By Clint Buehler

Four Aboriginal people were recognized for their achievement at the end of the year when they were among 57 appointments to the Order of Canada—Canada’s highest honour—announced by Governor-General Michaelle Jean

Murray Angus, who was honoured for his many efforts to build awareness and respect for Canada’s Native people and their traditions, and particularly for his contributions to empowering Inuit youth as founder of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, a unique eight-month college program for Inuit youth from Nunavut. It is designed for those who want to prepare for the educational, training, and career opportunities that are being created by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Nunavut government. Angus was its founding instructor in 1985. Nunavut Sivuniksavut brings high school graduates from Nunavut to Ottawa for an eight-month program that prepares them for post-secondary studies and career opportunities while also teaching them Nunavut’s history, politics and culture.About 22 new students are chosen for the program each year. More than 300 students have graduated from it since it began in 1985.

Tantoo Cardinal has achieved a level of recognition most actors only dream of, beginning with memorable roles in such films as Loyalties, Black Robe and Dances With Wolves. Maclean’s magazine declared her Actress of the Year in 1991. In 1993 she was given the American Indian Film Festival best actress award. She also received the first Rudy Martin Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Native American in Film for her roles in Legends of the Fall, and The Education of Little Tree. Toronto Women in Film and Television honoured Tantoo with an Outstanding Achievement Award. And for her appearance on North of 60 she won a 1996 Gemini award for best performance by an actress in a guest role, dramatic series. In 1998, she received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Arts. In 2006, Tantoo was honoured by the City of Edmonton by being added to their Dreamspeakers Walk of Honour during the 11th annual Dreamspeakers Film Festival.

Judy Gingell of Whitehorse was recognized for her years of service in various Yukon Aboriginal organizations, including a precursor to the Council of Yukon First Nations. She was also the Yukon’s first Aboriginal commissioner — the territorial equivalent of a lieutenant-governor — serving from 1995 to 2000. Along with serving as the Yukon’s first Aboriginal commissioner, Gingell is also recognized for more than four decades of work to promote and advance First Nations’ rights and self-governance in the territory. That includes her tenure as chair of the Council for Yukon Indians, which acted as the negotiating body of the Yukon Native Brotherhood. Gingell led the council, which consisted of 14 First Nations, during historic land-claim and self-government negotiations with the federal and territorial governments through the 1990s. After what Gingell calls a “tough struggle,” 11 of those 14 First Nations have ratified agreements. She says those First Nations have come a long way since then. Gingell also headed up the Northern Native Broadcasting Corp. and the Yukon Indian Development Corp.

Joan Glode has said that her greatest fear is that she will not be able to make enough of a difference in the lives of children and youth. She need not worry, for the many of her colleagues who wrote letters of support for her selection for the 2009 National Aboriginal Achievement Award make it clear she has already done more than most. In 1973, she became one of the first Aboriginal people in Canada to earn her Master of Social Work degree. She would go on to become a human rights officer for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission; the founding President of the Micmac Native Friendship Centre, which she continues to support as secretary-treasurer; welfare program review & training officer, then coordinator of social services, for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Her impact reached new heights when she became founding executive director of Mi’kmaw Family & Childrens’ Services of Nova Scotia in1985, and over the 23 years of her leadership, built it into one of the most respected agencies of its kind in the country. It also led to her being recognized as a superior administrator, policy maker, negotiator, fundraiser and, most of all, as a loving and caring human being who has made a huge difference in so many lives. Active throughout her career in organizations related to it, she is currently co-chair, Canadian Native Mental Health Association; Advisory Committee, Maritime School of Social Work; Board Member, First Nations Caring Society of Canada; member of the Implementation Committee, First Nations Child & Family Services National Policy Review; Secretary/Treasurer, MicMac Native Friendship Centre; Board of Governors, Mt. St. Vincent University, and Senate, National Association of Friendship Centres. In recognition of her contributions, she has received numerous awards, including the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal; the Canada 125 Medal; and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. On International Women’s Day in 1992, she was honoured as “one of Canada’s outstanding Aboriginal women leaders” by Health and Welfare Canada. In 1996 she received the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Social Work Week Award for Nova Scotia, and in 2009, the National Aboriginal Achievement Word for Social Work.

By Clint Buehler

Lorne Cardinal has a natural flare for comedy, as evidenced by his performances in TV series such as “Blackfly” and “Corner Gas,” and memorable side gigs such as hosting the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

But he has also proven his mettle as a serious dramatic actor, as a director, and as a playwright.

He is currently demonstrating both the comic and serious sides of his acting in a production of “Thunderstick,” at Theatre Network here. It’s a joint production with Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre, where it played before moving to Edmonton. He directed the play, written by Metis playwright Kenneth T. Williams, a decade ago in Toronto, and ended up taking on the Jacob role.

The two-character play is a particular challenge for Lorne and his co-star, Craig Luzon of Royal Canadian Air Farce fame, as they switch roles on alternate nights. They play mismatched cousins on the trail of scandalous political intrigue. The cousins, both journalists, have been separated since their youth on the reserve and are now brought together by unexpected circumstances. Jacob , the boozy journalist, is the more challenging and complex role of the two, while Isaac, the well-travelled and more world-weary photojournalist, comes off more often than not as the straight man to Jacob’s excesses.

A lively comedy with some serious edges, it begins as one cousin throws up on the Prime Minister, and only gets more frenzied as they are launched into jail, heartbreak and a road trip into the Ontario backwoods chasing the story of their careers.

Both Lorne and Craig are hoping that their production, and others with Aboriginal casts and themes, will attract Aboriginal audiences, and inspire them to become regular theatre-goers and even aspire to careers in theatre, television and films as well.

Even prior to the opening, the production garnered an inordinate amount of positive coverage in both the Saskatoon and Edmonton media.

Lorne credits two particular influences for his success—his upbringing and his formal training.

I first met Lorne and his older brother Lewis when they were young boys, being raised by their father.

Their uncle Harold was the ground-breaking president of the Indian Association of Alberta, and their father, Don, was the vice-president. We used to tease the boys about their “lobbying”—sitting engulfed in big chairs in the lobbies of hotels, waiting for their father to get out of meetings.

In those days, Don had some problems with alcohol, “so we not only learned about what to do, but what not to do. (But) he gave us our strength.” Don would soon return to the “Red Road” and become a traditional healer. Over the decades, “he helped so many people,” Lorne says, prior to his untimely passing.

And Lorne wasn’t the only one to benefit from that sometimes challenging upbringing. Lewis has become an influential educator and a powerful advocate for Native and social issues.

Lorne says the nomadic nature of his early years contributed to his comedic bent. Moving often from school to school, he found that being the class clown eased his transition into new situations, and reduced the number of beatings he had to endure. “People liked me even though I was terribly shy and frightened.” It helped, too, that he had an older brother to back him up.

The formal training came at the University of Alberta, where Lorne was the first Aboriginal person to graduate (in 1993) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. (Other graduates from the program include Kenneth Walsh and Paul Gross.) Lorne’s first formal acting class was at Caribou College (now the Thompson Rivers University) in Kamloops , BC, which recognized his achievements last year with an honourary doctorate.

Looking to the influences that helped to create his own success, Lorne’s advice to aspiring young people is: “Get the training. Learn the techniques. Learn the craft. There are so many aspects; you can’t rely on talent alone.”

While raw talent helps—and Lorne certainly has it—he believes the path to success can be slower and less certain for those who learn on the job, both in finding opportunities and in developing and growing their competence. He credits the fast start and ongoing success of his career to that formal training.

Over the years, Lorne has fashioned a career of memorable characters and performances on television, in film and on the stage, as well as directorial successes and memorable gigs hosting numerous awards shows. And there are more on the horizon.

His TV credits, in addition to Corner Gas, include regular roles on Lonesome Dove, North of 60, Firefly and Jake and the Kid, as well as guest roles and directing gigs on several other TV series, including Renegadepress.com, Relic Hunter, Rabbit Fall and Moccasin Flats, voice roles on the stop-action series Wapos Bay, and numerous performances in both TV movies, and big screen movies where he appeared with such major stars as Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon and Gary Sinise.

Whenever his schedule allows, however, Lorne looks for opportunities where he can pursue his first love, performing in and/or directing live productions on theatre stages.

His theatre credits include the Factory Theatre’s Jim & Shorty, and Native Earth’s Red River, The Baby Blues, Generic Warriors And No Name Indians and 60 Below, which earned a Dora Mavor Moore nomination for Best Production in 1997. His performance in Edmonton`s Theatre Network`s High Life earned him a 1999 Sterling Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also received 1998 and 1999 Jessie Richardson Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in the critically acclaimed Only Drunks & Children Tell The Truth.

Lorne’s current project, the pilot of which has already aired on APTN, is “Wolf Canyon,” which he`s hopeful will be picked up as a series, not only by APTN, but by other channels. It stars Lorne and Kevin Sorbo (Hercules,) with an ensemble cast, as bumbling actors on a bad U.S. television show being filmed in Canada.

Lorne plays Hoyt Talbot Jr., a veteran stuntman who`s fallen on his head too many times. Sometimes, he says, he`ll just start blurting out lines from a totally different movie, or he`ll do a shoulder roll in the middle of the street because he thinks the cameras are rolling. “Or he hears gunfire and goes into platoon mode.“

By Bernie Bates

To quote Forrest Gump: “Stupid is what stupid does.” What the hell does that mean? I think I may have the answer; it’s one idiot following another idiot around a barrel.

We Canucks are amongst the most polite easy going people on the planet. We hold doors open for the next person, we feel the pain of others and smile like imbecilic jerks as we’re herded around by our elected sheep dogs.

Before you know it we’ll be pulling hundred dollar bills from our ass pockets to pay the bills of an elite few. A few fat cats get to ski in champagne powder down to their opulent chalets then feast on prime rib while the rest of us mice pay the tax tab. The olympics are costing us a mountain of cash and the mountain keeps getting higher and higher. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill.

The privileged few who wanted to host this extravagant party first stated in a press release that it would only cost a drop in the bucket in comparison to the huge return of World wide notoriety we’d receive. But as soon as they received the olympic bid so too did we receive another press release, then another and another. Each one being more costly than the one before.

The original ‘drop in the bucket’ is now enough to fill an olympic sized pool. Believe me, for decades to come, tax payers will be swimming in that pool of debt. And you can mark these words: “some people are going to drown”.

This whole fiasco would be bad enough during prosperous times, but to take on these enormous responsibilities during a recession and in the middle of a World war isn’t very responsible at all!

And just when you think enough has been asked of the humble tax payer. At a time when the family budget is stretched to it’s very limit, they pile more shit on your plate, in the form of the HST. ‘Harmonized’, my ass!

So what are you going to do about it? Nothing? I thought so, you’re a Canadian. We’ll just bend over and let the boys on the hill pick our pockets, take away our lunch money and you know what else? They won’t even call you after they’ve screwed you over. Ha.

Are you beginning to feel like a fool, who’s been left standing in the middle of a crowed room with your pants pulled down? You can mark these words too; when the next election comes around we’ll vote for the lesser of the two evils. Then they’ll take their turn at us until we get fed up with them too. As I stated in the beginning of this bit o’ wit; “Stupid is what stupid does.” One idiot following another idiot around a barrel.

Don’t kid yourself the powers that be have us over a barrel. We’re also up the creek without a paddle, up to our ears in kah kah and the ship is sinking fast. But, unlike when a real ship sinks it’s not going to be; “women and children first.” It’ll be the rats who got us into this mess who’ll be the least effected.

The influential, well-to-do and politico finks will simply hunker down in their mansions and wait a few years until the general public forgets about them. In the mean time Joe and Jane Citizen must toil away at menial tasks just to keep the wolf from the door. Do you remember the federal ‘sponsorship scandal’? Over 100 million dollars in tax payers money went poof like a fart in a wind storm. Then in our own BC back yard we’ve suffered; insider trading, influence peddling, bribery, sexual harassment and a drunk nut behind the wheel. Police who shoot first and then don’t answer questions later. Judges who seemingly can only hear the voices of high paid lawyers, while the poor public screams repeatedly for justice.

I ask you this of you; what’s it going to take before we polite, passive pushovers get pissed off enough to march up the hill and kick some ass?

THE END

By Rick Littlechild

Phil Fontaine has worn many hats in his long career. The former chief of the AFN has seen Native history being made in the last thirty years, and he couldn’t be happier to be part of the 2010 Olympics being hosted for the first time ever on Native land. Phil is in Manitoba right now, visiting some of the Aboriginal communities where the Olympic torch has passed through. It moved him “to see the turn out, all the people lined up on the highway, people cheering in the cold just to see the torch.”

The Olympic torch began its trip in Newfoundland and kept going through the Maritimes provinces to Quebec and Ontario. Today it is traveling through Manitoba, and the torch has stopped at over 135 Native communities so far. First Nations are proud to be included in the festivities. There is a sense of enthusiasm and of pride that has been fueled by seeing the torch being carried by one of their own. Today, Phil Fontaine carries the Olympic flame, and in a few days Tyson Poulin, a 13-year-old Métis student will do the same in Regina. When it finally arrives in British Columbia, Osoyoos Chief Clarence Louie will be one of the many torchbearers. The flame will continue traveling throughout the province to its final stop in Vancouver. “The opening ceremonies will be spectacular,” Phil said. The ceremony to welcome the world to Vancouver in February will also be a unique opportunity for sharing our songs, dances, and traditions. Phil noted that “the 2010 Olympics is not only a sporting event, it is also an opportunity to celebrate First Nations cultures.”

The Four Host Nations include four bands: the Musqueam, Squamish, the Lil’wat and Tsleil-Waututh. They have been part of planning many events that will feature Aboriginal dancers and musicians along with a showcase of Indian artists. “One of our greatest challenges is that Indigenous participation is relatively new to the Olympic movement,” Gary Youngman (consulting director for Aboriginal Participation) told the press. “There is no template we can follow, no clear indicators for how we measure our success.” One certain measure of that success will hopefully show in the smiling faces of Olympic fans.

There is little doubt that Native presence in the games will also help promote Aboriginal tourism since 500,000 people are expected to attend the games in Vancouver. Within the region, there are numerous cultural experiences to enjoy, from art galleries and museums to wildlife viewing and backcountry excursions. Phil has nothing but optimism. He knows how important the games are and believes in the sincerity of the VANOC administrators when they told the media that “inclusive Aboriginal participation makes us stronger, and in formalizing this relationship, we again show the importance that both parties attach to recognizing and respecting the role of Canada’s Aboriginal people in the planning, staging, and hosting of the 2010 Games.”

Since leaving the AFN, Phil has accepted a position with the Royal Bank of Canada as special advisor. He has said that he can help the Royal Bank “deepen its relationships with Aboriginal businesses in Canada.” Phil’s first responsibility for RBC was to promote the torch run for the Olympic Games, which is what he was doing in Manitoba today. He will be in Vancouver in February not only to attend the opening ceremonies and appreciate the abundance of Native art, but also to be a spectator at the games. “I bought my hockey tickets a long time ago,” Phil said.

Like all Canadian hockey fans, he wants Crosby and Team Canada to win gold. In the meantime, he can relish a moment of success and anticipation. First Nations in Canada have become partners for the Olympics being held in Vancouver and will take part a unique international showcase of Aboriginal art and culture. History is being made, and Phil Fontaine is there as usual, representing Aboriginal people once again.

By Richard Wagamese

Antonin Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings in E is one of my favorite pieces of music. There’s a particular lilt and jubilation to it that’s energizing and on days when my energies are flagged and I’m in need of a lift, I’ll put it on and feel it raise me up again.

The opening always reminds me of snow storms arriving across the sweep of prairie. There’s a rush of strings driven along by rumbling basses before succumbing to the pastoral swell of the main theme. Then it resolves into a statement of calm like the joy of walking in the crispness of fresh drifts.

I found it one winter night in Saskatchewan. I’d made it my mission that winter to spend the long dark nights learning more about symphonic music. As always, the local library fueled my research. I’d sign out CDs by the handful and listen to them while walking along the river or in the quiet of my room.

I signed out books as well and while the music played in the solitude of my room, I’d read about the music I was listening to. It was a critical deciphering. I’d always enjoyed classical music but I’d never moved beyond mere appreciation. That winter I learned how its various forms were constructed and I grew to love it even more.

I lived with the music. On my way to and from my teaching job I listened. When I shopped I listened. Then, late at night alone in the dark, I’d lie in my bed, stare out the window at the huge Saskatchewan moon above the purple landscape and listen. It filled me, eased the loneliness I lived in then, and connected me to a process of invention that’s never failed to impress me since.

It was exactly like rediscovering myself as a Native person. It was never something you could achieve casually. There had to be a commitment.

Like symphonic music becoming an Indian had passages of discord, disharmony that could distract you from the search for melody, even the belief that it was there. But it always was and it’s only the passage of time that allows me the grace to appreciate the fracture of time and tempo and the resolution back to the main theme.

I remember someone asking me once – “If native people were so spiritual, as you are all so proud of saying, if their lives were built on such strong spiritual foundations, why did they flock to the missionaries like they did. Why did they abandon all of that for the vague promise of a strange religion?”

Questions like that always altered the pitch and tempo of my learning. I was raised in a Western mindset so logic like that was what I was familiar with and essentially, how I’d learned to navigate the world. It disrupted the native way of seeing that was so new to me.

Like everything in my life I depended on a library for answers. But in this case the storehouse of knowledge I went to were the elders of my culture. The question bothered me. It rankled me. I wanted to know the answer and I sensed the great importance it had for me so I sought out a teacher to tell me. What I learned was amazing.

In the long ago times before the arrival of the settler folk native people lived a holistic way. They depended on the land but they also learned to work in harmony with it. Similarly, they sought balance with the creatures of the earth as well. They understood that creation was built on a great wheel of energy and that harmony was the necessary principle that allowed them to be in constant touch with that great energy, that Great Spirit.

The teachers, those who guided the spiritual lives of the people, were those who lived principled lives and by doing so were graced with much spiritual insight. Over time the people came to recognize the manner in which the teachers lived and they wanted a symbol to reflect that honorable way, to identify them as principled beings.

They recognized that true teachers were those who demonstrated two significant relationships. They lived a harmonious relationship with everything in this reality, everything on the land, everything alive. They also lived a harmonious relationship with the great energy of the universe, the great unseen, the Great Mystery. The symbol they sought needed to reflect that.

What they came up with has come to be called a mandala. It comes from Oriental or Buddhist tradition that means a depiction or a symbol of the cosmos. In native tradition it was an honoring sign, a symbol that meant its bearer was a truly spiritual being, a teacher, one in tune with the Great Spirit.

It was constructed within a circle. One horizontal line represented harmony with all life. Another vertical line represented harmony with the spirit world. They were given only to those who actively demonstrated those two relationships and because they were such an honor and because the people who bore them were essentially humble people, they were kept out of sight, only to be seen in ceremony.

When the missionaries arrived they wore these symbols around their necks in plain sight. Two distinct intersecting lines. A cross.

The people were awed by this display. Their symbol was held in such high regard that they reasoned that these new beings who could wear such an esteemed symbol openly for all to see, must surely be great teachers sent to bring them great truths. And so they welcomed these men into their camps and lodges and listened to their words.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Hearing that story elevated me. I understood the how and why of things. I understood that history as it happens is not history as it is written. I understood how sins of omission can change the whole pitch and tempo of things making resolution difficult.

Dvorak in his genius resolved the Serenade in E in an allegro vivace, an exuberance. It’s what I wish for all of us.

By Cam Martin

A recent amendment passed in December that may change the way we look at land development on reservations. It’s called the First Nations Certainty of Land Title Act, and it would unify provincial property regulations on federally administered reserve lands. It changes some of the details of the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act in an effort to minimize the regulatory gap between reserve and non-reserve land. This “regulatory gap” is an absence of adequate laws for First Nations people including regulations, monitoring, and enforcement systems to govern activity on reserve land. Numerous reports have identified regulatory gaps as one of the key obstacles to Aboriginal economic development. Without legislation to level the playing field, First Nations people may find themselves continually marginalized.

The bill has an immediate affect for the Squamish band trying to establish several highrise residential towers. “This is an important first step to allow us to use our land to the highest and best use to support ourselves,” Squamish Chief Gibby Jacob said. The legislation normalizes the value of reservation land and non-reservation land, allowing equal economic opportunity, something that First Nations have been striving to attain for centuries. Jason Calla, a Squamish band member and real estate consultant, notes, “[The Squamish want] to give investors the same comfort, the same transaction procedures, the same certainty you get from the [provincial land registry].”

The legislation will provide money and jobs for any reservation that takes advantage of it. For example, the Squamish estimate that the residential development could draw $472 million in investment and more than 6,000 jobs. Further speculation about the second phase of development, which includes expansion to residential highrises, estimates its value at $7 billion in investment and more than 15,000 jobs. That’s an unprecedented benefit for the Squamish people. Chief Jacob said, “Our ancestors talked about [how] we’ve got to prepare for the future. Well, the future’s today for our nation. We have 3,600 people, and that’ll double in the next 20 years to 25 years, so we have no choice but to start looking at developing and creating a Squamish Nation economy.”

Premier Gordon Campbell supports the bill and believes that cooperation between parties will ensure that the legislation is workable. “There are always going to be negotiations back and forth, but we want to see First Nations and non-First Nations work together,” Campbell said. “I think the way to close economic gaps, education gaps, and social gaps is to form these partnerships.”

Though the legislation has passed, the Squamish are still looking to the provincial government to regulate details such as strata-property regulations and applying levies to property transfer taxes on the selected projects. But soon, the First Nations will have their Property Transfer Tax, and there will be an equal opportunity that favours neither side, creating an economic balance.

By Clint Buehler

Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women at the 7th Annual Awards Summit hosted by the Women’s Executive Network (WXE).

“Ms. Jamieson is well-deserving of this recognition,” said Len Flett, Chair of the Board of the Foundation. “She is known in Canada and internationally as a strong advocate, a reasoned visionary, a powerful and convincing communicator and an effective promoter of indigenous artists. We value her leadership.”

The Women’s Executive Network Annual Awards honour women who are proven achievers in private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Each year an independent Advisory Board selects winners in eight categories. Ms. Jamieson’s award is in the ‘arts and communications’ category.

Ms. Jamieson is the founding Chair of ‘ImagiNATIVE’, an international Media Arts Festival, now in its 10th year of showcasing the work of indigenous artists working in film, television, video, radio and multimedia formats. She is also the Executive Producer of the Gemini-nominated National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, a gala annual event televised on both APTN and Global TV networks featuring Aboriginal performers and honouring the accomplishments of 14 outstanding First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

“This honour represents a renewal of my commitment to promote indigenous artists and to be a bridge and communicator to Canadians generally in extolling the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Together we can ensure that our youth will have an opportunity to enrich Canada by realizing their potential,” said Ms. Jamieson.

Ms. Jamieson was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1994. She has enjoyed a distinguished career. She was appointed Indian Commissioner of Ontario, after which she was appointed by the Ontario Legislature as Ombudsman of Ontario in which she served a full ten-year term and was vice president of the International Ombudsman Institute. She is a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory where she has resided throughout her life and served as elected Chief. Over the years, she has received 14 honourary doctoral degrees. In 2003 Ms. Jamieson was recognized for the first time by WXN as one of Canada’s most powerful women in the category of Trailblazer.

The Summit took place at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, offering female managers and executives from across Canada the opportunity to meet award winners and enjoy a day of professional development.

Founded in 1997, the WXN has 10,000 members and is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of executive-minded women in the workplace. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to support and recognize executive-minded women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence.

By Ray Unger

In October 2008, three men got together to talk about sports. Marvin Bob (former Chief of the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation for 14 years), Rick Alec (Addictions and Health Councilor for the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation for 21 years), and Roger Adolph (former Chief of the Xaxli’p First Nation for 21 years) concluded that competitive sports had drastically declined in the last two decades. There is limited sport activity available for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth, resulting in growing problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, gang activity, bullying, education dropout, criminal incarceration, and family dysfunction. However, positive alternatives are both possible and necessary. Marvin, Rick, and Roger started Just Do It Sport Society to promote leadership and development and help young people make better choices.

Traditionally, Aboriginal people practiced and trained holistically in all aspects: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Overall fitness was simply a way of life. Politics, however, has had a drastic impact on that holistic practice and cultural expression. From 1950-80 Indian Sports were popular and highly competitive. From 1972-79 the federal government implemented a five-year experimental support program for Canada’s Aboriginal people. The BC provincial government also supported this initiative. Community sports, playoffs, and Indigenous Games competition at the provincial and national levels took place in soccer, fastball, rodeo, war canoe racing, basketball, boxing, and hockey. However, the federal government’s Treasury Board felt the program conflicted with the concept of supporting Aboriginal sports as cultural and social events, and in 1979, the experimental program was terminated. The purpose and criteria of the provincial government’s First Citizens Fund was changed for economic purposes. With no leadership or financial support, the Aboriginal sport playoff system faltered, and Aboriginal sport began its decline.

Our young people are an important resource for the future of Canada. Athletic development can help our youth practice a healthy lifestyle and improve social order. Unfortunately, many young people cannot participate in organized sports because of socio-economic limitations, outdated technology, and a lack of program leadership. Many Aboriginal families simply cannot afford the expense of getting their children in organized sports. Even if facilities and coaches are available, there is still the cost of equipment, travel, and time commitment to consider. This problem is especially prevalent in remote communities with small populations where schools are cannot budget for competitive sports programs. As a result, sports participation has decreased significantly and negative social trends are gaining momentum in our communities and schools.

The Lillooet District Municipality, for example, has a population of about 8,628. Approximately 6,304 of that number come from eleven Aboriginal communities of the St’át’imc Nation. In the Lillooet District Minor Hockey Association there are a total of 136 players and 15 coaches. Of these, only 55 players and 5 coaches are Aboriginal. Today, the Municipality of Lillooet has a recreation centre that includes an ice hockey/figure skating arena, swimming pool, fitness centre, gymnasium, and a fast-ball/soccer field with bleachers. The Lillooet District Minor Hockey Association, Lillooet Figure Skating Association, and Lillooet Swim Club have all shown reasonable success as organized sports, relying on fundraising, sponsorship, membership fees, and donors for support.

Lillooet is dependent on the forestry and mining industries, and has been affected by the recent global financial recession. The local mill has terminated operation indefinitely. Fund-raising is a major local activity in support of social, cultural, and sports programs. But local fund-raising is limited by a community’s available income, and much of that is already exhausted. The Municipality of Lillooet has three elementary schools and one senior secondary with 663 total registered students (405 Aboriginal). Low enrollment and budget constraints closed one elementary school, but all schools have a gymnasium and playing fields. In previous years, the senior secondary school participated in organized basketball, soccer, badminton, and volleyball. In 2008, Lillooet Secondary School rugby and track sports had good participation and success. Now, these sports no longer exist. All organized school sports in Lillooet have been eliminated due to budget restrictions.

Aboriginal communities throughout the province of BC lack specific funds and services for organized sports programs and activities. Just Do It Sport Society’s objective is to change this trend. Once established, this model can be used in other areas of the province and the nation. Their “just do it” spirit is proactive. With organization and leadership, they can help provide opportunities for youth to compete at all levels (from local to international) through the support of organized sports. For more information or to make a donation, contact Roger Adolph, Director by email (rladolph@yahoo.ca) or phone (250) 256-7559.

By Kelly O’Connor

The Squamish (Coast Salish) and Lil’wat (Interior Salish) peoples have a long history of respectful co-existence, and now, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler is prepared to share unique cultural experiences with visitors from across the globe. The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will take place in the shared traditional territories of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations this February.

The idea for a world-class cultural centre was born in 1997, and in 2001, the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations signed an historic Protocol Agreement, formalizing their joint commitment to cultural and economic development and co-management of shared territory. In 2002, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) and the Province of BC made a commitment to help the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations secure resources to complete construction, raise the profile of the SLCC, and provide opportunities for hosting Olympic and Paralympic events. VANOC’s support and encouragement led to additional interested in the project from Bell and RBC.

On September 26, 2005 Squamish Chief Gibby Jacob, whose ancestral name is KáKeltn, and Lil’wat Chief Leonard Andrew, Taya7, stood alongside BC Premier Campbell and representatives from Bell Canada, VANOC, and the Municipality of Whistler at the groundbreaking ceremony. On this occasion, Premier Campbell announced the provincial government’s commitment to double their contribution to $6 million dollars. The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre now stands as a permanent legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Long after the excitement of the Olympics has passed, the SLCC will remain, celebrating the rich histories of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. The centre is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and share traditional and modern First Nations cultures, and all proceeds are invested in training and cultural revitalization programs for the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations.

Indigenous people have always walked softly on the land, believing that each part of creation has a spirit of its own. Elders teach that we should keep in mind seven generations ahead of us in everything we do, to ensure that we care for future generations in our present decisions. The centre is a “green” development using sustainable design and construction practices that symbolize the importance of responsible land stewardship, an increasingly important value in the modern world. The gorgeous three-storey complex of Douglas fir, cedar, glass, and stone stands among the trees offering spectacular views of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Its design resembles a traditional Squamish longhouse or a Lil’wat pit house (called an istken), and the entrance and the axis of the building align with the celestial points of the compass, as is traditional in First Nations cultures. Design and construction teams worked diligently to include elements to reduce energy costs, conserve water, and recycle waste. Materials were sourced locally when possible, and a planted “green roof” was used for Iskten Hall. The building itself was tucked into the natural incline to minimize excavation, and 64% of the land was preserved as natural habitat.

The SLCC is located in Whistler’s upper village at 4584 Blackcomb Way. Visitors can enjoy singing, a guided tour, a short film, craft activities, dancing, and storytelling. Special presentations are held at 11am and 2pm. Check their website (www.slcc.ca) for additional details. The centre displays a large collection of First Nations artwork created by extraordinary regional artists. Don’t miss the daily art demonstrations in the Great Hall!

Open daily from 9:30am-5pm, admission is by donation during the Olympic Winter Games from February 12-28th. The centre will be closed for a private event on February 13th, 19th, and 22nd.

By Cam Martin

Anticipation fills the air in Vancouver as Olympic preparations take place. The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived, and the four host nations (the Lil’Wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh bands) will showcase their place in the complex Canadian tapestry. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the First Nations of the Pacific Coast to share their heritage with the world.

First Nations have invested in ways to display their culture, thanks to an unprecedented partnership between Canada’s indigenous peoples and the Vancouver Olympic Committee. A six million dollar Four Host Nations pavilion has been erected in the courtyard of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, featuring a unique look that integrates both traditional and modern design. A large white dome about 20 meters in circumference rests upon a wooden base (built in traditional longhouse fashion). The dome is translucent, and at night, First Nation themed images projected against it will be visible from both the inside and outside.

The Sqamish-Lil’wat cultural centre in Whistler, British Columbia is set in a beautiful location and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about local First Nations cultures. The centre, seen as an extension to the pavilion, shares our traditions and history through theatrical performances, an interpretative display including permanent and temporary exhibits, and a restaurant featuring local cuisine.

The buildings are not the only symbol of cooperation between the city of Vancouver and the Four Host Nations. Even the Olympic medals were designed with a mixture of contemporary and traditional artistry. Each medal is a unique work of art that uses traditional Aboriginal images of the Orca and Raven, taken from artwork by Canadian Designer Corrine Hunt of Komoyue and Tlingit heritage based in Vancouver. Each medal winner also receives a silk scarf printed with the original artwork, and for the first time in Olympic history, the medals are not flat; they have a raised surface, suggesting the local landscape of mountains, waves, and snow.

The cooperation between the Olympic committee and the First Nations has been tried at times, but the final vision is one of harmony and unity. “We are canoe people,” said Chief Justin George of the coastal Tsleil-Waututh band. “This is about paddling together with one heart, one mind, one spirit.” Though there has been significant protest against the use of Native land, most local peoples are eager to participate in this unique opportunity. Chief Billy Williams of the Squamish nation said those advocating “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land” are misguided. “They haven’t researched their own history,” he said. “What lands are they talking about? We know every inch of our traditional territory. No one has to tell us about stolen land. The point is what you create on the land.” Many of the host Nations insist that the land issue is not being pushed aside. “We believe they will provide benefits for generations to come, especially for our culture,” said the chief. “It would be a disservice to our ancestors not to take advantage of the chance to break that cycle of despair that has kept us back for so many years.”

These games are about cooperation, community, and rising to meet a challenge. Local First Nations and the city of Vancouver now have a chance to show off the beauty of the West Coast and its peoples. This place and the people who call it home will soon host visitors and athletes from across the global community, and it is a good time to take every advantage to offer the world our best efforts.