Russian Ice Skaters' 'Aboriginal' Routine Offends Australians (VIDEO)

A routine by Russia's world champion ice skaters Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin has been accused of being offensive to indigenous Australians.

The duo wore loin cloths and leaves to help extend their lead at the European figure skating championships on Thursday. They are expected to use the routine at this years Winter Olympics, where they are favorites to win.

The routine is based upon dances by indigenous Australians.

'Aboriginal people for very good reason are sensitive about their cultural objects and icons being co-opted by non-Aboriginal people - whether they are from Australia or Russia," said Bev Manton, chair of the NSW Land Council.

Australian skaters were also offended, arguing that two Aussie skaters, Danielle O'Brien and Greg Merriman, first performed an Aboriginal-inspired dance at a Korean competition in 2008. According to reports, their routine was only conducted after heavy consultations and research with indigenous Australian communities.

The duo were shocked to hear of the offense they had caused. Shabalin said, "We researched a lot of information on the Internet. It's just from many thousands of years ago and it wasn't our goal (to be authentic)."

Domnina has also revealed that they decided to use the music after her dog reacted to the melody.

Comments

[bh67]

04:46 AM on 02/23/2010

Come on HP readers. I truly expect more.

The vast majority of these comments angrily brush off the situation as 'silly,' & criticize aboriginal leaders for being 'too sensitive.'

The dark skin tone they are striving for. The 'caveman' style hair-pulling. Looking on the internet for advice rather than working in consultation with traditional leaders. Calling traditional dress 'costumes.' Sigh. Our society, like others, has worked for so long to dismantle such idiocy & instead embrace models that promote respect for Native peoples--for ALL peoples. This type of misguided act belongs back in another era, like blackface minstrel shows do.

Yes it is only a skating competition, it's a show, it's small fry in comparison to other priorities. But caring about it and expressing distaste for the kind of values it represents is critical.

I am Native American, so I can definitely relate to this issue. But I am also just a human who believes that disrespectful actions like this diminish all of us, just a little bit. That's not called being 'silly,' that's called working for justice.

[Oleg1]

11:02 AM on 01/25/2010

Back to reality
This is DANCING ON ICE !!!! the most kitsch sport ever invented.
It makes Olympic snowboarding on and down kiddie slopes look like an intellectual pursuit.
It is absurd, to to take ANYTHING that happens in that world seriously.
And anyone like this marm Manton who takes it seriously is equally ridiculous.
next subject...

[Kamilaroi]

02:40 AM on 01/25/2010

The woman who has an issue with it is from the NSW Land Council which is an Aboriginal body (they make native title claims on land). So before you go on about how Aussies treat Aboriginals and therefore cannot have an opinion, it is an aboriginal lady making the claim, so I think she is entitled to her opinion.

But I'd bet most Aboriginals wouldn't have heard of it (I'd be interested if they even care), I have a cousin like this woman and every now and then they spurt about something like this to keep their government grants and their jobs. Truth be told the money that people like this waste would be better spent in the Northern Territory assisting aboriginals in genuine need.

As for the Australian skaters being offended - pfft..We have a skating team?

[Squeezer55]

11:12 PM on 01/24/2010

it is not permissible today to display anything that is aboriginal in origin whether it is Australian, American or Canadian. The premise of doing anything to honor them whether it's naming a team, a building , a dance routine, etc. will always be interpreted as insulting. Personally, I think there are a hundred other cultures that have accomplished more , have been more productive and have been better atheletes and warriors than native cultures. It is better to ignore their minuscule achievements than risk their trumped up indignation over naming a team or event after them. They will always whine and snivel that no one understands their culture so naming a team like Atlanta Braves, Chicago Black Hawks, Florida Seminoles, etc. is lost on them. Don't do it. period.

[Palaver]

05:41 PM on 01/24/2010

Their routine wasn't just about Aborigines. There was Bali monkey chanting in the music. Europeans like costuming and giving their own ludicrous interpretations of other cultures--just like how white Americans use to love performing their minstrel shows.

Anywho, looks like they got that outfit discounted at Party City.

[Oleg1]

11:53 AM on 01/24/2010

khem... in 2008 Australian WHITE ice - skater pair performed an aboriginal dance at an international competition in Seoul.
I am sure they looked real authentic in their bushman get up. No problem for Marme .Manton.
She just kept on munching her indigenous Vegemite sandwich.

[Oleg1]

11:49 AM on 01/24/2010

Aboriginal people for very good reason are sensitive about their cultural objects and icons being co-opted by non-Aboriginal people
said Bev Manton, dressed in Nike sneakers, Western two-piece suit, speaking English; educated in British style educational system; wearing earrings; and espousing Western multi-cultural preoccupations.
Including such pearl of jingoistic of wisdom as:"For art to be Australian, it must be painted by an Australian,"

[Kandahar]

11:19 AM on 01/24/2010

Ozzies are idi0ts! They treat their aboriginals as c rap

[LMPE]

09:57 PM on 01/23/2010

Isn't it not the best idea to research stuff on the Internet?

[TruthFinderToo]

09:55 PM on 01/23/2010

So are the Aussies putting a 1 guinea price on each of the heads of the skaters?

Oh, sorry, I thought they were Tasmanian Aborigines. My mistake.

[Littlewords]

01:00 PM on 01/23/2010

Russian Ice Skaters' 'Aboriginal' Routine Offends Australians

...yet Australians remain comfortable treating Aboriginals as second class humans.

OK, got it. Thanks for the input Aussies.

[powerflowernewyork]

08:50 AM on 01/23/2010

Australians believe they treath the aboriginies well?Not too long ago several fishermen went fishing and found a dead woman in the water.They took the dark woman out of the water,and started fishing anyway.No regard for the dead body.After days of fishing they told the story.The body lay cold on the side ,it was not relevant to call the authorities,hese bunch of "australians" fished like nothing happened.Why are they complaining now?

[Bronwen]

11:02 PM on 02/22/2010

That didn't ever happen. It is the plot of a 2006 Australian film called Jindabyne which is based on a Raymond Carver short story. Why on earth anyone would think it's a true story is beyond me.

[escribacat]

01:55 AM on 01/23/2010

The video was removed by the user.

[KinkyGirl]

12:52 AM on 01/23/2010

All this noise is because the Russians are THE BEST ICE SKATERS IN THE WORLD. Deal with it!

[whirledgonecrazy]

07:16 PM on 01/22/2010

Just going from the photo, they're not only insensitive to Aboriginal cultural, they also have a shi**y sense of fashion! They look absolutely stupid...

[boomer7391]

10:35 PM on 01/22/2010

Yes, one can tell from your little picture that you ARE the voice of serious fashion. I don't understand the criticism. Their routine was beautiful and perfectly matched to the aborginal soundtrack and it was a smart routine. The symbols on their suits have meaning. Before sharing your uninformed opinion with folks why not view the video? You obviously can't get much "just going from the photo." What Aborigini died and left you the voice of their culture?

[pfc1369]

08:25 AM on 01/23/2010

Maybe the next skating couple can dress as in traditional Arab garb, or as Hassidic Jews.

I wonder if that would be OK with you, too.

[whirledgonecrazy]

01:21 PM on 01/26/2010

Wow it was meant as a joke genius. And the video was removed so none of us could watch it. Have a better day Senor Sour Puss....