Festival of Nations held at Northern

Press release

Last weekend Montana State University-Northern celebrated its Fourth Annual Festival of Nations, "A Day in the Philippines."

The Festival of Nations is a food and culture festival, which has the goal of celebrating the national and ethnic diversity in both the university community and the Hi-Line community. It takes place every year in October. It is sponsored by Northern's Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicutural Programs.

The guests of honor this year were the Philippine Salto Group, a troupe of seven dancers and three singers who came to dance traditional Filipino dances and to sing contemporary songs. Some of the dances they performed were The Sayaw sa Bangko. The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. The dance originated in Bayambang in the Pangasinan province, and though it's usually performed alone, it can also become a competition between several dancers. Another number was the Subli. it is a folkdance in the Philippines. It is considered a favorite of the people of the barrios of the municipality of Bauan, Batangas. It is a ceremonial worship dance performed in homage to the Holy Cross referred to in the vernacular as Mahal Na Poong Santa Cruz. The dance originated in Leyte, an island in the Visayas in the central Philippines. It imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. For this dance, they received an ovation.

Other performers were Colbyn Underwood, who played on the violin a traditional Mexican song from the revolution time titled "Las Coronelas." Northern students Emma Faus and Gerrad Bohl, who are also professional dancers, performed a Southern hip-hop influenced number and also a Brazilian samba influenced song.

Another Northern student, Jaycene Wind Boy danced a number with her uncle Jonathan Windy Boy. They explained the origin of their Native American ways through music and dancing.

The Treble Choir from Havre High School was also present with the English/Spanish song "La Luna" by Cary Ratcliff, which is from the children's opera "Mice and Beans."

The multicultural presentation was by Yvonne Tiger, Northern Native American Studies faculty. She and her daughter Lucinda Tiger presented "History of Seminole Patch Work."

Some of the country displays that were represented this year were Mexico and Kenya. The booths included henna tattoos and take-your-photo-with-a-Hispanic-outfit; some of the activities for kids were coloring mandalas and face painting. The food for sale included dishes from Japan, Germany and Mexico.

Members of the Northern Diversity Committee said they would like to thank all the local businesses that made this festival possible with their donations, as well as the student and community volunteers who contributed to the success.

They gave special thanks to local Fil-Am families for the support provided, particularly the Ymzon and the Aquino families. Many thanks to all the performers and vendors, as well as to all those who attended.

People who are interested in participating in any role in the next festival can contact the Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicutural Programs at 265-3589 or [email protected].

The committee members said they are looking forward to celebrating next year the fifth anniversary of the festival.