Syrian, Iraqi refugees overcome language barrier with music at Winnipeg Folk Festival

Under the glowing sun at Birds Hill Provincial Park, a group of Syrian and Iraqi refugees — some having arrived in Winnipeg less than one month ago — sat together, drumming.

They met for the first time on the bus to the Winnipeg Folk Festival under the guidance of Ahlim Jasim, an outreach worker at the Canadian Muslim Women's Institute.

The festival gave Jasim 20 tickets for the refugees, who were expected to show up, feel the breeze of a Manitoba summer and enjoy the music. Instead, Jasim said, they created their own.

"They communicate with each other very well with music," she said.

"With other Canadians … they cannot speak English but they are doing a very good job … with the music."

It took some time for the group to find their groove, though.

"At first, they were shy and shocked when we came here," Jasim said, smiling. The women, fully clothed in outfits that included traditional headwear, are not used to seeing people in bathing suits.

"With the dressing … They know this is a park and people, when they go for a [swim], at first they're shocked, but now they're used to seeing it."

Other sights at the festival included a young man wearing big glasses and flowers in his hair. People swung hula hoops around their hips, watched bands throughout the park and danced with bare feet.

The celebration continues until Sunday.