How Chinese unicorns reawakened Chinatown
What happens when community comes together for culture
Gathered by the majestic Chinese unicorns Hakka qilins, this past Saturday was a beautiful day of community, celebration, and culture in Chinatown.
The event started with a powerful Indigenous welcome and song by Chief Kioti Robert Williams from the Kwakwikaway and Squamish First Nation:
Spoken in both Hakka and English, Chinatown Together acknowledged the Hakka people, and most of all the Hakka women and femmes for their labour in initiating, documenting, and sharing the revival of the Hakka culture. We also reflected on our learning about the historical genocide and oppression of the Hakka people, which reminded us of the ongoing cultural erasure and displacement here in Chinatown, but also globally.
Then we learned about Hakka and qilin history from the Vancouver Tsung Tsin Hakka Association and saw two magnificent qilin dances by the qilin dance master and his students.
We were led by Hakka youth on a warm up exercise before we learned how to dance the qilin heads and play the instruments, while we ate Lo Pat Baan (radish cake) from Kam Wai Dim Sum, and drank tea sourced from Chinatown.
The day was a beautiful example of how we can revitalize Chinatown without displacement — by reviving culture and celebrating community in place.
Culture is resistance. Community is resistance.
For more photos of the event, head over to Chinatown Together’s Instagram.
If you attended the event, please fill out this 2 min survey to let us know what you think and how we can make future events even better.
And finally, a quick recap of the day from CBC Vancouver:
If you like what we do and want to see more of it, please consider donating to the Chinatown Together Cultural Fund so that we can continue to do this work as these events are made possible by community donors like yourself!
Enjoyed the qilin event and want to participate in more active community activities?
Chinatown Together is hosting a public workshop of the infamous Chinese Square Dancing led by Chinatown elder Swallow Zhao! You’ll get to learn some moves and participate in a flash mob in Chinatown like:
WHEN: Saturday, April 27 2024, 1:00PM to 4:00PM
WHERE: Chinatown Plaza Mall - 106 Keefer Street
Snacks and beverages will be provided, courtesy of Chinatown Together throughout the event. To ensure inclusivity, interpretation for instructions will be available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Last screening of Big Fight in Little Chinatown in Vancouver (May 6)
We’re heading to the Vancouver Public Library for free screening and panel on May 6th for their Uplift Asian series for Asian Heritage Month!
On the post-screening panel, we’ll be joined by our friends Beverly Ho (Yarrow Society), Pearl Wong (Queer Lunar New Year / Chinatown Today), and Swallow Zhou (a Chinatown elder), and you’ll hear from their experiences working, living, and organizing for Chinatown.
Don’t miss this screening, because it might be the last one for awhile in Vancouver!
And finally, check out this upcoming event from friends fighting for human rights and environment justice in the Philippines for atrocities caused by Canadian companies: