Harbin – Alihe

As I travel north, I find myself increasingly drawn to discover the cultures of the ethnic minority groups that live within the borders of what is geographically China. Observing from the outside, China appears to be one vast country. Observing from the inside, it appears to be one central and dominant country of Han people, surrounded by smaller countries of ethnic minority people. However, the borders of these ethnic minority countries are fragile and disappearing as Han and capitalist culture infiltrates.

This week I met 2 inspirational people. Both with a sad acceptance that much of their own history and culture has already been lost, but are themselves the flames of hope that what remains might survive.

In a year Wu Yisheng qualifies as a agricultural veterinarian, he has studied hard and it would be a financially secure job. Instead however, he plans to open a small craft shop selling fish skin products. He was taught by his mother to make Hezhe fish skin clothing, but understands the limited demand such a product has in the modern world, thus his desire to expand to other products to keep the craft alive.

Wunan and her husband record and promote what still exists of Oronchen culture. On sale in her shop are birch bark containers that her aunt has made using traditional methods, she says that drastic action is required to progress and therefore save the craft. In the past, natural development was possible, but after so much outside disturbances to their culture this is no longer the case.