The program at the Heritage Day held at the National Doukhobor Heritage Village on Sunday was an event that included musical elements of not only the Doukhobors, but also of gospel, Ukrainians and First Nations.
The afternoon program in the hall, for which Linda Osachoff of Canora served as emcee, began with songs by the National Doukhobor Heritage Choir which included persons from several district communities.
Osachoff, who read greetings from the Saskatoon Doukhobor Society, performed on the accordion, and then introduced Kindred Spirits, comprised of Joanne Klimchuk of Hampton and Sandi Solonenko of Dneiper.
Rich Chernoff and Friends of Kamsack, a gospel group which had Chernoff on guitar being accompanied by Diane Hilton, Cindy Hoffert and Maureen Holoboff performed several numbers.
Members of the Kamsack Community Choir, under the direction of Susan Bear and accompanied by Marilyn Marsh, reprised several selections from their Colour My World concert in June during the Heritage Day program at Veregin on Sunday.
Bringing much humour to the gathering were “cousins” Nadia and Tania, dressed in colourful kerchiefs and aprons, telling jokes in broad Slavic accents. Nadia is Nadia
Reibin of Veregin, and Tania of the Modderlands is Gloria Stushnoff of Melfort.
Yorkton Tribal Council Chief Isabel O’Soup of The Key First Nation, spoke briefly about the struggles to maintain one’s culture, and then James Chartrand of Pelly performed several selections between short discussions of culture and one’s identity.
The program concluded with more selections by the National Doukhobor Heritage Choir.
