The Doukhobor Living Book Project
Doukhobor Living Book Project Wins National History Award!
We are honoured and humbled to share with you the exciting news that the Saskatchewan Doukhobor Living Book Project has been awarded one of Canada’s top history prizes: the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums: History Alive!
For more information about the award please visit the following links:
- Award announcement on Canada’s History website
- Press release from Canada’s History
- Blog post from Western Development Museum
Media coverage of the award:
- Global TV Saskatoon: Local exhibit exploring the past wins Governor General award
- Saskatoon StarPhoenix: Oral history on Sask. Doukhobors wins prestigious Governor General's History Award
- UofS News: USask researcher, alumna recognized with top history prize for innovative Doukhobor project
- Radio-Canada: Une exposition du Western Development Museum remporte un prix de la Gouverneure générale
Documentary Film Available on YouTube!
High definition digital version of "We've Concluded Our Assembly: The Saskatchewan Doukhobors" available now on our YouTube Channel.
DVD copies of the film (along with special bonus Audio CD of traditional Doukhobor singing and booklet with Russian and English lyrics) are available for special order by mail. Please contact us if you are interested.
All proceeds from the sale of our documentary film will go towards supporting the significant production costs for this not-for-profit project.
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In 1899 over 7,500 Doukhobors first settled in what would become the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They were refugees fleeing persecution in Russia for their religious beliefs, including their pacifist principles and refusal to serve in the Tsar's army. The not-for-profit Saskatchewan Doukhobor Living Book Project was launched in 2016 by Ryan Androsoff and Ashleigh Androsoff, descendants of the original group of Doukhobors that immigrated to Canada. The mission of the project is to preserve the oral history and spiritual traditions of the Saskatchewan Doukhobor community for future generations.
The project title comes from the Doukhobor concept of the “Living Book”, and our sincere hope is that this website will become a truly “living” resource that will continue to grow over time. The two major products have been produced as part of this initiative are:
Documentary Film: “We’ve Concluded Our Assembly: The Saskatchewan Doukhobors”
This 90-minute film contains interviews with 30 members of the Saskatchewan Doukhobor community, and through their voices this documentary film tells the story of how the Saskatchewan Doukhobor community has evolved since arriving in Canada. The film also incorporates archival footage and photographs, as well as a recording of a Doukhobor prayer service featuring their unique a cappella style of choral singing. (Click here to view the trailer for the film)
Spirit Wrestler Soundscape
In partnership with the Western Development Museum and the University of Saskatchewan, an exhibit about the history and spirituality of the Saskatchewan Doukhobors has been developed. The centrepiece of this exhibit is the immersive Spirit Wrestler Soundscape that allows visitors to experience how Doukhobors in Saskatchewan practice their faith and their unique style of choral singing through an audio/visual recreation of a ‘Moleniye’ (prayer service). The exhibit and soundscape is being initially hosted by the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, where it launched in June 2019 and will be open to the public until October 20, 2019. (Click here for a video tour of the Soundscape)
Support the Saskatchewan Doukhobor Living Book Project
We are continuing to raise funds to cover the considerable costs involved in a professional-quality project of this magnitude. We are aiming to raise an additional $20,000 to cover all of our production costs for this project. Individual donations to support this important work are still being accepted, and any amount helps!
