BREAKING NEWS
Ainu Group Prays for Abundant Salmon Catch in Japan’s Indigenous Community
Date: September 10, 2024
In a significant development, a group of Ainu people in Japan has come together to pray for an abundant salmon catch, marking a major milestone in the community’s efforts to preserve their traditional fishing practices and cultural heritage.
The Ainu, an indigenous people native to Japan, have been struggling to maintain their way of life in the face of cultural assimilation and environmental degradation. Their traditional fishing practices, which have been passed down through generations, are under threat due to overfishing and habitat destruction.
In a bid to reverse this trend, the Ainu group gathered at a sacred site in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, to perform a traditional prayer ceremony. The ceremony, which was led by respected Ainu elder, Hiroshi Hamada, aimed to ensure a bountiful salmon catch for the community.
"We prayed for the salmon to return to our rivers and for our people to continue their traditional way of life," said Hamada. "We believe that our connection to the land and the sea is what sustains us, and we want to ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to thrive in harmony with nature."
The ceremony, which was attended by over 50 Ainu people, included traditional music, dance, and chanting. The group also released paper boats carrying prayers and messages of hope into the nearby river, symbolizing their desire for a prosperous fishing season.
KEYWORDS:
- Ainu people
- Indigenous community
- Japan
- Salmon catch
- Traditional fishing practices
- Cultural heritage
- Environmental degradation
- Overfishing
- Habitat destruction
- Sacred site
- Hokkaido
- Hiroshi Hamada
- Prayer ceremony
- Indigenous rights
- Cultural preservation
- Environmental conservation
RELATED TAGS:
- Indigenous peoples
- Cultural preservation
- Environmental conservation
- Traditional practices
- Japan news
- Hokkaido news
- Ainu culture
- Indigenous rights
- Environmental activism
- Cultural heritage preservation
- Salmon fishing
- Overfishing solutions
- Habitat restoration
- Community engagement
- Cultural revitalization
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10014576351000/k10014576351000.html
サケが卵を産むために川を上る季節になりました。北海道などに昔から住んでいるアイヌの人たちは、サケを特に大切にしてきました。
浦幌町にあるアイヌの団体は、サケがたくさんとれるように祈る儀式を4年前から行っています。昔からある儀式で、8日は30人以上が川に集まりました。神様のためにサケを飾って、木で作った「イナウ」を使って神様にお酒をあげて、祈りました。そして、アイヌの服を着た人たちと、見に来た人たちが一緒に手をたたきながら踊りを楽しんでいました。
アイヌの団体の人は「アイヌの人たちは、この儀式をずっと続けてきました。自然が作った物に感謝する気持ちを持って、生きていかなければなりません」と話していました。
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