Imagine the scene. About 2500 people in a formal performance hall, many of them regular subscription holders, all rustling with anticipation and dressed for an evening at the opera. They are here to see the Magic Flute. The music is Mozart’s but in this production, the storyline has been interpreted as a First Nations narrative.
The executive director of the Vancouver Opera steps out on stage to say a few words. He acknowledges, among other things, that the performance, which is occurring at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver, is on traditional Coast Salish territory.
He then introduces Ian Campbell, Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation, who is present to greet the audience in the traditional manner with a song of welcome.
As Chief Campbell begins the song, a half-dozen people in the rows ahead of us begin to rise – and my partner and I stand up as well. It’s almost instinctive – a gesture of respect. However, in the split second as we stand – a whole bunch of information gets processed in my brain.
- No one else in our section is standing, indeed most of the sold out audience remains seated.
- Many of the people who are standing are wearing some element of Aboriginal dress.
There’s a whisper in my ear as my partner, making the same observations, says, “ I don’t think we can.” “Can what? I whisper back. “Can stand.” A moment’s pause as this sinks in. Could it be possible that it’s only people of Aboriginal ancestry who should be standing at this moment?
Great. Looking to signal respect, we could be doing exactly the wrong thing. If this is a cultural intersection then we are at a full stop with no clue which way to turn
We remain standing, until Chief Campbell is finished. Thinking about it later I realize that I was feeling some symbolic weight in that moment. Putting it into words would go something like this: when it comes to intersections with Aboriginal culture in this country and matters of respect, I did not want to be someone who, even fleetingly and unwittingly, had failed. No wonder it felt heavy.
Weeks after that, I’m having coffee with a friend of mine who had also seen the Magic Flute. I describe the moment recalling how uncomfortable it felt, and because he is also a member of the N’laka’pamux First Nation, I knew I was also looking to him for guidance. I see him smile, and I admit I feel some relief. It’s not a problem for anyone to stand apparently. And then he says something more by way of reassurance. When it comes to cultural intersections – If you don’t put yourself out there, you’re never going to know.
Valuable advice for sure.
(To read the project blog post attached to this story, click here )
-Rae in Vancouver