By Waka Ota Tokyo, Oct. 28 (Jiji Press)–An encounter during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka has driven Canadian indigenous tenor singer Jeremy Dutcher to return to Japan to share a stage with Ainu indigenous musicians from the Asian country’s northern region. A concert was held at the official residence of Canadian Ambassador to Japan Ian McKay in Tokyo on Monday, bringing together Dutcher, Ainu musician OKI, who plays the “tonkori” stringed instrument, and the Marewrew female vocal group, who sing in the traditional Ainu style. “As Canada and Japan look toward the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2028, tonight reminds us that relationships grow through encounters, shared experiences and a willingness to listen,” said Laurie Peters, minister and deputy head of mission at the embassy. The bouncing sounds of tonkori strings and energetic singing voices brought the spirit of indigenous cultures into the room. “Music is a means of communication that does not rely on language,” OKI said, confident about the unique power of music. Dutcher said that his first encounter with the Ainu culture at an Osaka Expo indigenous performance event last year led him back to Japan. The encounter with “the beauty of their songs and the strength of their culture” inspired him, he said. During the concert at the official residence, he also shared an episode of him talking about the experience passionately to his friend and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. “Every time I get to share a stage with (Ainu musicians), I understand a little more deeply how we are connected as indigenous people but also just as humans.” Dutcher is part of the Wolastoqiyik indigenous people, who live in areas in the eastern Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec and the U.S. state of Maine. Wolastoqiyik, which means “people of the beautiful river,” face challenges from the decreasing number of fluent speakers of their language from birth, which is said to be less than 100, according to Dutcher. This problem is shared by Ainu people, whose language is listed by UNESCO as a language in danger. His works revive Wolastoqiyik ancestors’ voices by incorporating elements from recordings of their voices from over 110 years ago that are kept at the Canadian Museum of History. Stressing the importance of understanding “the land we stand on,” he said, “It’s a great honor and privilege for me to come and bring the songs of my people and my ancestors to this beautiful country of Japan.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
