Artwork by secondary school students in Seattle, one of Christchurch’s six Sister Cities, as well as local high school students is on display in an exhibition that pays homage to the art and culture of the indigenous peoples of each area – the Suquamish, Duwamish, and Puget Sound Indians (Coastal Salish) in Seattle, and New Zealand Ngai Tahu.

Entitled ‘First People’, the exhibition runs from 15 February to 14 March.

The exhibition is one of the latest educational, cultural, and trade connections that have been established between Seattle and Christchurch since the Sister City relationship was first established in 1981.

Chairman of the Christchurch-Seattle Sister City Committee, Brian Palliser, who was in Seattle in November 2001 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sister City relationship, says the cities share many similarities; both are national leaders in the fields of computer technology and electronics for example. Christchurch’s Recycled Materials Foundation was modelled on the Clean Washington Center, which is based in Seattle.

Seattle started its programme of developing international trade partners in 1993 and was one of the world’s first “City States” to promote the concept that having a global perspective would become increasingly important to a city’s (and region’s) success in the 21st century.

Mr Palliser says that formal Sister City relationships are about promoting cultural understanding through a wide range of ‘connections’ including the arts, education and sport and the establishment of economic and commercial linkages.

“It is not possible to quantify the relationship or put a dollar value on it. A visit to the Arboretum, for example, developed by Seattle to showcase trees and plants from all over the world including a New Zealand section, could result in a greater awareness of Christchurch and the boosting of tourism, but these are subtle effects.”

Mr Palliser says more projects, including art exchanges, are in the pipeline between the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke Museum (also in Seattle at Washington University) and the Canterbury Museum. “The Seattle Art Museum has expressed interest in hosting a high quality Maori exhibit. We’re also working on bringing an exhibition of Northwest Indian arts and crafts to the Canterbury Museum.”

Another exciting project is the production of a carved totem (or similar art form) for the Sister Cities Gardens at Halswell Quarry Park. This project involves bringing an Indian carver from Seattle to Christchurch. He will ‘set up’ in a public area, possibly the Arts Centre, so people can watch the artwork unfold. The garden is already home to a seat carved in Oamaru stone by local Seattleborn carver Doug Neil.

One of the highlights of the Christchurch/ Seattle Sister City relationship has been the scholar exchange programme. Each year, three senior secondary school students from Christchurch, and further afield, visit Seattle for a two-week exchange around Easter.The exchange is reciprocated with senior students visiting from Seattle.

For more information about the Seattle scholar exchange programme contact Dave Adamson or Sue McFarlane at the Christchurch City Council on 941 8775 or 941 8959. Information on Seattle and Christchurch’s five other Sister Cities can be found on the web at www.christchurch.org.nz/SisterCities