AAPI CELEBRATION SHARES CULTURE AND TRADITIONS WITH MT HOOD COMMUNITY

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity captures more than a single experience—with more than 50 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages. Some may have grown up surrounded by their family’s culture and traditions. Others may discover what those roots mean later in life through food, language and community.

Mt. Hood Community College’s annual AAPI Heritage Month event gives students a chance to honor those experiences. On May 14, the Multicultural Diversity and Resource Center (MDRC) held the annual celebration in the Vista Dining Hall.

Walking into the event, visitors were greeted by bright colors and handmade crafts on each table. Booths lined the walls, offering both educational and interactive activities for all attendees. MHCC’s Japanese Culture Club showed off Japanese games, crafts and calligraphy.

Visitor’s names were written in Japanese, and there were opportunities to learn how to do origami, and to play around with kendama.

There was also a series of traditional dances and chants presented throughout the night. One of those was the haka –a ceremonial chant meant to intimidate. The ground was shaking when they stomped and yelled.

The participants’ chants were incredibly loud, and the  event crowd volunteers were spirited as well.

Each performance carried aspects of cultural history through the smooth sway of bodies. The dancers wore their cultures’ clothing with pride, inviting visitors, staff and students to join them.

“My kids loved being in last year’s event so much that we had to beg them to let us come back again,” one of the guest performers said.

People swirled into the room later, ready to try the food and desserts prepared by local vendors and members of the community. Some of the offerigs included Bahn Mi sandwiches from Best Baguete, Spam and tofu musubi from Yokai Masubi, Shrimp and tofu salad rolls from Bui Naturla Tofu, Egg Tarts from Kings Bakery and Mini Malasadas rom O an Ko. There was enough food to share with Barney’s Pantry and for students to take home. At one point, the food line was so long it went around the room and event tables. 

“People came together tonight and celebrated various cultures,” said Maurice Nicholson, the multicultural and diversity programs coordinator. “Not just people from the cultures that were represented in this event, but our community, students and staff members came out and celebrated with them.”