OLIVER — Kali Baptiste, 15, is counting the days before her trip to the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Baptiste is a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band and is one of 14 youth ambassadors going on the cultural exchange. Besides learning about Scottish culture and showcasing her traditions, the purpose of the trip is also to see a canoe named Spirit Dancer.
“It feels warming to be able to paddle on the boat that started this whole exchange,” says Baptiste.
Seven years ago, Spirit Dancer made a stop in the Okanagan. A small group of Penitcton Indian Band members paddled on the canoe and decorated the vessel with paintings.
The canoe has retired from its adventurous days and is now in Scotland, but it continues to make a lasting impression on First Nations people here.
That’s how the idea of an exchange first got started.
Baptiste admits she doesn’t know much about Scottish culture right now, but that will soon change.
She is equally excited to share aspects of her culture with the Shetlanders.
“We are an oral tradition, so just letting everyone know what we are it will keep our tradition and culture alive,” she says.
A youth coordinator for the Osoyoos Indian Band says young people have a lot to gain by sharing their culture with others.
“It reaffirms their existing knowledge base: their learning culture, their leaning language, their learning songs and their oral histories,” says Matthew Baran.
The two-week trip is expected to cost more than $30,000. The youth ambassadors have been busy fundraising and have enough to cover most of their costs.
Baptiste says she’s grateful to the community for making this happen.
“We couldn’t even go to this trip if it wasn’t for them donating their time to help us get to Scotland,” she explains.
The trip is from April 16-30th. People from the Scotland will be making the trip to the Okanagan in July.
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