Oaxaca is set to host a binational music, cinema, literature and design event to share its indigenous cultures and exhibit the traditions of indigenous Canada.

Indigenous Encounters Canada-Oaxaca 2021 will include both in-person and virtual activities from September 20 to October 8. The artistic offering includes 26 screenings of films, documentaries, short films and animations, the exhibition of works by eight artists, concerts by 14 musicians and performances by 18 poets. Immersive virtual reality modules will also be installed to offer a view into life in indigenous communities, and a large mural will be painted in Jalatlaco, Oaxaca city.

The Canadian Embassy in Mexico, in collaboration with 15 Canadian and Oaxacan organizations, announced the initiative, saying it will be a platform for the dissemination of art created in the indigenous communities of both countries and a link to foster dialogue and reflection on the challenges they face.

The initiative promises to connect “distant villages more than 4,000 kilometers away, united by their cultural wealth,” the embassy added.

“We are designing … an ambitious program of cultural exchange between indigenous artists and creators from Mexico and Canada,” Ambassador Graeme C. Clark said. He added that the program would provide a space to showcase the gastronomic and natural wealth of Oaxaca.

Governor Alejandro Murat said the state had a strong cultural offering. “Oaxaca will always be home to all the peoples of the world … We are deeply proud of our history, our roots, our artistic expressions and the culture of our 16 ethnic groups, which are 16 worlds with their own worldviews,” he said.

With reports from El Universal