Graffiti 2009-10

PANIZ MOAYERI

“We are here. We are, in fact, living. We are part of the world,” said Chief Billy Williams of the Squamish Nation before the Winter 2010 Olympics. He is the leader of one of the Four Host First Nations on whose traditional territory the Vancouver Olympics took place. The partnership between the Four Host First Nations of the west and the Vancouver Olympic Games was the way through which Chief Williams and many other aboriginal people in Canada were hoping to defend his statement.

With a brand new $6 million aboriginal pavilion in the heart of downtown Vancouver, native art featured at every chance presented -from the medals awarded to the athletes to the official Olympic logo- and the extensive native symbolism and representation used in the opening ceremonies and throughout the games of both the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics, no one doubted Chief Williams’ statement this winter. Some however, asked the question, “Was there too much native presence?”

Though the world might not be very informed on Native Canadian history and issues, for anyone who has ever watched the Disney Classic “Pocahontas” the Native struggles should be evident in Canadian history, Yet for Canada to suddenly showcase our country as a nation ever so content and peaceful with its aboriginal population seemed disrespectful and ignorant of all those who suffered in the past, and are perhaps still suffering now.

“People don’t realise how horrible the living conditions are for Native people in Canada,” said Elizabeth Adekur-Carlson, a U of T political science student from Winnipeg. “It was only two winters ago when a family froze to death in a room they shared in one of the reservations close to Winnipeg.”

Having added the same thoughts to their arguments against having the Olympics in Canada, native protesters opposed the 2010 Games. With the slogan “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land”, this group and their sympathizers argued that “[the] Native artists, business and political groups [supporting Vancouver 2010] are either ignorant about what the Olympics are really about, or just plain greedy.”

However, these protestors didn’t stop the Olympics, or the Native presence in it, from happening. This winter the world watched as the Four Host First Nations welcomed the world to their traditional territory in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies. Sealing the deal by saying that those protesting the Olympics were misguided, Chief Williams told CTV, “They haven’t researched their own history. 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.” Chief Justin George of the coastal Tsleil-Waututh band supported him by saying, “The Olympic Games is a huge, huge, potlatch. We are putting our differences aside for the greater good. It’s our time to show our capabilities and who we are.” The voices of these two chiefs were also echoed by Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the FHFN. He said, “After the Olympics, people will look at indigenous people differently. I guarantee that.” While there is no question that the Olympics brought much attention to the indigenous people of Canada and their rich culture by, as Musqueam councillor Wade Grant put it, “break[ing] that cycle of despair that has kept [them] back for so many years,” it is also very essential not to forget that there was once a time when Indian reserves were established “to confine and reduce” the Aboriginal populations (quoted from the writings of Father Le Jeune). It is more important, however, to remember that even though we portrayed so to the world in the Olympics, the native struggles are not over yet. There are still many issues and concerns, but hopefully the image we made this past winter of our country and its native status will be the one we will try to live up to.