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	CANADA: INTERNEES REMEMBERED AT DAUPHIN'S UKRAINIAN NATIONAL FESTIVAL IN CANADA, SCULPTURE UNVEILED Sculpture: "Behind Canadian Barbed Wire"
	Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Calgary, Alberta, Canada Monday, 4 August 2003 A crowd of hundreds of visitors attending Dauphin's National Ukrainian Festival this weekend past witnessed the unveiling of a sculpture hallowing the memory of the thousands of Ukrainians and other Europeans unjustly imprisoned as "enemy aliens" during Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920. The new statue is called "Behind Canadian Barbed Wire" and was unveiled at the "Selo Ukraina" Memorial Park, in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Created by Kingston area sculptor, John Boxtel, the three figures portray the profound emotions that those caught up during this tragic episode in Canadian history experienced. While the central figure shows defiance, he is flanked by another man whose despair at the indignity of his needless confinement is portrayed by how he hides his face in shame. Unveiling of a new statue of Ukrainian Canadian internees, at the "Selo Ukraina" Memorial Park, in Dauphin, Manitoba, 2 August 2003. The statue is called "Behind Canadian Barbed Wire." The group responsible for seeing this project to completion are shown, from left to right: John Boxtel (sculptor), Dr Lubomyr Luciuk, (UCCLA), Inky Mark, MP (Dauphin-Swan River), Peter Bilash (Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Committee) and Borys Sydoruk (UCCLA) Photo by Lynda Mark (Click on images to enlarge them) To his right stands an internee who, in contrast, has somehow endured the wartime hysteria and racism that precipitated the internment operations and now stands proudly confident of his future. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association's (UCCLA) director of research, Dr Lubomyr Luciuk, thanked those whose efforts had gone into making this event possible, in particular Dauphin's own Peter Bilash, head of the Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Committee, and Inky Mark, MP (Dauphin -Swan River), remarking that the latter "is the best friend the Ukrainian Canadian community has today in the Parliament of Canada, for he has consistently supported our efforts to see justice done." Dr. Luciuk also told those attending that, over the past several months, the Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, has initiated a series of high level meetings aimed at crafting a reconciliation settlement acceptable to the community, an effort for which she should be thanked, even if negotiations are still in progress. Concluding, UCCLA's representative stated, "We must not only remember what our ancestors accomplished in Canada, but also what they needlessly suffered during this country's first national internment operations. As well, it is critical that we, as a community, rally around the just cause of securing official recognition of what happened and appropriate commemorative and educational programs by way of redress. "We have not done so to date in part because we as a community, out of fear, ignorance or indifference, have ourselves largely forgotten what happened to the men, women and children who were interned. We must also accept some measure of responsibility for the fact that many other Canadians still do not know what the internees suffered. "Now is the time for us to come together to see this issue settled, regardless of where we live, when we or our predecessors came to Canada or what church or organization they belonged to. In unity is our strength." The group responsible for seeing the project to completion were John Boxtel (sculptor), Dr Lubomyr Luciuk, (UCCLA), Inky Mark, MP (Dauphin-Swan River), Peter Bilash (Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Committee) and Borys Sydoruk (UCCLA). For more information please contact: Dr. L. Luciuk, Director of Research, UCCLA, (613) 546-8364, or visit the website at  www.uccla.ca. FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY

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