at SaskPower. He also participated in drama and debating clubs at school, which has helped to develop his public speaking abilities for giving presentations at work." For 10 years Jon has been researching Doukhobor family histories and hosting the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.
2006 May 24 — Nik Semenoff: Honorary Doctor of Letters Dr. Nik Semenoff received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Saskatchewan on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 9 am, and gave the Convocation Address. Nik Semenoff was born and educated in Saskatchewan, and is an outstanding researcher, artist, teacher, and inventor. He has taught at the U of S and has been artist-in-residence since 1992. His cutting-edge research into safer printmaking processes has placed the University in the forefront of non-toxic printmaking research and education. As an artist, his work has been commissioned and exhibited internationally, and has been included in major collections. The inventor of the "waterless lithographic process," high-resolution screen-printing and specialty inks, he has made printmaking both safer and less expensive. Professor Semenoff has published his research findings in several refereed journals, and has been invited to do workshops around the world. He is also known and respected for his contributions to the local and provincial arts communities. A founding member of the Saskatchewan Society of Artists and Gallery 9 in Saskatoon, Semenoff has served on the board of the Mendel Art Gallery and was associate director of the Fine Art Committee of the Saskatoon Industrial Exhibition for a number of years. The book, Waterless Lithography: An Artist's Guide to Making Professional-Quality Prints Using Nik Semenoff's Method, by Jacob Semko (Nov 2005) is a best seller among printers. In 1999 he recieved the Lifetime Award for Excellence in the Arts. Nik's web site: New Directions in Printmaking: The Technical Side. 21 technical Archived Articles by Nik Semenoff, Artists at Canada.com Nik Semenoff on Safer (and More Interesting!) Printmaking (I) Waterless lithography using common caulking silicone. June 1990, Using a Safer Mordant Intaglio Etching on Aluminum and Zinc. Nik Semenoff, (Artist-in-Residence) Department of Art and Art History; and Dr. L.W. Bader, (retired) Department of Chemistry. 1990. Much more about Dr. Semenoff	More of Nik's art: Image 54 Art Gallery PrintSAFE Exhibition Nik Semenoff on Safer (and More Interesting!) Printmaking (I)
2006 May — Doukhobor / Peace Thesis by Stacey Makortoff, Vancouver Why the Path to Peace is Often Paved in Conflict: A Historical Examination of the Doukhobors of British Columbia. (PFF, 668K) Master of Arts Thesis by Stacey Makortoff, Canada. Peace and Conflict Studies, European University Center for Peace Studies, Stadtschlaining / Burg, Austria. 121 pages. Abstract: "... This paper answers the question of why the quest for peace is often full of conflicts through an examination of the history of the Doukhobors through the framework of worldview developed by the International Education for Peace Institute. This will thus provide an example of why this group (as many others in history) could not bring their peaceful ideals into practice. It will conclude with a discussion of how the Education for Peace Program (implemented for the past six years in Bosnia and Herzegovina) could facilitate the development of a peace- based worldview thus, infusing new life into this historically rich and vibrant community." Since 2004, Stacey has been the Academic Program Coordinator for EFP-International (International Education for Peace Institute), Vancouver, B.C. Before that she taught school in BC and Thailand. She presented her thesis at 2 conferences this year: World Peace Forum, International Peace Education Conference, Vancouver, June 27, 2006 International Peace Research Association Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 2, 2006
1999 June 8 — "Vechnaia Pamyat" Art Exhibit, Grand Forks, B.C. Jan Kabatoff, who works in Canmore, Alberta, curated the exhibition "Vechnaia Pamyat: Honouring Our Doukhobor Heritage" shown at the Grand Forks Art Gallery from June 8 to July 17, 1999. The title means "Eternal Memory" in Russian. The work of 19 contemporary artists of Doukhobor heritage — Sonja Billard, Leah Bojey, Brad Chernoff, Tamara Ewashen, Polly Faminoff, Donna Guillemin, Jan Kabatoff, Barry Koochin, George Koochin, Florence Lymburner, Jeina Morosoff, Wendy Morosoff-Smith, Rebecca Perehudoff, Peter Potapoff, Elaine Rathie, Angie Reabbin, Bill Seminoff, Mabel Verigin and Volga Wright — were shown to to honour and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Doukhbors in Canada. The exhibit "... examines contributing factors in the assimilation of an ethnic culture into mainstream society, the loss of one’s cultural identity, and the importance of acknowledging one’s heritage in an exhibition celebrating the centennial of the Doukhobor entry into Canada in 1899. All the participating artists share a common heritage, although many have been away from a Doukhobor community for many years [Gallery Schedule]." Also see: Doukhobor Artist Jan Kabatoff Prepares Exhibit on Glaciers [for September 2009]	Jan Kabatoff's "I Remember, I Forget..."; dyed, stitched linen mixed media, 1996.
1943 June 8 — Conchie Who Tore Up Call-up Order Jailed Calgary, June 8 CP) — Nick N. Nevokshonoff, a conscientios[sic] objector from a Doukhobor colony at Brilliant, B.C. who said he tore up his mobilization board notices to report for medical examination, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in city police court yesterday morning. On completion of the term he will be escorted by the R.C.M.P. to the Infantry Recruiting centre at Calgary to undergo medical examination. — Found by Johnathan Kalmakoff in the Winnipeg Free Press, June 8, 1943. "COnchie" was a common term for "draft dodger" at that time.
More "Hodge Podge" to come. Keep looking.