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In its fourth year, the CIUS Research Grant for the Study of Indigenous-Ukrainian Relations in Canada has been awarded to Ukrainian Canadian artist Lianna Makuch for her project “Kohkom’s Babushka.”

Makuch’s research aims to explore the historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and Ukrainian communities in Canada through the lens of theatre and storytelling. Specifically, it will examine how shared histories, cultural exchanges, and reconciliation efforts can be expressed and understood through performing arts. The study will contribute to the development of Kohkom’s Babushka, a new theatre piece that she is co-writing with Métis playwright Joleen Ballendine. 

Kohkom’s Babushka follows two girls, one Métis and one Ukrainian. When feuding tweens Paulette and Natalia are forced to team up to protect a beloved neighbourhood tree from being cut down, they are accidentally transported back to the turn of the 20th century, witnessing the first interactions between Métis communities and the earliest wave of Ukrainian immigrants. Caught in an unfamiliar world, the girls must reconcile their differences in order to find their way home.

“As an artist, my career has been dedicated to bringing Ukrainian stories, both from the diaspora and the country itself, to Canadian stages. My previous plays have explored heritage, ancestry, and the current strife caused by Russian imperialism. With Kohkom’s Babushka, I am expanding this focus to tell the story of Ukrainian emigration and its unique settler dynamic on Turtle Island. Ukrainian immigrants are perceived to have contributed to ‘building’ this country and shaping its character, yet their role as settlers remains underexamined in the context of reconciliation. This project presents an opportunity to explore these complex dynamics, fostering dialogue about the intersections of settler history and Indigenous experiences, and offering an innovative approach to discussing settler-Indigenous relations with intergenerational audiences.

“I was inspired to apply for this grant because it offers a unique and timely opportunity to pursue research that is otherwise difficult to undertake: a deep exploration of Ukrainian settler narratives in relation to Indigenous histories, carried out through the collaborative lens of theatre-making. Few existing funding streams support such specific cross-cultural inquiry, particularly work that bridges diaspora identity with reconciliation and decolonization.

“Although my Ukrainian family did not arrive during the earliest wave of immigration, I recognize how our presence as settlers has shaped our community and how it has benefitted from this land. This project feels particularly relevant today, as Canada becomes home to many newcomer Ukrainians.

“I hope to create an opportunity for audiences to untangle old narratives and contribute to building a more just and equitable future together.”

Lianna Makuch is a Ukrainian Canadian theatre artist whose work bridges cultural storytelling and contemporary performance. She has traveled extensively in Ukraine to research and develop new work, earning recognition from both professional theatre and Ukrainian communities.

Lianna’s recent involvement with the (IURI) has deeply informed this work. She was invited to participate in land-based research at Métis Crossing and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, where participants immersed themselves in Métis and Ukrainian traditions while building relationships across communities. Lianna co-organized and facilitated the round-table workshop “Storying Indigenous-Ukrainian-Canadian Relationships,” which brought together leading voices to reflect on the intersections of our histories and futures. 

The project aims to be completed in 2026.

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The CIUS Research Grant for the Study of Indigenous-Ukrainian Relations in Canada is funded from the Stasiuk Family Endowment Fund at CIUS. This award is offered in affiliation with the , a joint initiative of the and the Kule Folklore Centre at the ��������.