By Andy Wanning
I took the “Canada Train” from the airport into downtown Vancouver – the newest line of their “Skytrain”, a high-speed, nearly inaudible train which seamlessly connects to their subway system. This line was built especially for the Games and is a high-profile legacy for Vancouver. I wondered if the Indigenous community projects which were established as a result of collaboration with Olympics organizers would prove as durable.
Vancouver was obviously in full Olympic spirit, and the opening ceremony was still five days away. I proceeded a few blocks to the International Media Center, where I was met by Alex, the media relations person who proved to be an invaluable host throughout my stay. He brought me to the impressive Aboriginal Pavilion, also known as the Chiefs’ House, which had been erected a week or so before, with an equally impressive totem pole in front of it, called the Legacy Pole, built especially for the Games. Aside from the domed Pavilion, there were several spaces inside, all simplistically beautiful with tasteful decorations: an Elders’ Lounge, a performers’ waiting area, and a “trading post”.
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By Andy Wanning
Just two days before the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympics, I was very fortunate to sit down with Aaron Marchant to discuss the First Nations Snowboard Team (FNST), of which he is the Executive Director. FNST is one of the groups envisioned by the First Host First Nations (FHFN) as a community organization which would continue providing benefits to Aboriginal peoples throughout Canada long after the Olympics leave. As I would find out, it is a remarkable organization with an impressive record of achievement in its brief history, and a very promising future indeed.
Andy Wanning: How did you get involved with the FNST?
Aaron Marchant: During the IOC bid phase, I saw a bunch of Indigenous youth snowboarding, and thought, “What if we could start a snowboarding club?” They’re amazing – I didn’t know there were people in our community who had actually tried it. But there were three kids who had done it – probably the only ones in our community.
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