BIBAK BC/Okanagan/Kelowna Grand Canao 2023
“BIBAK OKANAGAN GRAND CANAO/KANYAW
It is a gathering, it is a communion, it is sharing, it is tradition, it is canao/kanyaw.
Though canao/kanyaw is deeply rooted in the spiritual i.e. offering or sacrificing an animal either for thanksgiving and/or appeasing the ‘anitos’ or ‘kabunyan’, in modern times, it is now a social gathering strengthening the ties within the community. For us far from home, as IPs who embrace our “Igorot” culture, we hold this annual event to keep the fires of being an Igorot burning. It is our way of passing on our wonderful tradition esp our unique dances and gangsa from each tribe. We danced both the traditional and modern versions of the ballangbang, the tadchok, the boogie, the eagle dance, the takik, the dinuya, the sakuting and all the other forms of gangsa/dance. A BIBAK event will not be complete if we didn’t line dance to the never dying ‘achy breaky heart’. Billy Cyrus wasn’t present but we had our own DJ Mar who provided us with lively music and also shared his wonderful voice along with all the other talented singers who sang during the event. The Kalingas led the ‘sisiwit’ and the Ibalaois/Kankanaeys from Benguet showed us how to do the grand march. It was very lovely to see everyone wearing our traditional tapis, gateng and wanes and also the creative ways we’ve done to modernize our traditional costumes. Our leaders from the different BIBAK organizations also shared their wisdom and inspirational messages.
This was a 2-day event held in a newly built campground in the Okanagan and it was truly encouraging to see our fellow Igorots from Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and Toronto join us.
We laughed, we sang, we ate, we shared and of course we had fun.
Thank you BIBAK Okanagan for organizing the event. Thank you everyone especially those who travelled from other provinces to join us in this event. See you again next year. Matago tago taku Amin.”
-Lulubelle Lonogan
(Photo’s by Amernhel Pascua)
