By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
The OneWorld Festival was held in person after a two year pandemic hiatus this past Saturday, showcasing diversity and community through food, arts, and traditions, bringing to life the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
Cherry Fernandez, Executive Director of South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS), was beaming with excitement when she spoke with the Times Chronicle, saying “we are so happy to see people coming out and just sharing stories with each other, and really that is what this is about.”
There were 35 countries represented at the festival, but Fenandez said that “SOICS as an organization has supported clients from over 110 countries” that reside in our region and chose to make the South Okanagan their home.
The whole exhibition hall was bursting with the beauty of human culture, from the sounds of Japanese Drummers and Indigenous powwows, to the aromas of Syrian food and the Prague Cafe filling the space and so many more contributing and mingling in the air of multiculturalism. Adding to this aura was the intergenerational connections present, from the elders speaking to the laughter of children.
“You see this is what is beautiful,” Fernandez explained as she gestured to a small child learning to play Sungka, a traditional Filipino game where players compete to capture the majority of the shells, “kids have that natural curiosity, and here they get to find out, and there is no better way.”
Fernandez just wanted people to see “there is something for everyone because when you come here it is a feast for all your senses. We have the sounds and the performances, we have the smell and taste of all that delicious food from around the world . . . it is a great opportunity to get to know each other, get to know your community better, and really build those bonds and have that opportunity to have that pride in the strength and inclusivity we have.”
This is the 10th year of the OneWorld festival but Fernandez said the multicultural festival was started many years ago, she actually has pictures of herself at four years old representing the Philippines, so she said it is really fun for her to be here now and part of the organization putting on the festival.
OneWorld Festival 2023 in photos
Ann Doyon is a writer and artist from Regina, Saskatchewan. She is an accomplished multimedia artist, her career spans decades with powerful word play and intense performance style. She was presenting her Stone and Steel collection and representing Theytus books. Her jewelry uses many different and varied materials, and although it takes a couple hours to form the steel around the stones, it takes months to polish and care for the stones, she told the Times Chronicle. Sebastian Kanally photo.
Victoria Jaenig is the Artistic Director for ULLUS Profesional Indigenous Arts Collective and displayed some works of art as well as highlighting the various opportunities for Indigenous artists in the area. Sebastian Kanally photo.
The Irish Society was teaching people about Hurling, an ancient team sport of Gaelic Irish origin where 15 players a side play a ball sport on a very large pitch. Sebastian Kanally photo.
Tyrone Kruger is a member of the Penticton Indian Band. He performed a traditional men’s dance, which tells stories of hunting, tracking, and fighting. Sebastian Kanally photo.
The Kelowna Yamabika Taiko was formed in 2003. They are a Japanese drumming group who aims to spread the love of music and culture throughout the interior of BC. They performed three songs, the Doko kara by Yuta Kato, the Umino Taiko by Dengaku Za, and Tenchi by Hisashi Kitahara. Sebastian Kanally photo.
Vendor showcases traditional Chinese art, the paintings above made by her 90 year old grandfather. Sebastian Kanally photo.
Wayne McDougall with the Penticton Scottish Festival Society shows a patron how to hold and play the highland bagpipes. Sebastian Kanally photo.
Ann Doyon operated and showcased the table for Theytus books who are a North American publisher of Indigenous voices. Located in Syilx territory on the Penticton Indian Reserve in British Columbia. Sebastian Kanally photo.
