OO: There was no famine in Belarus. Chernihiv oblast is not far from Belarus. Do you know what a kufaika is? It’s a warm vest, without sleeves. My late father used to hide the makhorka in his kufaika. Do you know what makhorka is?

Interviewer – Tobacco.

OO: Yes, tobacco, but tobacco is cut, and makhorka is pounded. It was sold in packages, but peasants made their own makhorka. They would pound it in a mortar, and take it to [Belarus] and trade it for dried crackers, dried bread, or perhaps some grain – millet, barley or oats. [My father] went several times. I was only seven years old. I’ve told you about what I lived through and I don’t wish that anyone live through what I lived through. I don’t ever want to hear [my sister’s] words – “I know I’m going to die but I don’t want to die hungry.” Those words are here, [in my heart]. I don’t need to remember them. They’re written in [my heart]. They’re saved in here. [My sister] was [small] like this. I held her by her hand, we walked together. We ate grass.

Oleksiy Ohienko

Date of birth: 20 March 1925

Place of birth: Ladan village, Chernihiv oblast

Witnessed Famine in: Ladan village, Chernihiv oblast

Arrived in Canada: 1960

Current residence: Hamilton, Ontario

Date and place of interview:  1 August 2008, Hamilton

Excerpt From Full Interview