News Releases

2010 Aboriginal Pavilion Drew Huge Crowds; Symbol of Pride and Success for Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

Vancouver, BC - For the first time in memory, many Aboriginal people feel part of Canada. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Aboriginal people had their own place to project a positive new image of their cultures. To share and showcase their arts, music and business skills. To meet and mingle with non-Aboriginal visitors in a relaxed, informal setting. That place was the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion (the Chiefs' House).

It was an astonishing, unprecedented successs. The Four Host First Nations (Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh), on whose traditional and shared traditional territories the Games are being held, welcomed visitors from across Canada and around the world. First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups from across Canada took turns presenting their cultures through music, dance, drumming, storytelling and more.

"In the corporate world, this would be called a re-branding strategy," says Four Host First Nations CEO Tewanee Joseph. "And our re-brand is all about the renewed sense of pride, accomplishment and success. The results have exceeded all our expectations. Events and activities here at the Pavilion have galvanized and captivated the attention of so many people we now consider our friends."

"This has been an overwhelming experience. A success beyond my wildest dreams," rejoices Joseph, "When people meet face-to-face- in a relaxed setting, they compare mythologies and learn about each other. Over time, attitudes can change."

Huge numbers of people visited the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion during its 17-day run.

Consider:

• More than 242,000 people visited the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion between February 12 - 28, 2010. Each day a special "theme day performances" from 11am to 3pm celebrated different Aboriginal groups from across Canada. Inside the Pavilion, people visited the Trading Post to view and purchase Aboriginal clothing, artwork and books; others sampled Aboriginal food in the Jack Poole Reception Hall. Food critics, and the public raved as they ordered dishes such as wild ride partridge tartlets with cranberry drizzle; B.C. Wild mushroom and chevre tartlets; pemmican on bannock with Saskatoon berry coulis; seafood martini with ginger lime cream sauce; seared Qualicum Bay scallops wrapped in wild boar bacon and honey dill sauce, and more.

• More than 85,000 people visited the Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase, located at the downtown campus of Vancouver Community College. Here, up to 30 Aboriginal businesses from across Canada and more than 150 Aboriginal artists showcased their work. As well, a five-day Aboriginal Fashion Showcase was help February 12-16, 2010. "We can truly say we are open for business - and business is booming,' said Aboriginal Business Showcase Director, Brenda Baptiste. "The Four Host First Nations always believed the Olympics were going to be a launching point for economic development and entrepreneurship.

• And estimated 610 Aboriginal performers put on 224 shows at the Pavilion, which operated from 11am to midnight each day. Musicians included Buffy Saint-Marie, the Métis Fiddler Quartet, Mad Eskimo and Joy Harjo as well as traditional drummers and singers from the Four Host First Nations. Every evening, the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion signature show, We Are Here, was shown in the Dome.

• On February 12, after crisscrossing the country and visiting 118 Aboriginal communities, the Olympic torch made its way through the streets of Vancouver to the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion where and estimated 60,000 people had gathered to celebrate the event.

According to Joseph, the Pavilion stands a symbol of a renewed Aboriginal participation in Canada. "When we started out, we had one overriding objective," he says. "We were going to work overtime to make Aboriginal participation the defining element of the Vancouver Games. History will ultimately decide, of course, but hundreds of thousands of happy faces visiting our Pavilion, you can guess how we feel."

"We've learned many lessons here," Joseph says. "And we will now incorporate them into a new model of inclusion to deal directly with the thorny issues that have so long divided us. Our new model is based on partnerships - Aboriginal, business and government - and it works. Our success here offers documented proof."

"We couldn't have done this without the support of partners such as senior governments and VANOC. And, in the future, as we tackle thorny issues related to the longstanding challenges faced by Aboriginal people in Canada, we're going to have to work together. Building on our successes here, we can do it," Joseph says.

On behalf of the Four Host First Nations, Joseph congratulated VANOC, the IOC and all other partners on organizing a tremendous Games. He also congratulated the many athletes who competed for their countries in the spirit of friendship and fair play.

Joseph also paid a special tribute of thanks to VANOC CEO John Furlong, the federal government, the B.C government, City of Vancouver and partners including the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Métis National Council and Métis Nation British Columbia.

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For more information contact:

Alex Rose

604 346 7720

agrose@shaw.ca