Music brings cultures together in harmony

From the rhythmic beats of the drum — symbolizing the heartbeat of Mother Earth — to the intricate footwork of traditional Latin American dances, seamlessly blending with Indigenous hoop dance, the sounds speaks as one, drawing everyone into the shared rhythm.

The Multicultural Musical Fusion event, held by the Latinos en Regina Association, brought together artists from different backgrounds and cultures to show how music and dance can transcend borders. The event combined sounds and performances including drumming, hoop dancing, Mexican and Chilean music, and more.

Ana Hernández Reyes, president, Latinos en Regina Association, says the motivation behind planning the event was to show the possibility of cultures coming together in harmony.

“It’s about celebrating our similarities and honouring our differences,” Hernández Reyes says. “This project is not just about performance; it’s about building bridges and creating understanding.”

Terrence Littletent, a former World Hoop Dance Champion, was a featured guest of honour at the Multicultural Musical Fusion event. Born in Regina, Littletent is from the Kawacatoose Cree Nation. He says that the creative process behind the production was marked by an atmosphere of mutual respect and camaraderie, where rehearsals became spaces of cultural exchange, and traditions were shared and connections deepened.

“When we show love and respect to one another, whether between two people or a group of diverse cultures, it creates a bond,” Littletent says. “We sat, talked, and got to know each other. Ideas started flowing naturally, and everything came together like puzzle pieces.”

The result was a vibrant event that painted a vivid picture of unity within diversity. Hernández Reyes says the performance “was just magical.”

“People [in the audience] did not understand the lyrics, but some were crying just by listening to the song,” Hernández Reyes adds.

Beyond its artistic achievements, the project brought together artists and audiences in a shared celebration of cultural diversity. For Littletent, it showed the importance of listening and understanding for Truth and Reconciliation.

“It’s about listening to each other’s stories and watching each other’s journeys,” Littletent says. "By sharing through dance, we painted a beautiful picture of two diverse cultures that are Indigenous. Under the heavens, we’re all family — it just so happens we’re all different."

This project received support from SaskCulture’s Multicultural Initiatives Fund – Project, funded by the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.