Tenacious Heart: Q & A with Ana Miura by Jason Dunkerly, Ana Miura, who played as a part of the Ottawa Folk Festival team which captured the Spirit title at the Community Cup in 2010, has worked with the Ottawa Folk Festival since the fall of 2009. Prior to joining the Ottawa Folk Festival, Ana was a full time musician and international touring folk artist who regularly shared the stage with artists such as Rick Fines, Sarah Harmer and Broken Social Scene.

She launched her recording career with the release of an EP entitled Tenacious Heart (2005). She followed this up by releasing the well received Mercury Rising (2007), before releasing a full length album, The Kindness of Years, in 2010.

Ana hails from ecclectic roots and this is something which has helped to fuel her love of soccer. In this q & a, we discuss her family's passion for soccer, the connection between the Ottawa Folk Festival and the Community Cup, and the way she feels the Community Cup offers a welcoming environment to those who are new to our community.              

Jason Dunkerley: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?            

Ana Miura: I have been with the Ottawa Folk Festival since 2009. I worked as the Sponsorship Manager at the Folk Festival last year. Prior to joining the Ottawa Folk Festival, I was a full time musician. I come from a soccer family. My brother was an all-star university soccer player and my father came here from Argentina so I definitely come from soccer roots. I grew up talking a lot about soccer, and have a lot of experience with long South American style screams when a goal is scored!              

JD: Can you tell me about the connection between the Ottawa Folk Festival and the Community Cup?            

AM: Chris White is one of our founders of the Ottawa Folk Festival. Chris had heard about the Community Cup and thought it was really great. We got involved two years ago with a table and a team, and had a great time. When the 2010 event came up, we decided it was a great event to be a part as it centres on community, much like the Ottawa Folk Festival. We are a community-based organization with 600+ volunteers and understand the value of togetherness and the importance of welcoming newcomers.              

JD: How have your teams done in previous years?            

AM: Before the 2010 event, we decided between the staff that if we were going to be involved again in 2010, we would really needed to step it up. We were not the greatest athletes and but we were ready to have fun and thought that the most important part of the event was the spirit award. This was something we placed a lot of value on as an organization.  At last year’s Community Cup launch I laid down a friendly challenge to all the teams to compete against us for the Spirit Award! With the help of our Volunteer Manager and staff, we decided to bring the festival’s collection of d'jembes, which is an African hand drum. We brought 10 or 15 with us, drumming out different chants, cheering not just for our team but for other teams. We had a blast the whole day and an awesome time. I don't think we won a game but had such an awesome experience and we were thrilled to be there. When the award ceremonies came around, we won the spirit award! I jumped for joy – I was incredibly happy for and proud of our team effort. We proudly display the award in our office. The great thing about the Community Cup is it offers a very welcoming environment, and not just for newcomers. Sometimes you go to work and get caught in your own space and routine. It’s an open and positive environment with a nice feeling of community, especially as someone might not know where to find that feeling within the city. For folks who are new to the city or are caught in a routine, it’s nice to have fun and enjoy other people's company!            

JD: I think you might have been the captain of last year's Spirit champions?            

AM: No, Greg Morrow was our Captain and led our charge and is a regular soccer player, and I was just happy to be there, boundless enthusiasm in tow.              

JD: Have you been involved as a player in other years?            

AM: No this was my first time.              

JD: Can you talk about the way you see this event impacting newcomers?            

AM: When someone moves to any new city and especially a new country, you wouldn't perhaps know the place where you could meet new people. I think it just helps newcomers to have a starting point or a catalyst to be a part of a cool community event, and for them to know that here's a place where they can meet new people. It provides a chance for newcomers to meet newcomers. My mother is from the United States and my father is from South America. My father appreciates a newcomer’s unique position where they may be experiencing loneliness, searching for a way to begin a dialogue in a new culture – I have seen his interactions with other newcomers and there is a friendliness and openness and kindness that I've witnessed, the same warm spirit shown at the Community Cup. It’s a fantastic way to learn about and interact with other cultures as well as to share in the openness that is such a big part of this event.              

JD: are you going to be at the Community Cup this year?            

AM: The Folk Festival will be involved once again.