Penal Battalion Survivors, 1959
Video from film
1959
 
 
While not of a music nature, we at DoukhoborMusic felt this video was too important to ignore.
 

In 1959, John Soloveoff and Sam Horkoff with a small entourage from Grand Forks ventured to Saskatchewan where they filmed events in Saskatchewan during Petro Dien. It brought them to Blaine Lake, a memorial at the University of Saskatchewan dedicated to Doukhobor singing with several of the choirs, a choir performance and prayer meeting in Kylemore, a choir in Canora, a prayer meeting and prayer home in Verigin, and the prayer home and choir in Kamsack.

One very interesting section of the film was actual interviews with some of the survivors of the 1895 burning of the arms repercussions, and these men's experiences. The film was in Sam's possession since 1959, but had very little exposure to the public. Though seen from time to time, no one volunteered to incur expenses to do anything with it so the film sat idle.

In 2016, Sam lent the film to DoukhoborMusic.ca with the understanding that funds might be raised to transfer the film to digital, and if successful, the now-digital film could be improved in quality. Canvassing began for support and was successful in raising sufficient funds to do the transfer - and the film was returned to Mr. Horkoff.

Realizing the film needed an English translation for maximum exposure and effectiveness to show to the general public, Russian-to-English translation expert Natasha Jmieff offered her expertise. In 2017 volunteers were rounded up to over-dub English voice parts to this historic film.

These British Columbians should be recognized for their financial contribution:

Mike and Nina Jmieff, Tim Jmieff, Larry Kimoff,
Fred Makortoff, Peter & Shirley Relkoff, Walter Swetlishoff