Sinauna: Pre-Colonial Traditions and Tribal Patterns event recap
6 July 2026
The Department of East Asian Studies and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Edmonton hosted Sinauna: Pre-Colonial Traditions and Tribal Patterns on Saturday, June 27.
The event featured conversations with students, families, artists, organizers, and community members about pre-colonial traditions, Baybayin, batok, ancestral designs, and what it means to stay connected to heritage.
Mayo Landicho, a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist and tattoo artist, spoke about batok tattooing and how his work connects art, identity, memory, and ancestral practice.
Ida Lucila, Edmonton Historian Laureate, spoke about her role in the community and shared her cultural mapping project documenting Filipino presence, heritage, stories, and contributions in Edmonton.
The event also featured reflections by community partners, a cultural performance by Anakbayan, a video of work from Hibla PH, UPAAE's Historya, and EPIC, as well as a live batok demonstration by Mayo Landicho.
