Thunder Bay is asking for help to send a group of First Nations dancers and drummers to Jiaozuo, China. The city’s Aboriginal Liason Unit is looking for $21,000 Cdn to cover the remainder of the costs.
The 10 artists will perform at an international tai chi competition. Mary Magiskan, one of the dancers, said it is an opportunity for cultural exchange.
“Sometimes we don’t think big enough.”
“We’re going to show them our dance and the pow wow … and they’re going to show us their tai chi … and what they’re going to get out of it is just more acknowledgement … of how First Nations people dance,” she said.
Youlian Peng teaches tai chi and is working to twin Thunder Bay with Jiaozuo as sister cities. He is leading the trip, and views the cultural exhchange as a benefit to everyone.
“I deal with lots of aboriginal youth. They come to Thunder Bay, they feel lost, they feel shocked,” said Peng. “We just want them to see an even bigger picture and believe in themselves.”
The cultural exchange can benefit everyone, he said. “One day you pow wow on Mount McKay, how ’bout on the Great Wall?”
“So I think it’s really good for building on the future and meanwhile attract more Chinese youth to get them more interested in the culture here so they will visit here.”
“The city needs to build its profile on the world stage,” Peng added.
“Sometimes we don’t think big enough.”
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