By Andy Wanning
Before even exiting the Vancouver airport, I’m greeted with this image:
It looks like a much-talked about partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the City of Vancouver and other government agencies, and the indigenous peoples of Canada, notably represented by an organization called the
Four Host First Nations (FHFN), might be the real deal.
I’ve been sent here as a representative of Tribal Link Foundation, an NGO in association with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations, to see first-hand the fruits of this partnership.
This collaboration was initiated because the Olympics are being held within the shared traditional territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, and leaders on both sides were eager to work together. These nations played an integral role in the successful campaign to bring the Olympics to Vancouver and Whistler.
After the bid was received, on November 24, 2004, the chiefs and councils of these four First Nations entered into an historic agreement in which they agreed to coordinate their efforts to host and support the Games, and FHFN was formed. As official hosts of the Games, this marks the first time in history that indigenous peoples have been recognized by the International Olympic Committee as Official Partners in the hosting of a Games.
So, I’m off to see what’s come of these years of collaboration and organization. First stop: the opening of the Aboriginal Pavilion, a 65-foot high inflatable dome that will serve as a cultural and artistic center during the Games. I’ll be checking in periodically, so if all of this interests you (and if you’ve read this far, I suppose it does), bookmark this site and come on back. Should be interesting.
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Dispatch from the 2010 Winter Olympics: Arriving in Vancouver
By Andy Wanning
Before even exiting the Vancouver airport, I’m greeted with this image:
It looks like a much-talked about partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the City of Vancouver and other government agencies, and the indigenous peoples of Canada, notably represented by an organization called the Four Host First Nations (FHFN), might be the real deal.
I’ve been sent here as a representative of Tribal Link Foundation, an NGO in association with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations, to see first-hand the fruits of this partnership.
This collaboration was initiated because the Olympics are being held within the shared traditional territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, and leaders on both sides were eager to work together. These nations played an integral role in the successful campaign to bring the Olympics to Vancouver and Whistler.
After the bid was received, on November 24, 2004, the chiefs and councils of these four First Nations entered into an historic agreement in which they agreed to coordinate their efforts to host and support the Games, and FHFN was formed. As official hosts of the Games, this marks the first time in history that indigenous peoples have been recognized by the International Olympic Committee as Official Partners in the hosting of a Games.
So, I’m off to see what’s come of these years of collaboration and organization. First stop: the opening of the Aboriginal Pavilion, a 65-foot high inflatable dome that will serve as a cultural and artistic center during the Games. I’ll be checking in periodically, so if all of this interests you (and if you’ve read this far, I suppose it does), bookmark this site and come on back. Should be interesting.