>>PREVIEW
CULTURES AT RISK
Runs August 19 to 21
The Banff Centre
As globalization extends its tentacles across more of the world and rapid urbanization transforms formerly rural landscapes, traditional cultures such as Sherpas in Nepal or nomadic herders in Mongolia become ever more fascinating.
But are such cultures actually hanging on in the onslaught of globalization? That’s one of the issues that will be explored at The Banff Centre’s first-ever Cultures At Risk festival this weekend. The festival will showcase mountain cultures from around the world and explore the challenges they face.
Festival co-ordinator Leslie Taylor says the idea for the festival came from all the interesting people she has met as associate director of mountain culture at The Banff Centre.
"We’ve been constantly impressed by how vibrant and interesting these cultures are and how many similarities there can be among different mountain cultures, so we came up with the idea of celebrating these cultures and also exploring some of the challenges that they face," says Taylor. "I find when I go to different mountain regions that I’m very struck by how people have adapted to their tough environment and also the deep affection they have for (it) and the pride they have in their culture, and I think those are commonalities across the world."
The festival will include performances by musicians and dancers from Tibet, musicians from the Ecuadorian Andes, a traditional Appalachian singer and fiddler, as well as readings from mountain poets, photojournalism presentations from internationally renowned photographers and panel discussions by experts on mountain cultures.
Francis Klatzel, an Albertan who is an expert on Sherpa culture in Nepal, will be one of the presenters offering her insights at the conference. Klatzel originally went to Nepal to help create a Sherpa history museum in Tinboche, the highest monastery in the Himalayas, and fell in love with the country.
"One of the things I like is the intensity of the community spirit and how, for a lot of people, status in Sherpa society is being a tight part of the community and being a respected part of the community," she says.
According to Klatzel, since she first went to Nepal many Sherpas are now wearing western clothing such as jeans, and some communities also have more modern amenities like electricity and indoor plumbing. But she says the culture remains strong, especially in the higher mountains.
"There’s mountain valleys in Nepal that the Sherpas identify with very strongly as their home Sherpa country, and I think that’s been very important in keeping their identity,’ she says. "But another part of that is whether they can make a living in their homeland. Because of tourism, the Sherpas in Khumbu, the valley below Everest, have been able to do it. Sherpas have been able to hang on. There’s some groups of Sherpas in other parts of Nepal, like the Makalu area, where life is much more difficult."
Edward Bernbaum, director of the Sacred Mountains Program at Washington, D.C.’s Mountain Institute, will give a presentation on sacred mountains of the world and how they’re affected by increased globalization.
"The important thing about sacred mountains is that they are generally connected with the deepest values and beliefs and ideals of the culture,’ he says. "So if a sacred mountain is threatened, they could also undermine the supports of a particular culture, especially a small culture."
Bernbaum says increased tourism can have a negative impact on sacred mountains because too many people are trampling on the natural environment, but increased global connectivity can also have a positive influence on saving sacred mountains, because world media attention can focus on a traditional culture’s fight to save its sacred site.
Taylor promises one of the biggest highlights of the festival will be the dinner Sunday night, which includes performances by festival guests as well as gourmet food from mountain cultures around the world.
For more information on the festival go to www.banffcentre.ca. |
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