Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Excelling in Art and Sport
July 31, 2008
Aboriginal drummers. (VANOC photo)
Aboriginal art at Games venues
Visitors during the 2010 Winter Games will experience first-hand
the extraordinary talents of Aboriginal artists from across Canada
through the Vancouver 2010 Venues’ Aboriginal Arts
Program. Announced earlier this month, the program will see
authentic Aboriginal art created for all 15 Olympic and Paralympic
venues. Together with the Four Host First Nations (FHFN), the
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games (VANOC) is encouraging First Nations, Inuit and
Métis artists to embrace this once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.
Tewanee Joseph, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Four Host First Nations Secretariat announces opening day of the Aboriginal Sport Gallery at the BC Sport Hall of Fame and Museum. (Vincent Chan/VANOC photo)
This program — an important element of
VANOC’s commitment to unprecedented Aboriginal
participation in the 2010 Winter Games — is designed to
celebrate and build understanding of the Aboriginal peoples in
Canada through visually powerful artwork and signage.
“Aboriginal history, arts and culture is an
important part of Canada’s history,” said
John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “This
program provides a unique landscape for talented Aboriginal artists
to participate in the 2010 Winter Games and an opportunity to
showcase to the world the rich artistic tapestry of
Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. This will be an
extraordinary way of telling our nation’s
story.”
VANOC continues to seek Aboriginal artists interested in embracing this exciting opportunity through a request for expression of interest (RFEOI). Applicants can visit vancouver2010.com through August 15, 2008. More>
VANOC continues to seek Aboriginal artists interested in embracing this exciting opportunity through a request for expression of interest (RFEOI). Applicants can visit vancouver2010.com through August 15, 2008. More>
Authentic Aboriginal merchandise
Unveiling of hand-made inukshuks for Vancouver 2010 in Nunavut. (VANOC photo)
One of the highlights of the program is an agreement with the
Nunavut Development Corporation to market authentic Inuit inuksuit
(the plural of
inukshuk)
as official merchandise for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games. Earlier this July, Nunavut Premier Paul
Okalik unveiled the first local hand-carved inukshuk sculpture of
the 2010 Winter Games to be sold as officially licensed
merchandise. Each inukshuk created for the project is uniquely
handmade and includes a story about the origin and significance of
the inukshuk, as well as the carver’s name, a short
biography and the official marks of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games.
“The sale of this inuksuk marks a historic day for
Inuit,” said Premier Paul Okalik. “We are
proud that the inuksuk
Ilanaaq, is the official emblem for the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Winter Games, and very pleased that Inuit will benefit from
creating an authentic piece of art that represents our culture and
way of life.”
The Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising
Program marks the first time an Olympic Organizing Committee has
partnered with indigenous peoples to create an official licensed
merchandising program. Authentic Aboriginal products will enhance
the array of Vancouver 2010 licensed merchandise and the Olympic
Brand. The program emphasizes the authenticity of Aboriginal art
and design, which will be signified by the presence of the FHFN
logo on every product.
Investing in youth
One third of the royalties from the sale of Vancouver 2010
Aboriginal licensed products will go toward the Aboriginal Youth
Legacy Fund, supporting education, sport and cultural initiatives
for Aboriginal youth across Canada well beyond 2010. The Vancouver
2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising Program includes four
categories of art and design, all of which will raise funds for the
Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund:
-
Authentic Indigenous Art and Products: Hand-made Aboriginal art and products from across Canada. This category includes an agreement with the Nunavut Development Corporation for the creation of authentic hand-carved inuksuit by over 1,200 Inuit carvers from across Nunavut.
-
Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Graphics: VANOC commissioned Coast Salish artist, Xwa lack tun to create authentic Aboriginal designs for use by VANOC licensees in a wide variety of products.
-
Four Host First Nations Logo: The development of an associated brand created around the FHFN logo is a unique aspect of the overall program. The FHFN logo and other graphic elements will be provided to licensees for use on a variety of products.
-
Aboriginal Themes and Icons: Developed specifically for pins, these products will include representations of canoes, paddles and other Aboriginal icons.
Aboriginal Sport Gallery at the BC Sports Hall of Fame
and Museum
Tewanee Joseph, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Four Host First Nations Secretariat announces Aboriginal Art at Venues program. (VANOC photo)
The Aboriginal Sport Gallery is the newest addition to the
BC Sports Hall of Fame
and Museum and is the first permanent exhibit of its kind in
Canada. Located at BC Place in downtown Vancouver, the exhibit
recognizes Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Inuit and
Métis) who have contributed to the sporting heritage of
British Columbia (BC). The gallery incorporates Aboriginal design,
interactive exhibits, photographs, video components, text panels,
artifacts and profiles of Tom Longboat Award Winners (Aboriginal
athletes of the year).
In addition to renowned athletes, the exhibit highlights
Aboriginal sport role models who have triumphed over challenges,
strived for excellence and who lead healthy lifestyles. The exhibit
is reaching out to communities across BC through a touring
exhibition component, which has been in effect since early spring
2008 and will continue until the end of summer.
Next month 5,000 Aboriginal sport role models will showcase
their sports at the North American Indigenous Games in the Cowichan
Valley, BC.
North American Indigenous Games
Athlete of the North American Indigenous Games. (photo courtesy of the Keith Levit/Cowichan 2008 North American Indigenous Games)
This year’s games are being hosted by the Cowichan
Tribe, the largest single First Nation in BC, giving the Cowichan
communities the opportunity to highlight the benefits of living a
healthy, active life. Visit
cowichan2008.com for more
information.
More on the horizon
From sport, to art, to dance, there’s plenty more on
the
Aboriginal
Participation horizon. To learn more about upcoming events and
ongoing programs, subscribe to the
Aboriginal
Participation newsletter.
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