VANCOUVER – A Russian figure-skating duo who wore an aboriginal-themed outfit at a recent competition in Europe are skating on thin ice with natives in British Columbia.
And when ice-dancing stars Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin arrive in Vancouver next month to compete at the Olympics, Tewanee Joseph, the CEO of the Four Host First Nations, hopes to talk to the couple about Canada’s indigenous culture.
Domnina and Shabalin – favoured to win a medal in Vancouver – made headlines last week with their performance at the European championships. The two were criticized for a dance routine on Thursday that offended Australia’s aboriginal people.
Despite the criticism of their aboriginal ensemble, Shabalin made matters worse by indicating he would be wearing the same outfit at the Vancouver Olympics.
Joseph, who represents the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh bands who are partners with VANOC, said they are working hard to avoid stereotypes and cultural put-downs.
He plans on sending Domnina and Shabalin a letter so they can meet when they come to Vancouver for the ice-dancing competition.
“I’m sending them a letter and would like to meet and educate them on aboriginal culture,” said Joseph.
“When they come here they will get a real sense of aboriginal culture.
“We’re not just Indians with a headdress and feathers.”
In their European performance, the skating stars said their dance was based on traditional practises of Australia’s indigenous people.
The dancers wore brown bodysuits with paint patterns similar to those seen on Australia’s aboriginals.
To round out the outfit, the dancers wore red loincloths and had strands of green leaves hanging down.
In an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian aboriginal leader Bev Manton wrote: “From an aboriginal perspective this performance is offensive.”
Aboriginals from other parts of B.C. said the outfit is a mockery.
“Sometimes people make fun of us and it is painful,” said Arthur Manuel, a former chief of the Neskonlith band in Chase. “That is something they should have been very cognizant of.
“It gets you upset about the way indigenous people are represented.”
Figure-skating experts say it may be difficult for the Russians to change their routine so close to the Olympics.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.