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When audience members watch the Ukrainian dancers at this year's Mosaic festival, they may be forgiven for assuming that the dancers all speak just English or Ukrainian.

But Kiko and Maya Malnyk have the heritages they've inherited from both their parents — learning Ukrainian folk dances from their father's side and speaking Japanese with their Japanese-born mother.

"I sometimes think that maybe I'm a little bit special …because not a lot of people are just part Japanese and part Ukrainian," 11-year-old Kiko said.

Chris Malnyk, Maya Malnyk, Izumi Kanayama and Kiko Malnyk enjoy a traditional Japanese meal together. (Submitted by Malnyk/Kanayama family)

That's something their mother said she tries to get her two daughters to understand and appreciate.

"I just keep telling t

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