Students, community enjoy Festival of World Cultures

A diversity of locals shared their culture with Marysville students and community members at the second annual Festival of World Cultures on May 17.

The event is put on by the Marysville School District by their Equity, Diversity and Indigenous Education Department.

“We wanted to be able to help showcase and help ignite the excitement for multi-cultural dance and food,” said Deborah Parker, the school district’s director of Equity, Diversity and Indian Education and one of the main organizers of the event.

People shared dances and songs from Peru, Mexico, Hawaii, the Philippines and traditional Native American songs.

“To us it’s important that we recognize the rich diversity that’s here in Marysville and Tulalip and the surrounding areas,” said Parker.

“We want to ignite that excitement for the diversity of this country,” she said.

Dancers and singers often explained where their songs came before beginning the music.

“These songs belong to some of our families and we believe when you drum our ancestors stand at attention,” said Chelsea Craig, a Tulalip Tribal member and cultural specialist at Quil Ceda Elementary.

“It’s time we drum and be proud of who we are,” she said.

Experiencing songs is a good way to connect with different cultures, said Terrance Sabbas, Native American liaison with the district.

“We want to share some of this good music and good dances with you guys so you get to know a little bit about who we are as people,” he said.

It also just helps bring people together, said Parker.

“We just want to make sure that it is colorful and a happy celebration,” she said.

In addition to the dancing and singing there was a variety of cultural foods brought it and prepared by Marysville staff for students and families to enjoy.

Parker said that people enjoyed the first event last year.

“There was so much excitement that it ran late, but everyone was still there at the end,” she said.

The variety of different cultures that come out for the event help many students feel like they have more representation.

“When the Aztec dancers come out there is an excitement. When I see the Aztec students and teachers there is an excitement that we are honoring who they are, and that’s what we want to bring here,” said Parker.

She said that the school district will continue working to make sure recognizing a variety of cultures is part of the teaching of the local schools.

“We hope to integrate our many cultures into the curriculum and this is one way we can work with the many communities to make sure everyone is represented,” said Parker.