Kule Folklore Centre at the U of A

07/04/2025

Just a reminder😉 July 4-6, 2025, we are at the Vegreville Pysanka Festival with the special "Love Letters From The Past..." exhibit👇

07/01/2025

Happy Canada Day!🇨🇦

May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and the company of loved ones—whether you’re enjoying a backyard barbecue, a picnic in the park, or a festive gathering!

As we honour Canada, we also cherish our Ukrainian roots and traditions. Did you know that every home in Ukrainian folklore is watched over by a special spirit? Meet the domovyk pictured here—a guardian who protects the home, brings good fortune, and maybe even causes a little mischief now and then! 🏠✨

Let’s celebrate the spirit of community, diversity, and togetherness.
Щасливого Дня Канади! Happy Canada Day!

07/01/2025

Welcome to Our New Director, Dr. Oleksandr Pankieiev!

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Oleksandr Pankieiev has been appointed Associate Professor and Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography in the Department of MLCS, and Director of the Kule Folklore Centre, effective July 1, 2025.

Previously the research coordinator at the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and editor-in-chief of the Forum for Ukrainian Studies, Dr. Pankieiev is highly respected for his academic scholarship, extensive publications, and recent development of the SLAV 399 – Contemporary Ukraine & Media Representation course.

A longtime advocate for community outreach, Dr. Pankieiev brings boardroom expertise from his leadership with The Friends of the Ukrainian Folklore Centre, the Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian Studies, and the Alberta Ukrainian Film Festival, where he has fostered creative exchange between filmmakers in Ukraine and Canada.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Oleksandr Pankieiev and celebrating his new role in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta!

Вітаємо! Welcome!

06/30/2025

A Heartfelt Farewell to Dr. Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn

With deep gratitude, we thank Dr. Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn for her visionary leadership at the Kule Folklore Centre (KuFC). As she steps down from her roles, we reflect on the remarkable achievements and vibrant community spirit that flourished under her guidance.

Under Dr. Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn’s direction, the Centre successfully implemented numerous community-oriented initiatives and deepened its connections with donors and supporters. Among other achievements, it hosted the moving exhibition “One Man, Talents Many…” at ArtsHub Ortona and presented the Canadian premiere of “UKE: The Untold Story of Hockey Legends,” bringing together art lovers, hockey fans, and our community. She championed academic success, supporting students who defended their Master’s theses and launching the new “Folklore and Digital Media” course. Dr. Sembaliuk Cheladyn also guided the growth of the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives and strengthened partnerships, such as with the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, to preserve our heritage.

Thank you, Dr. Sembaliuk Cheladyn, for your dedication, passion, and tireless efforts in connecting our community and preserving our heritage. We look forward to your continued contributions to Ukrainian folklore and the world of research!

Дякуємо,
With gratitude and admiration,
Kule Folklore Centre team

06/28/2025

KuFC is coming to the Vegreville Pysanka Festival!

Join us at the Vegreville Pysanka Festival, July 4–6, 2025, where the Kule Folklore Centre (KuFC) presents a truly special exhibit!

With the "Love Letters from the Past..." exhibit, you'll discover the heartfelt stories of courtship, companionship, and family life through authentic love letters, memoirs, family photographs, and historical publications—all shared in English, Ukrainian, and French.

Bring your family, friends, and stories—and let’s celebrate our heritage together!

Learn more about the Love Letters exhibit:
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/kule-folklore-centre/research/past-projects/love-letters-exhibit.html
Visit the Pysanka Festival website:
https://www.pysankafestival.com/

06/28/2025

Check Out Our Marketplace for Kule Reads!📚

Today, we would like to present to you a Ukrainian-language book with excellent photo examples from our Marketplace:

👉Традиції і Життєдіяльність Етносу: На Матеріалах Святково-Обрядової Культури Українців / Traditions and the Life of an Ethnos: Based on Ukrainian Festive-Ritual Culture

By Valentyna Borysenko

Written by a professor from the Faculty of History at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, this book offers a scholarly and in-depth look at Ukrainian festive-ritual culture.

It explores the transformation and revival of traditional customs at the turn of the 20th century, while also addressing the gradual loss of key ethnocultural elements.

It is a valuable resource for students, educators, and anyone interested in Ukrainian cultural heritage.

Price: 15$

Language: Ukrainian

👉Follow the link to order: https://marketplace.ualberta.ca/products/tradytsii-i-zhyttiediialnist-etnosu

06/25/2025

Vegreville Pysanka Festival 2025 is almost here!

Get in the spirit—watch the story behind the giant Pysanka in our mini-documentary created by the Legacy Films.

When people think of Vegreville, Alberta, many people will also think of the giant Pysanka (egg) that draws visitors here from all across Canada.But why is t...

06/19/2025

Did you know the Kule Folklore Centre (KuFC) Archives offer easy-to-use Finding Guides? 👀😯

Use the finding guides to browse the archive collections — click on the category that interests you.

🔗Access Finding Guides here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/kule-folklore-centre/bmufa-archives/subject-guides/index.html

06/15/2025

We extend heartfelt thanks to the community members and generous donors who support the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives.

Your contributions - whether through time, knowledge, artefacts, or funding - help preserve Ukrainian heritage and make meaningful research possible.

Thank you! Дякуємо!🇺🇦🇨🇦

- Archives for Everyone!

06/14/2025

To wrap up Archival Week, we want to give a heartfelt shout out to the dedicated team behind the scenes—without them, our Archives simply wouldn’t function!

Scroll through the photos to get introduced to our Archival team! 🤩

We thank our current team—Dr. Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn (Curator), Nataliia Yesypenko (Archivist), Eric Fincham, Marta Dvuliat, and Emily Simon—and to all those who have contributed to the Archives in the past.

You help keep Ukrainian heritage alive for our community!

- Archives for Everyone!

06/12/2025

How do you actually access information from the BMUFA? 🧐

We provide both in-person and online access to our extensive collections!

Review the video and the complementary write-up below to learn more.👇

💻 VISITING ONLINE:

We provide online access to our archival and special museum collections through several platforms.

▪️Our primary archival database is Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives, available at www.archives.ukrfolk.ca. The video shows our step-by-step instructions for accessing it. Whether you’re researching family history, exploring Ukrainian culture, or just curious, we make it easy to connect with our collections from anywhere.

▪️Also, the Aviary sound platform at the University of Alberta provides access to one of our largest collections Local Culture and Diversity on Prairies project collection. It contains about 400 interviews, which is about 800 hours of audio recordings: https://ualberta.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1776

👥 VISITING IN PERSON:

Visiting the Archives in person allows you to read and explore our unique materials firsthand. For that, simply schedule an appointment by emailing us at [email protected].

🧐IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVIEW THE BMUFA ARTIFACTS COLLECTION ONLINE?

YES! The BMUFA houses a special artifacts collection that complements the archival holdings. This collection includes items such as paintings, musical instruments, textiles, and ceramic decal. These artifacts are available for viewing during in-person visits and online at https://collections.ukrfolk.ca/

Enjoy using the archives!
- Archives for Everyone! ICA International Council on Archives

06/11/2025

Now that you’ve learned about the history of the BMUFA, why not experience it for yourself?

Where is the BMUFA?

From the University LRT Station, take a short walk to the Kule Folklore Centre—you’ll find us on the first floor of the Old Arts Building. If you’d like a little extra guidance, follow our video guide to help you along the way.

- Archives for Everyone