One fun faire, many cultures
<p>Courtesy photo Lakes Magnet Middle School students form circles to perform a Native American friendship dance to the drums of the Rose Creek Singers from the Coeur d</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - A living tapestry of traditions and heritages is being woven at Lakes Magnet Middle School this weekend. The school's first Multicultural Faire begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and promises an array of tastes, colors and sounds aimed at celebrating the cultures of people living in and around Kootenai Coun
COEUR d'ALENE - A living tapestry of traditions and heritages is being woven at Lakes Magnet Middle School this weekend.
The school's first Multicultural Faire begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and promises an array of tastes, colors and sounds aimed at celebrating the cultures of people living in and around Kootenai County.
Organizers have lined up local performers, restaurants and vendors ready to provide an educational cross-cultural experience.
"The following groups - French, Spanish, Russian, German, Italian, British, Japanese, Bolivian, Punjabi, Philippine, and others - will be sharing arts and crafts, music, and other things they treasure about their cultures," said event coordinator and teacher Dave Eubanks.
Some homegrown cultures will be represented as well.
The Texas Roadhouse line dancers are among more than a dozen performers scheduled to hit the stage every 15 minutes.
"We really love being part of the community, being anywhere we can to be involved," said Texas Roadhouse manager Dan Davis. "Things like this really help the community and strengthen it."
Other musical performances planned range from blue grass, country and folk music to Celtic punk, African drumming and a Norwegian yodeler.
Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Education Institute, organizers plan to make the fair an annual event.
Rachel Dolezal, HREI education director, said her organization is excited to be partnering with the school to help raise awareness about different cultures and cultural heritages.
"The representation of specific cultures is educational and does a lot to break down stereotypes and leads to understanding of diversity," Dolezal said.
It's also an opportunity for people to reconnect with parts of their own backgrounds or heritages, she said.
"I think that's just a really empowering thing," Dolezal said.