New Mexico Ukrainian ancestry information from the 1990 census and from recent data provided by the Ukrainian embassy and consular missions indicated that we have well in excess of 2,000 Americans of Ukrainian background living here. Their educational and cultural needs and wellbeing need to be adequately served.
The Ukrainian story, both historical and contemporary, should be supported, told and developed along the other traditional, ethnic and indigenous cultures living in New Mexico so that all would understand the contributions New Mexicans of Ukrainian heritage have, are and will contribute to the prosperity of our state and nation.
Therefore, the purpose of our organization is to:
- recognize and support the contributions that Americans of Ukrainian ancestry have made and continue to make for the wellbeing and prosperity of New Mexico
- develop a strong educational and cultural resource assisting Ukrainian Americans in New Mexico in furthering their professional skills for the betterment of the culture and economy of New Mexico
- establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with charitable, historical, artistic, literary, performing arts, religious, scientific, medical, educational and government institutions in Ukraine, facilitate information exchanges and programs between such New Mexican and Ukrainian institutions
- preserve, foster, educate and promulgate a greater understanding of Ukraine’s history, current events and continued contributions to peace and understanding between nations, for the struggle for human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of artistic and creative expression, national sovereignty and independence from tyranny
- organize and conduct educational and practical seminars, courses, meetings and workshops on topics of interest related to the stated purposes of the organization
Our start in 2018
Ukrainian Americans of New Mexico Inc. was founded by Nataliya Edelman, George Klapischak and Stephen Welhasch on November 1, 2018 pursuant to the domestic NM Non-Profit Corporation Act, NM Secretary of State registration number 5770661, NM Tax and Revenue number CRS 03-420225-00-0, Federal EIN 83-2575748, NAICS code 813410 Civic & Social Organizations (978) and Grantmaking & Giving Services (974).
The decision to seek formal organization came after our community organized the first Ukrainian Independence Day commemoration at the Albuquerue Civic Center on August 24. We were honored to to be permitted to assemble there by Mayor Tim Keller who also issued a formal proclamation in support.
Immediately following incorporation, the newly formed UANM executive board proceeded writing and adopting bylaws, building the uanm.life website, creating brochures and leaflets, vehicle license plates, questionnaires for prospective members to get the word out. One of our first important outreach meetings was with Olha Yurkiw of the “Stop Fake” media and journalism investigation collective of Ukraine during the Journalism Under Fire conference hosted by the Santa Fe Council of International Relations. We also held our first solemn service to commemorate the Holodomor, the artificial genocidal famine that killed over 7 million Ukrainians in 1932-1933, courtesy of Stalin and the Communist Party of the USSR.
2019
Beginning the new year we held the 1st and 2nd general membership meetings, presented the recently adopted bylaws to the attendees and then prepared the traditional Ukrainian Christmas eve 12 course Sviat Vechir meal to bring families ad friends closer together.
Community interaction activities continued in supporting the US State Dept’s cultural exchange program’s efforts bringing Ukrainian musical talent here to New Mexico by attending the public performances by “Pralnia” and “Kurbasy”. We also co-produced the Dnipro based dance ensemble “Radist’”. In May we organized and sponsored the first ever Skype based teleconference between independent New Mexican and Ukrainian film makers based here and in Kyiv, pioneering greater cooperation and exchange of ideas and technology between the New Mexico Film Foundation, the University of New Mexico and the Ukrainian National University of Theater Arts named for Karpenko-Kariy. This event was integrated in our first Ukrainian film festival presented at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque in May, coinciding with worldwide celebrations of the International Day of Vyshyvanka. Over 20 films from Ukraine were screened- documentaries, animation, shorts and a feature- the program was well attended and critically praised. Along with this presentation we prepared tasty Ukrainian meals for the participants – over 400 handmade varenyky, borshch, main courses and desserts. Also highlighted was an exhibit of Ukrainian folk art and the contemporary oils, pastels and watercolors by our members. For the first time in the history of New Mexico, Ukrainian Independence Day was twice celebrated in a major public performance space. We also commemorated the Holodomor tragedy with a solemn panakhyda and evening of presentation of film, books, and oral recollections of this holocaust of 1932-33.
Our other events well attended during the year were the New Year’s Malanka and the two master classes in art and in pysanka making and art therapy instruction.
In an effort to attract more resources to our community, we sent request to both the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church to establish parishes here in NM.
We also entered into formal communication with the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco.
Within the organization we bolstered the inclusiveness provisions of our bylaws by adding in a member bill of rights.
2020
The start of the COVID 19 epidemic affected our growth trajectory as the quarantine measures restricted face to face activities to some extent, though not entirely. During the year our organization still managed to reach out to the Canadian Congress of Ukrainians in support of our Ukrainian Independence Day here in New Mexico, put on a St Nicholas event for the children during the traditional Christmas Nativity play, celebrate Easter outdoors in Roosevelt Park in ABQ and commemorate International Ukrainian Vyshyvanka (Embroidery) Day.
2021
As the Covid lockdown continued, our organization kept alive to the extent permitted. To support our Indigenous Native citizens we placed a congratulatory message in the local Pasatiempo arts and culture magazine and in Ukrainiain language newspapers nationally for the 99th year of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts market.
For Ukrainian Independence Day we organized a car rally from Albuquerque to the Roundhose in Santa Fe and then back to Roosevelt Park to gather for a commemoration prayer and picnic.
Our organization began communication with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America to explore forming a local branch here in preparation for their 100th anniversary.
During the year one of our members created a series of videos on Ukrainian themes to help educate the public on traditional themes which are significant to the Ukrainian world view, including one named “Christmas in the dark” to support Ukraine by helping bring public awareness to the constant black-outs in Ukraine created by war. We also organized a booth at the International Music Event in Albuquerque in support of the Ukrainian music Group DAKHA BRAKHA’s performance there.
2022
Immediately following the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, our letters went out to all pertinent government representatives in Washington DC as well as to NM State leaders promising UANM’s readiness to help refugees and provide other emergency care and resources as required, to help ease the strain on services provided by taxpayers. Collection boxes were set up at key points for medicine and warm clothes for refugee resettlement here and for shipping to Ukraine and displaced persons camps in Europe.
Internally, our board voted unanimously to provide humanitarian financial assistance on a case by case basis to persons known to us that have remained in Ukraine under extreme duress. One board member proposed sending help a young man who chose not to save himself by fleeing a bombed out apartment building in the war torn town of Bucha but remained to help feed and care for several older women in that building who could not leave and were left behind by their families. Another board member who formerly worked at the Chornobyl nuclear plant which has been occupied by Russian forces, requested support for a group of families of nuclear engineering specialists held prisoner by the enemy in the town of Slavutych so that they could keep maintaining the Chernobyl sarcophagus from catching fire or blowing up again. Both donations were approved unanimously and also other board members contributed privately to the Slavutych group.
The NMPBS airing by NMPBS of interviews with some of our members was well received, as was the photo spread article by photographer Eddie Moore of the Albuquerque newspaper on individual stories of select Ukrainian Americans living here. Members of our board served as translators of live feed interviews with cultural activists and artists transmitting directly from Ukraine war zones to the NMPBS studios.
One of our board members was a featured speaker at the UNM sponsored Ukraine conference held at the University, while another board member was interviewed several times on FM radio in Chama to provide news and background on the invasion. During the course of the year, other board members were interviewed by every local ABQ radio and TV outlet, and we also took part in fundraisers at the Tumbleroot Restaurant in Santa Fe and at the New Mexico Actors Lab (English Poetry Reading of Ukrainian poets and authors)
Responding to further calls for help, a charity spaghetti dinner was held by a group of ladies from Socorro toward which the board approved the purchase of ingredients. Another New Mexican citizen contributed beautiful hand made quilts to be auctioned off while another local entrepreneur began contributing a portion of the sale of her beauty and cosmetic products toward relief efforts. A Go Fund me site was set up to expand disaster relief collection efforts.
Our NM community was honored to receive two proclamations from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham – one remembering the Holodomor genocide and the other commemorating Ukrainian Independence Day.
This year we celebrated UA Independence Day in Santa Fe in August with singing, traditional food offerings and a dance performance and later held a public Holodomor vigil at Santa Fe Plaza.
To further a deeper understanding of the position Ukrainian culture holds on the world stage, we sponsored the screening of Serhiy Parajanov’s classic “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” movie at Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, accompanied by an exhibit of museum quality traditional embroidered garments, musical instruments and folkloric items.
Our board members supported fundraising events at Altar Spirits (Santa Fe) and Bow and Arrow Breweries (Albuquerque) to help NM engineers develop a prototype of a heavy-duty, unique drone oriented toward facilitating emergency medical evacuation. We supported the International Music Event in Albuquerque by attending Ukrainian music Group DAKHA BRAKHA’s performance.
Taking and editing a video named “Christmas in a dark” to support Ukraine and bring public awareness to black-outs in Ukraine created by war.
Our organization and supporting community were invited onto the ice at the beginning of a ABQ based Icewolves hockey game where we sang the Ukrainian National Anthem and gave individual interviews to the arena crowd and television audience.
2023
On Wednesday, April 26 House Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey (Bernalillo, District 18), and Senator Brenda McKenna (Bernalillo and Sandoval, District 9) presented members of New Mexico’s Ukrainian American community with officially certified reproductions of memorials in support of Ukraine against Russian aggression. House Memorial 55, Supporting Ukraine Against Russian Aggression was sponsored by Chasey, House Speaker Javier Martinez, House Majority Caucus Leader Raymundo Lara, and House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski. The House passed HM 55 by consent, with a vote of 63-1, in the 2023 Legislative Session.
Senate Memorial 64, Supporting Ukraine Against Russian Aggression and Urging Russia to Immediately Cease its Attack–was introduced by Senators Brenda McKenna, Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Martin Hickey, Harold Pope, and Leo Jaramillo. The Senate passed SM 64 by a vote of 36-0. “These memorials express support for the Ukrainian leadership, military, and people against the attack by Vladimir Putin and his brutal mercenary affiliate, the Wagner Group; call attention to the horrific death and destruction inflicted on Ukraine by Russia’s unjustified war; and recognize the courage and determination of the Ukrainian President, military, and citizens in relentlessly fighting for their country, their freedom and independence, and for democracy,” Chasey said. HM 55 and SM 64 were transmitted to President Biden, the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, and the Ukrainian Embassy.
Soon afterward, in order to acquire several thousand mylar emergency blankets for the war victims left without heat or homes, we conducted a successful and well attended fundraising auction at the Santa Fe Brewing in Santa Fe.
As part of the city of Albuquerque entering into a Sister Cities partnership with the city of Kharkiv Ukraine this year, our organization formalized a working relationship with the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation to help promote each others’ events and initiatives. This cooperative effort allowed us to jointly celebrate a well attended Ukrainian Independence Day at the Congregation Albert meeting facility in Albuquerque.
2024
UANM was selected to receive a donation from the Faust Gallery in Santa Fe of Patrick Collins’ painting “Natives for Ukraine” depicting two indigenous women, with their horse, holding up a Ukrainian flag with the motto “Landback” written above them. We submitted the image of the painting to the government of Ukraine in the hopes of having it made into a postage stamp there.
This was also the first year that we sent a delegate to Washington DC for the American Coalition for Ukraine, a multi day advocacy effort before Congress, for meetings with representatives of the offices of our NM Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez and Congressman Gabe Vasquez to inform them of our existence, positions, and support back in NM, inviting them to our events in their home districts.
Our members attended the International Folk Art Museum’s activities related to Ukrainian oriented events which they staged during the year under their program Amidst Cries from Rubble: Art of Loss and Resilience in Ukraine – Marta Sirko’s photography workshop, Sofia Zielyk’s pysanka lecture, Serhii Polubotko’s Sunflowers of War metal sculptures, Yaroslava Tkachuk’s paintings, as well as the entire film series screening of 5 Ukrainian offerings presented in the fall and winter. During the summer International Folk Art Market we met with Tetiana Skoromna and Lesia Pona, both artists representing Ukraine. We also welcomed and outfitted with art materials the textile artist Andrii Naboka, addressed the audience at the screening of the Ukrainian film “Sisters of Ukraine” at the Santa Fe International Film Festival, met with the soloist Marta Kaliandruk and other performers of the Kyiv Ballet at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, attended the performance of bandurist Maryna Krut at the Paradiso Performance Space in Santa Fe, interviewed the highly decorated American Marine sniper Matthew Sampson who continues fighting within the ranks of the International Legion for Ukraine to request him as an honored speaker for our Independence Day commemoration event in ABQ, and spoke with Nella Domenici’s senatorial campaign staff to heighten their awareness of our NM Ukrainian American community when she ran for office.
UANM participated in Albuquerque Sister City Foundation’s official sendoff of the ABQ fire rescue ambulance delivery ceremony hosted by Mayor Tim Keller at the ABQ Fire Academy, and were at the forefront of booking the well received and attended NM Museum of Art and the Crossed Arrows Ranch performances for the UA Cultural Forces tour in Santa Fe and at the Kemo Theater in Albuquerque We also received a few Ukrainian themed items items from the estates of Henri Andrusko and Stephania Sydoriak, participated in Ruslan Alikperov’s Prosperity UA charity and the ABQ Sister Cities Foundation outreach to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in matters of establishing economic development initiatives between NM and Ukraine.
Alongside ABQ Sister Cities Foundation, we organized the anniversary commemoration of the russian invasion of Ukraine event at the ABQ Civic Center, a well attended event that was very well covered by the newspaper, TV and radio press.
2025
For the second year we sent a delegate to Washington DC for the week long American Coalition for Ukraine event to meet with our NM Congressional representatives.
Events we continued organizing this year were our traditional New Years Malanka for the children and the UA Independence Day commemoration in Albuquerque where we received Governor Muchelle Lujan Grisham’s proclamation honoring Ukraine’s independence and continued struggle for freedom to maintain it in the face of relentless attacks by hostile nations.
This year, however, marked the first time that we reached out to and supported Ukrainian events in Taos and in Alamogordo in order to broaden our reach and spread the message of our mission to a wider audience. We were very glad we did as we discovered new resources willing to help us in our work, and we in theirs.
Working closely with the city of Albuquerue’s culture dept and with the ABQ Sister Cities Foundation, we helped welcome Viktoria Saltova, the first Artist in Peril grant recipient to come to the US under that program, providing for her one year stay of respite for renewed creativity here in Albuquerque.
Our members attended all the International Folk Art Museum’s activities under their program Amidst Cries from Rubble: Art of Loss and Resilience in Ukraine- bandurist Julian Kytasty and the last of the film series screening latest Ukrainian offerings dealing with the war experience as it affects culture. During the International Folk Art Market we welcomed Tetiana Skoromna and Lesia Pona, both artists representing Ukraine. We also hosted and translated for the Ukrainian musical ensemble “Kurbasy” upon their return to NM, introducing them to the NMPBS program I-Colores during their stay.
We participated in the Global Ties conference at UNM and subsequent outreach to UNM’s International Studies leadership to promote support for and event/curriculum development of a Ukrainian studies program. We received favorable responses from several faculty members who await our proposals.
One of our board members served as on-site translator for the Brave Hearts UA equine healing program at Crossed Arrows Ranch in developing the pilot program in UA for returning veterans with PTSD and introduced the initiative to both our organization and to ABQ Sister Cities for support and adoption. Since returning to Ukraine the project has blossomed and gained support nationally while also being recognized internationally.
Our organization cooperated closely with both Global Ties and with ABQ Sister Cities Foundation in co-hosting two delegations from Ukraine invited here through the Congressional Office of International Leadership program in Washington DC. We were active in organizing these visits, program and logistics planning for both the Historic Preservation Strategies/ Building Community Resilience delegation and for the Cultural Theft Crime Prosecution delegation.
To continue supporting our members and community in their commercial endeavors, we set up a business directory to increase exposure on our UANM.life website.
We also hosted the successful first visit by the representatives of the Ukrainian consulate in Houston to New Mexico to meet with our Governor and with ABQ city government officials on the subject of discovering and developing economic development opportunities between New Mexico and Ukraine.