They collapsed and died in the street, they died in their beds, and in the fields. In the midst of plenty, millions of Ukrainians died of starvation in 1932-33.
It is known as the Holodomor- loosely translated as “death by starvation”, but also colloquially known as the “terror-famine”. It was a direct result of Josef Stalin’s poorly thought out and implemented collectivization resulting in greatly reduced harvests, substantial losses of stored grain, and organized confiscation through Soviet quotas for Russia.
Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, announced funding for the Holodomor National Awareness Tour this week with the Canada Ukraine Foundation to receive almost $1.5 million dollars from Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a cross-Canada tour information tour.
Many feel the maintenance of excessive quotas in face of reduced harvests was a deliberate act to punish Ukrainians for their resistance of Soviet collectivization.
It is estimated anywhere from 2,5 to 7.5 million people died as a result, although other estimates are as high as 12 million, and with a birth rate deficit of about 6 million because of the famine.
Canada became the first country to officially recognize the Holodomor genocide in 2008.
The project will educate Canadians of all ages and backgrounds on this tragic historical event and is expected to reach some 10,000 students per year. It is expected to begin later this spring.
The National Household Survey of 2011 shows about 1.2 million Canadians reported they are of Ukrainian ethnic origin.
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