Importance of the Heritage and Decolonization Efforts: Reflection on Keynote Lecture by Dora Chomiak
by Yelyzaveta Kukharuk
Yelyzaveta Kukharuk is a rising senior at ‘Iolani School, Hawaii, from Rivne, Ukraine. She is a scholar at Ukraine Global Scholars, a non-profit organization that helps Ukrainian students apply to institutions worldwide, and founder of the ‘Io for Ukraine community in Hawaii. She is the lead representative of the foreign student mentors for SaveED’s initiative UActive, where she mentored two Ukrainian teams developing, presenting, and implementing projects on rebuilding their schools and town communities. She is also a Hawaii state-recognized author of research on religious oppression in Ukraine under the U.S.S.R., a climate activist, and a proud Ukrainian. |
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I am honored to be Ukrainian. Even though I have been studying abroad for two years already, my admiration and dedication to my nation have been constant motivators to find ways to raise awareness about Ukraine, its people, and its culture abroad—even in such remote places as the islands of Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
I was excited to join the 2024 Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program Conference and learn more about what I can do as a proud Ukrainian to bring peace closer to my people and achieve a systemic decolonization of Ukraine and its culture. Particularly interesting was hearing the perspective of Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine, the largest advocacy group for Ukraine in the United States. Highlighting the organization’s efforts to support Ukraine since 2014, it is vital to note that they raised over $100 million since 2022 and expanded the legacy of advocacy programs to influence US elected leaders.
Chomiak herself has Ukrainian roots but hasn’t been able to live in Ukraine for most of her life. As she noted, however, every action requires an understanding of what makes this particular action so important. So, exploring her heritage and visiting Ukraine personally to experience the lifestyle and the effects of the historical precedents of colonization of Ukraine became one of the most crucial drivers of her current work at Razom. Reflecting on Chomiak's journey, I was reminded of my connection to the struggle for cultural and linguistic sovereignty, which led to my efforts in advocacy for Ukraine abroad.
Growing up in northwest Ukraine, I was surrounded by the omnipresence of the Russian language despite not being spoken at home. Russian-dominated movies, social media, and music created a background noise that became so familiar that it was almost unnoticeable. My experiences with Russian-speaking dancing coaches from Israel and Moldova, who used Russian as their primary language while living in Ukraine, mirrored the broader paradox of linguistic imperialism. In school, I was encouraged to recite Russian poems and praised for my efforts despite my mispronunciations and awkward phrasing. With its promoted “richness” and “depth,” the Russian language was considered superior, which instilled a sense of inferiority in my native Ukrainian.
Chomiak’s stories about building independent media in Ukraine during the early 1990s illuminated the complexities and challenges of decolonization. When she first arrived in Ukraine in the early '90s, the country was in a nascent state of independence, grappling with its Soviet past. Journalists had the skills and expertise to tell their stories but lacked the tools and platforms to make their voices heard. State-run media was all-powerful, with limited access to essential equipment like editing suites, cameras, and airwaves. Supply lines were disrupted, and important items such as copy paper required arduous overnight train journeys to procure from Moscow. Thus, as a part of her early decolonizing efforts, she began to work at the Renaissance Foundation, part of the Soros Foundation, getting involved in shipping computers, fax machines, and printers from the United States to Ukraine, enabling local journalists to begin the arduous process of expanding their media platforms.
The suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture was a recurring theme in Chomiak’s keynote lecture, resonating deeply with my experiences. Growing up, I kept my language in my heart, seeing, hearing, and feeling it along with speaking it. Despite the dominance of Russia in media and social interactions, I strived to maintain my Ukrainian identity. The paradox of being encouraged to excel in Russian while my dancing coaches and peers rarely attempted to speak Ukrainian highlights the deeply ingrained linguistic hierarchy. The Revolution of Dignity in 2014 marked a turning point in Ukraine's history, igniting a renewed sense of national pride and a collective effort to reclaim our cultural and linguistic heritage. Since then, more and more people have become aware of Ukraine's harsh past and joined the effort to promote Ukraine’s independence from Russian indirect and direct influence. The ongoing war brought by Russia has further galvanized this movement, reminding us of the hundreds of years of Ukrainian fights for freedom and its language. The question is, how long would such a trend last?
Chomiak’s impact on promoting the interests of the Ukrainian people abroad inspired me to take proactive steps to preserve the momentum of increasing awareness about Ukraine and its history. Last year, I initiated a team of seven people from ‘Iolani School, Hawaii, to become mentors for Ukrainian teams participating in UActive—a project supported by SaveED and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine. As part of this program, international students from Hawaii shared their experiences in project management and youth activism. They supported Ukrainian students in developing projects in their towns in Mykolaiv oblast to rebuild their schools and communities affected by the war. Moreover, by founding a Ukrainian society in Hawaii—‘Io for Ukraine, I could help people on the island learn more about Ukrainian culture by participating in Ukrainian traditional art workshops or honoring fallen Ukrainian heroes by attending the “Unissued Diploma” exhibition at our school.
Dora Chomiak emphasized that it has been crucial to observe how Ukraine has modernized and adapted to its inherited systems while maintaining a strong sense of independence. Razom works with Ukrainians to identify needs and provide physical goods and expertise to address them. She described a training program for medical professionals in Ukraine, where they learn how to use portable ultrasounds and collaborate with colleagues from other hospitals. She also highlighted the importance of collaboration between NGOs in Ukraine, including a joint chat for communication and resource sharing, and how it helped respond to the Kakhovka Dam bombing.
Reflecting on possible actions to support Ukraine, one could take several more initiatives. Reaching out to US campuses with Ukraine groups could foster a more robust support network. Finding the rescue organization Rescue Now and inquiring about their SEEDS project can provide insight into effective aid strategies. Putting creative works made by Ukrainians in front of audiences and training medical professionals on donated equipment while fostering connections are practical steps. Additionally, getting a copy of "20 Days in Mariupol" for your school library by scanning a QR code can help spread awareness and educate others about the realities Ukrainians face.
Chomiak’s call to action was clear: “We'll keep working together; we'll keep working Razom towards the shared goal of Ukraine.” Her dedication to advocating for Ukraine on a global stage has shown me that we can make a difference no matter where we are. As a member of the Ukrainian community in Hawaii, I am committed to supporting Ukraine and preserving our cultural and linguistic heritage for future generations.