Some of the most arresting images and comments in Identity: Lost and Found, were filmed at the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario. In this new documentary, four members of Kanatal—an Indigenous band from Taiwan—sing their traditional music inside the premises. They’re dressed in orange hoodies emblazoned with “Every Child Matters”.
Then, they talk about what they learned on a visit to the site, which once housed the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Guitarist Masaw Ali reveals that before band members walked through the facility, they saw a documentary about the abuse of Indigenous children at the school.
“Today, being there and seeing it firsthand is truly shocking,” says Ali, whose mother is a member of the Atayal tribe in Taiwan. “Because the glass you see in the footage, the names on the walls, and even the climbing marks, are all vividly clear.”
The drummer, Vagacu Kalevuan, belongs to the Paiwan tribe in Taiwan. He says that even though he has no personal connection, he can still “relate to the sadness and heaviness in the atmosphere while standing here”.
“So, this trip to the residential school has truly made me feel deeply moved,” Kalevuan states. “I sincerely hope that these kinds of stories will not be forgotten.”
The other two band members, vocalist Abus Tanapima (Bunun/Amis) and keyboardist Suana Emy Cilangasay (Sakizayan/Amis) offer similar sentiments.
Their tour of the Woodland Cultural Centre marked the culmination of Kanatal’s tour of Canada. It began on the West Coast and included performances at the Vancouver and Mission folk music festivals. Director Tjaikung Rusegeseg films the musicians interacting with Canadian Indigenous people, riding a B.C. ferry, and rehearsing at a house in Richmond, B.C.
Indigenous musicians felt discrimination
Later on, Kanatal members witness the Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow in Hagersville, Ontario. It’s fun and informative to hear their observations, as well as the comments of various Indigenous participants. Kanatal also performed at Toronto TAIWANfest.
Along the tour, each musician discusses their cultural background. Kalevuan and Tanapima also offer deep insights into how discrimination has held back Indigenous people in their country.
Through interviews and interactions, Identity: Lost and Found accomplishes something remarkable. It reveals how learning about the Indigenous experience in Canada helped Taiwanese Indigenous musicians gain greater appreciation into their own identities.
It’s tempting to conclude by saying “let the band play on”. However, in this instance, those new insights set them off in new directions upon their return to Taiwan, resulting in the band breaking up.
TAIWANfest Toronto will present a free screening of Identity: Lost and Found. It will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday (August 25) in the Studio Theatre at Harbourfront Centre. TAIWANfest Toronto runs from August 23 to 25 at Harbourfront Centre. For more information, visit the website.
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