Russian skaters' Aborigine theme causes outcry
'We see it as stealing aboriginal culture,' Australian critic says
First Nations leaders in B.C. say they want to talk to a pair of Russian skating champions about an ice dance routine that Australian Aborigines are calling cultural theft.
Oksana Domnina, 25, and Maxim Shabalin, 27, are expected to perform the ice dance routine wearing dark-skinned bodysuits covered with leaves, feathers, white patterns and red loin cloths at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next month.
They reportedly researched the costumes on the internet, but failed to consult with any Aborigines about the routine, which features them stomping their skates and waving their arms as they dance across the ice.
Tewanee Joseph, the CEO of the Four Host First Nations from the Vancouver and Whistler area that are helping to stage the Olympics, said the Russian pair needs to be educated, and he wants a meeting with the duo prior to their taking the ice.
"What we can do as our first step is send an invitation to the Russian pair that we'd like to meet with them when they come here, to educate them on our culture, but at the same time, I hope they contact the indigenous people of Australia, as we will do as well," said Joseph.
"My first impression is I feel disheartened. I think the Russian team should have engaged with the Aborigines in Australia, ask them about their culture and make sure they're educated on it as well," said Joseph.
The depiction of aboriginal people in the routine by the Russians stands in stark contrast to efforts at the Vancouver Olympics to show how far First Nations communities have come in Canada, he said.
"That's what we've tried to do with VANOC, to make sure people have an authentic experience and feel welcome. I'd love to meet with the Russian team, because they're coming onto our territory. We'd love to meet with them and share our culture with them," said Joseph.
Reaction surprises Russians
The pair used the routine to win the Russian national championships last month and the European Championships in Estonia on Thursday.
After winning the European Championships, the Russian pair were surprised to learn from reporters that Australian elders had accused them of stealing an aboriginal dance idea and causing serious cultural offence, Reuters reported.
"We didn't know anything about it," a wide-eyed Domnina told Reuters.
Shabalin said they had done their homework but had never intended it to be an authentic aboriginal dance.
"We researched a lot of information on the internet. It's just from many thousands of years ago and it wasn't our goal [to be authentic]," he told Reuters.
Sol Bellear of the New South Wales state Aboriginal Land Council told Reuters earlier on Thursday, "It's very offensive. We see it as stealing aboriginal culture and it is yet another example of the aboriginal people of Australia being exploited."
cbc.ca |
