Septembers
“BRING A DISH” Cultural Celebration, which amongst First Nation people is
also called a “potlatch”, takes place on Saturday 30th of September
2006 4-9pm at the Centre of Creativity, 20 West Hill Road, St Leonards on Sea,
TN38 0NB.
Our cooking
demonstration starting at 4pm will feature a special dish led by the
Hastings Bengali Forum & CCDN
member Fazleh Rabbani, who said: “Whatever the weather, please
come & join us to expand your knowledge & taste buds, whilst making new friends
or warming yourself around the wood fire or your heart watching the children’s
smiles, as we listen to a story or fly high on the
trampoline!”
Between 4-6pm
Wood Carving Artist Max Brownrigg will inspire you with his unique work &
help you discover much about the faces & live, found in local trees. His 2-hour
workshop will not only transform Children themselves with face painting, but you
will also have the opportunity to collate your very own tree sculpture.
From 6pm and 8pm we
will have the honour of listening to Eva Katharina (songwriter, vocals,
piano, guitar), Steve Elsten (guitar, piano, vocals, mandolin, ukulele) &
William Clover (bassoon) from the band “Das Fenster”, which is
German for “The Window”, performing both, an electro and acoustic act.
From 7-8pm
Ghanaian Master drummer Nana Tsiboe will lead an inspirational African
Drumming, Dance & Song Workshop assisted by Congo Dancer George Kasanda.
“BRING A DISH –POTLACHS” take place every last Saturday of each month 4-9pm at
the Centre of Creativity, 20 West Hill Road, St Leonards on Sea and are always
free of charge, to include everyone that wants to join into the community
building celebrations of diverse cultures & faiths. Donations to support the not
for profit services to local communities, co-ordinated by the Celebrating
Cultural Diversity Network
www.celebratingculturaldiversitynetwork.org
are very welcome & everyone is welcome to join into the community empowerment
initiatives.
The word potlatch
means "to give" and "a big party" and served a very important function in
“Kwa'day times”, whereby “Kwa'day times” refers to when today's elders were
children. We were told that the potlatch has a gathering function, and "was
given in honour of living people, especially mothers" (Yukon Historical and
Museums Association, 1986) and special rites of passage, such as births, puberty
and marriage.
Potlatches in the
Yukon
began a long time ago and helped codify rules of behavior required for a culture
to survive. The potlatch provides a way to validate one's existence and status
within a community.
People would plan
these gatherings well in advance and would travel great distances to attend.
Usually the potlatch was hosted and paid for by the crow clan or the wolf clan.
People would save items, sometimes for years, to be given away as gifts at a
potlatch. (Excerpts from Potlatch: The Southem Tuchone Way, Easterson 1992)
