The spirit of "Canada’s Games" is celebrated at Aboriginal Youth Cultural Sharing Day – Olympic News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
Whistler – Visitors to the Vancouver 2010 Info Centre in Whistler today got a chance to experience the spirit of “Canada’s Games”. Aboriginal communities from two of Canada’s three coasts came together to share and celebrate their cultures and their commitment to making the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games truly a Canada-wide experience. Aboriginal Youth Cultural Sharing Day emerged out of good timing, youthful enthusiasm and commitment to a goal.
When the Vancouver 2010 emblem was unveiled, the Grade 6 students of Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik (Elementary School) in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, were busy fundraising for a school trip to Vancouver. With a population of only 1,400 (see attached backgrounder), fundraising for such an ambitious project was not an easy task. But the children were inspired by the Inukshuk emblem and their teacher, Catherine Minshull, called VANOC, offering to share the Inuit experience of the Inukshuk during their visit to the Lower Mainland.
This afternoon, the nineteen Grade 6 students from Kugluktuk, Nunavut, demonstrated their tradition of Inukshuk building on the deck at the 2010 Info Centre. They have left the 1.5 metre tall sculpture as a gift for VANOC and Whistler, to share with all who visit the Info Centre between now and 2010. Suzie Akana Powers, a 12 year-old student from Kugluktuk said, “I feel great. I didn’t realize until today that this was the most important part of the trip. We got to see a lot of people and build an Inukshuk as part of friendship”.
Youth Ambassadors from the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations shared their cultures with the Nunavut guests, welcoming them with drumming and songs. Youth from the Tseil-Waututh Nation and the Iswahl Dance Group from Mt. Currie also participated by sharing songs, drumming and dancing. A pen pal program was initiated so that the youth from Northern Canada could stay connected to young adults who are actively engaged in 2010 Games-related programs and events through the Four Host First Nations Secretariat.
More than 400 people enjoyed the event, including many families from the Sea to Sky corridor. Lois Joseph, Iswahl Dance leader and teacher at the Xit’olacw Community School in Mt.Currie expressed her enthusiasm for the day, saying, “This is something that is really awesome. It’s one of the first times that First Nations are directly involved with the Olympic Games. It’s great to share each of our communities’ songs and dances and yet feel that we are all the same in heart.”
Aboriginal youth from two of Canada’s coasts, 1900 kilometres apart, came together to share their cultures with a Whistler audience from around the region and across the country. The Aboriginal Youth Cultural Sharing Day was a stellar example of how the Olympic and Paralympic Games movement inspires young people to get engaged and demonstrated the cultural impact of hosting “Canada’s Games” in 2010.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.
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