controversial figure skating dance

[shootingstar]

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/figure-skating/news/newsid=27440.html#skaters+native+dance+routine+draws Perhaps as one of their Olympic Games figure ice skating numbers for this Russian ice dance pair.

One thing for certain, there has been considerable effort by the Canadian Olympic organizers for direct aboriginal involvement and investment for employment, their artistic expressions (several information pavilions are set up, I went to one of them already.) making sure the torch relay goes through 100+ Canadian aboriginal based communities, etc.

My only comment is that contemporary artistic transformation based on traditional old artistic/ceremonial traditions works better, after a person first experiences directly in person the traditional art/other culture to understand the technique, cultural nuances first and meanings. And works with/speaks people of those other cultures, particularily in artistic understanding.

It's like making up Asian-fusion food dishes without even first, understanding core traditional Asian dishes, flavourings and techniques. (No wonder why there are some awful fusion dishes.)

Reading, viewing about another culture on the Internet isn't often enough. Cultural understanding particularily if it's different from ones' own, means truly experiencing a part of it for real. I think this is the unfortunate thing for the Russian ice skating duo on this dance number.

Anyway, there's lots of cool artistic performances lined up by Canadian Inuit, Metis and First Nations performers here for next few weeks.

[crazycanuck]

That ice skating routine upset a few Australian Aboriginal Elders & made the front page of the Australian the other day. It's not become a huge issue down here though....It might be discussed on a show called "Living Black" on SBS but I doubt it. No one cares about skating here...It's just cricket, cricket, cricket & the Australian Open.

I saw a snippet of it on the news & thought...They look like idiots & no white Australian would dare do that!!!!

[shootingstar]

Always good to hear from a (ex) Canuck in Aussieland. :)

These are the 4 First Nations groups/tribes (or the U.S. refers to as native Indians. First Nations) which Vancouver area and Whistler geographic land cover their territories:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/aboriginal-participation/success-stories/emblem-launch/unveiling-the-vancouver-2010-olympic-emblem_108930aB.html

At first I didn't like the Olympic emblem in terms of its design interpretation. I thought it looked weak. But I liked the choice of a inukshuk-like symbol (I forget the Olympic emblem's christened name.) itself in terms of symbolic meaning as a wayfinder, spirit of protection and from one of the aboriginal groups (Inuit) where their land is part of Canada.

[badger]

this is a bit off-topic, but going back to the Torino games' closing ceremonies, the show that Canada put on was definitely cringe-worthy. I"m surprised they even went that route of the inuit and the igloo. That's pretty much what the whole world imagines Canada to be, why instill that kind of stereotype?

[Ered_Lithui]

When I saw the thread title I was picturing Evgeni Plushenko: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIjRdYI-94
:)

[crazycanuck]

I like the idea of the Inukshuk symbol representing the Van olympics. Most people that i've met in Aust/NZ only associate Canada with the cold. Oddly enough i recieved an odd comment from an aussie friend the other day " I didn't know Canada was so beautiful"....

I really really hope that global television broadcasters during the games mention that there are other places in Canada besides Vancouver & Toronto. It annoys me that everywhere else in Canada doesn't seem to exist...:mad: :confused:

Btw...As far as I remember..didn't the opening ceremony @ the Sydney Olympics start w the dreamtime? Most people around the world have no clue what the dreamtime is & only associate Australia with Sydney,Sydney, Sydney :rolleyes: or Croc dundee :rolleyes: (a did you know moment-the real life gent that inspired Croc dundee was actually a drug addict amongst other things..)

[shootingstar]

this is a bit off-topic, but going back to the Torino games' closing ceremonies, the show that Canada put on was definitely cringe-worthy. I"m surprised they even went that route of the inuit and the igloo. That's pretty much what the whole world imagines Canada to be, why instill that kind of stereotype?

The aboriginal component is only part of the big picture-- you'll see badger, if one takes time to visit the free pavilions near home, there's only 2 aboriginal pavilions out of over 15 different pavilions each showcasing a Canadian province or a 'welcome' place (or foreign country, ie. Netherlands, Russia, etc.)

Some of the aboriginals do see it as opportunity to educate the public about their traditions/past/history while others prefer to more realistic presentation of what is happening now in their respective communities. I agree on both perspectives which must be delivered to the general public to get a well-rounded picture. I know dance, song, and all that cultural stuff is just feel-good stuff to absolve confronting realities of racism, etc., if people do not also accept sharing power in decision-making and mapping a mammoth project, like the Olympics.

After all, I wonder for those who walk through old, historic Chinatown: do they have any clue about the history about the Canadian Chinese ..NOT the Chinese in China? It is the most historic Chinatown in Canada in terms of historic richness. Someone has to take the initiative then, to explain to visitors then...not just sit back.

Today I just came back from free opening of the Museum of Anthropology for their retrofitted wing. Hey, it normally costs $14.00 per adult to get in. Some great dance and drumming performances. It was a rare opportunity for even local residents to see the 4 First Nations groups that occupy Metro Vancouver, showcasing their dance, music and singing. Several aboriginal elders expressed barely contained pride of being in the retrofitted wing and sharing their stuff, etc.

Instead of showing some great traditional west coast aboriginal art that is at the museum (and reinforcing more stereotypical images :)), here's something contemporary aboriginal in spirit. And it's sports related.

Explanation of the iconography on snowboard:

“The Challenger” is the for First Nations snowboard team. I’ve used Coast Salish
eyes to symbolize being watched, the Sxwayxway mask with the swirl to represent being in a state of awe and spiritual focus, and this specific to signify protection.”

Xwalacktun (Rick Harry), Swxwu7mesh


One wonders once the Russian couple comes to Vancouver, if they will be taken to some of these performances, meet the dancers and elders. One would hope. Otherwise not much new positive stuff is learned by them when already their dance routine has received international press before they got to Vancouver.

[shootingstar]

Crazy canuck, some British Columbians can be pretty snooty because they know there are some incredibly beautiful natural parts of the province which is used deliberately to showcase Canada's natural beauty. It is really irritating sometimes when there's not much ongoing interest here of stuff east the Kootnenay, Monashee mountains (I need a map, again)....which is west of the Rockies.

For an ex-Torontonian who still has her whole family in Toronto, here I see all sorts of gaps in misunderstanding and disinterest at times.

If one focused solely on the people in British Columbia, one wouldn't know that Toronto has a HUGE black population (more originally from the Carribbean, Africa though there were slaves in the late 1700's in Canada in Toronto area).

[crazycanuck]

Interesting article in today's Independent on Sunday

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/vancouver-gets-set-for-the-2010-winter-olympics-ndash-all-it-needs-now-is-snow-1876411.html

In regards to people asking me about Canada..I get all sorts of odd questions..." How do you manage when it's -40C??" umm..dress warmly & don't stick your tongue on anything metal :rolleyes:

Another classic...Which do you prefer -40C or +40C...there's not much of a difference really..they're both extremes & I stay inside if it's that hot/cold

Anywho...
What annoys me is overseas tourist's to Australia lack of interest in other places beyond Sydney, Uluru, Gold Coast & the Reef.....:rolleyes:

What won't change after the ollies is the general understanding of the conditions most Aboriginal Canadians live in....Sad that we turn a blind eye to East Hastings Street :(.

Nothing has really changed for the Aboriginal folks in Redfern(part of sydney) nor in regional Australia since the 2000 olympics. I know this isn't the place to bring this stuff up..:o

[shootingstar]

:rolleyes:

Another classic...Which do you prefer -40C or +40C...there's not much of a difference really..they're both extremes & I stay inside if it's that hot/cold
................................................................................................

Nothing has really changed for the Aboriginal folks in Redfern(part of sydney) nor in regional Australia since the 2000 olympics. I know this isn't the place to bring this stuff up..:o

-40 or +40 : what a choice. :p They are both tough choices.

As for other topics not to discuss here: why not? We'll never learn otherwise. And sometimes there is ...a sport connection after all.

ie. Maybe it was because I was sitting on the floor in lst row watching the dancers. But for the lst time, I realized how physically demanding some of the dances were and....how similar the lowered body stance with bent knees (nearly crouching)..for balance and launching off into another movement, was similar to..some Asian exercise movements and body positioning..of martial arts and yoga. (ie. the simple warrior I and warrior II movements).

[shootingstar]

Latest articles. lst article they interview a dance leader of a contemporary indigneous group in Australis. Last link gives videoclip.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Olympic+skaters+thin+with+First+Nations+over+Aussie+aboriginal+costume+flap/2477891/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Olympic+skaters+thin+with+First+Nations+over+Aussie+aboriginal+costume+flap/2477891/story.html

While they may be technically great in terms of manoeuvre execution, I was trying to figure out their dance story. The routine just didn't elicit excitement in me. Personally I felt emotionally dead / empty. Maybe I was influenced by the news story.

A great figure skating dance routine should generate inspiration and emotional excitement/wonder.

I've never seen an aborigine Australian dance. But after yesterday afternoon's dances that I saw from each of the 4 different First Nations traditional dance groups, this is a complete contrast to what I feel. Yesterday it was inspiring, one shared with the groups and spectators there --celebration, reverence and grace.

I also went around looking at the museum's exhibits before seeing the dance numbers. It was a good thing I did for my own understanding. I've seen similar twice in the past 8 years since it's a beautiful museum with stunning views overlooking to the mountains and water. But this time, with the museum's retrofit the masks, head-dress artifacts, were displayed with better arrangements and new display cases. There's all sorts of complex legends and beliefs conveyed through the designs...one would need to read several books. But probably simple obvious ones: ie. raven is trickster (in Chinese mythology the monkey is the trickster, little that I know there), bear, etc.

In my last job, which was part of a large engineering construction project, our organization did work with local First Nations group (Katzie Nation) that occupied the land where we were building the highway approaches to a brand-new bridge. To capture the spirit of the local area, the bridge was designed with several First Nations and natural things emblematic of the area. There are golden eagle sculptures attached high above near the bridge cabling, the bridge fencing (which was also built to be anti-suicide) emulates fish traps that were used by the Katzie with fish-shaped designs along the fence rail along the whole 1 km. bridge and there are permanent posters. It was an really interesting engineering project on several different fronts...one of them because it involved working with the First nations group and there was also a tandem archaeological dig to recover as much as possible before the area was covered over by concrete....they did find some stuff several hundreds years old which will take several years of cleanup, cataloguing and historical analysis.

The organization's handyman was also a Katzie elder (or near elder, in his late 50's or older) who would do his cultural blessings at various functions, outreach work with local schools on their history and culture. That's when he told me of "ancient fish" in the river that our bridge was going over....which was the endangered sturgeon. (This plus the disappearing salmon that did swim annually from the Pacific.)

[SadieKate]

These are the 4 First Nations groups/tribes (or the U.S. refers to as native Indians. . .No, that would be Native Americans. . .

[shootingstar]

No, that would be Native Americans. . .

Thx. One thing for certain I've never heard of anyone nor read recent stuff that uses the term "Native Canadian" up here in Kanata (aboriginal name from which Canada is derived from). Highly doubtful that the Russian skating duo even know the latter fact. Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, etc. are also aboriginal-based names.

Guess what? In the past I've referred to myself to others as a 'native-born Canadian', meaning I was born in Canada.


"Aboriginal peoples" is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. The Canadian constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal people: Indians (commonly referred to as First Nations), Métis and Inuit. These are three distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. More than one million people in Canada identify themselves as an Aboriginal person, according to the 2006 Census.
Aboriginal communities are located in urban, rural and remote locations across Canada. They include:
• First Nations or Indian Bands, generally located on lands called reserves;
• Inuit communities located in Nunavut, NWT, Northern Quebec (Nunavik) and Labrador;
• Métis communities; and
• communities of Aboriginal people (including Métis, Non-Status Indians, Inuit and First Nation individuals) in cities or towns which are not part of reserves or traditional territories (for example, the Aboriginal community in Winnipeg).
Source published by the Canadian federal government:
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ap/index-eng.asp

Another resource: http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/site.nsf/en/index.html

[Tuckervill]

We use Native American down here because of all that confusion with Columbus thinking he was in India, or something like that.

Native Canadians are also Native Americans, by the way.

Karen

[arielmoon]

IMO this dance was their artistic interpretation, like a painter. It's not right or wrong, it's their interpretation. Some folks are easily offended.

[SadieKate]

Native Canadians are also Native Americans, by the way.

KarenI actually like the term "First Peoples" or something similar much better. "Native" is confusing for me since someone born in a place is native to that place but is not an indigenous American, i.e., a "Native American." "Native-born" isn't bad and provides a subtle distinction to identify someone native-born but not of indigenous descent. I get really irritated with the attitude of some white Americans who yell at others to "go home" (for instance, some Oregonians at people moving here from California) and then tout that they're "Native Oregonians." Well, not really. I want to shout back "so show me your tribal membership!" Not to mention, the weird assumption that someone moving from California was born in California, and isn't just another mobile American like their grandparents (or whoever first showed up here). That ability to pick up and move is what built the USA and almost every other country into what is today (and displaced the native people at the same time). The wonderful world of DNA research documents the wave of second peoples, and third peoples, etc., etc., all over the world. It's fascinating.

[jobob]

Back when I actually cared about figure skating (and trust me, I was a rabid fan a decade or so ago ... friends and I would travel to competitions, stay up until the wee hours or get up at the crack of dawn to watch practice sessions, and debate for hours over so&so's outside edge takeoff and so on ... :rolleyes: ), every season there would always be a "controversial" program or two. Some more so than others. If it wasn't the theme of the program, it was the costuming.

Figure skaters, coaches, choreographers, these folks are not sociologists or rocket scientists.

Whatever. *shrug*

[bmccasland]

We use Native American down here because of all that confusion with Columbus thinking he was in India, or something like that.


Back when I lived on an Indian Reservation - White Mountain Apache according to the Apaches that lived there, the Fort Apache Reservation according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.... one of my co-workers, who was a tribal member AND quite the tease, asked - "why do they call us "Native Americans? Weren't you born in this country? That makes you Native American too doesn't it?" Same man would ask "why do they call us 'red-men'? I put you in the sun, you turn red, where I turn a lovely shade of brown." :p

Couldn't beat the man's logic. :rolleyes:

[shootingstar]

The wonderful world of DNA research documents the wave of second peoples, and third peoples, etc., etc., all over the world. It's fascinating.

Agreed.
One of my sisters has been mistaken for being aboriginal. Anyone of East Asian descent ignorant (I use "ignorant" both positively as lack of historic knowledge but also negatively to some snobbish or "distancing-themselves" attitude.) enough to think that stereotyping doesn't involve them, should think again: Sometimes aboriginals look like Asians and vice versa.


The images that flood the mass media typically depict Canada's native population as being the victims of housing or health-care crises and show them struggling with poverty or hidden behind masks in confrontation with authorities.

But headed into the 2010 Olympics the Four Host First Nations have released a new video they hope will recast the face of Canada's aboriginal cultures and inspire a whole generation of young people.

"I hope it will make not just first nations proud - I hope it will make all Canadians proud," said Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the Four Host First Nations.

The video - a rapid montage propelled by a percussive, driving beat - shows native people in a very different way than Canadians are used to seeing them. All the images are positive, dynamic and upbeat.

"I want straight emotion and inspiration for three minutes. And I want to break stereotypes," was the way Mr. Joseph put it when he first outlined the project to the video production team.

Full article on production of video which is interesting..they chose the right folks who would be passionate:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/about-vancouver/news/newsid=27854.html#putting+face+native+culture?cid=rsstgnm

CEO Mr. Joesph is a chief for 1 of the 4 Nations. Most likely, the 4 Nations had to create and register with the govn't, their organization specifically for the Olympics related to funding purposes for 1 information/performance pavilion, this video, etc.

This is their video that they want promoted worldwide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Y1PRB3S1k

[eclectic]

I just want to say thank you for bringing this to my attention.

I teach a high school cultural art class and this was a perfect thing to bring to their attention. Today they had to read the article, think about it and write a response to it. Tomorrow we will discuss it. I am anxious to see what they come up with (11th and 12th grade)

[shootingstar]

Wow.
Please share with us about students' impressions/opinions afterwards.

[eclectic]

Well we discussed it. . . .

I was rather disappointed in my students lack of depth. (They are 11th and 12th grade)
Only 1 student who is a little more mature looked at the whole picture on how a culture is being portrayed to the entire world in a stereotypical fashion.

So of course that brought us to stereotypes. I was astounded to find out that most of the students thought stereotypes were just part of the scheme of things, natural and don't hurt anything and everyone knows they are stereotypes so you don't believe them :eek:

Luckily I have one girl who is a USAF kid and just got back stateside from Turkey. She said it was hard in Turkey because they had all the American girls stereotyped from what they saw on TV (sexually promiscuous, shallow, and rich)

We talked some about the Russian culture and whether they think they have cultural sensitivity training like the US does from Pre-K up. This was opinion not researched.

The overall agreement was the Skaters did it in ignorance and for artistic flair and show (one girl's example was wearing the red loincloth - red shows up and is more dramatic than say purple)
They did agree that more research should have been done on the part of the skaters.

Thanks again for bringing this to my attention - it was a great discussion anyway and a good example of culture merging with creative expression and that is what this class is all about.

[shootingstar]

Well we discussed it. . . .

I was rather disappointed in my students lack of depth. (They are 11th and 12th grade)
Only 1 student who is a little more mature looked at the whole picture on how a culture is being portrayed to the entire world in a stereotypical fashion.

So of course that brought us to stereotypes. I was astounded to find out that most of the students thought stereotypes were just part of the scheme of things, natural and don't hurt anything and everyone knows they are stereotypes so you don't believe them :eek:

Luckily I have one girl who is a USAF kid and just got back stateside from Turkey. She said it was hard in Turkey because they had all the American girls stereotyped from what they saw on TV (sexually promiscuous, shallow, and rich).

It may well be there were some shy students who just didn't want to speak up. You might have reached those quieter, bright students. I was a bright, quiet student but found it difficult to provide in a group classroom situation, my opinion at length.

It took me a long time to get over my inability to speak up off-the cuff and unrehearsed opinions in such group situations no matter how strongly I felt about something.

I commend you to even teach the topic of stereotyping, media images and problems with lack of seeking a broad range of reliable information sources. You probably did reach a few students who were feeling unsure how to articulate a complicated subject. Because it can be.

[eclectic]

Shooting star - before we discussed it I had the kids write their opinions on paper so they could think about it and not have to verbalize it in public. We just did a show of hands if they thought it was an issue or not. We then discussed it in small group, then as a whole.

You brought up a very good point and that is about trust building w/i a discussion group setting. I strongly believe opinions have to be respected. I try to teach that opinion is strictly that but it needs to be respectful and have substance to back it up. I was pleased in that aspect, they didn't bash each other and they did use examples to back up their opinion. (such as the young lady who contrasted the color red for the loin cloth vs purple and another girl who likened it to "hollywooding" everything)

Just my 2 cents worth. Most often I don't read opinions on articles or blogs because I am very tired of lack of respect, use of foul language and bashing. Hopefully I will reach some kids so they discuss opinion respectfully