Native participation in 2010 Olympics

A matter of respect:  First Nations and the 2010 Olympics

Tewanee Joseph sees the 2010 Olympics as an opportunity for the four host first nations to provide aboriginal youth with incentive to aim for greatness[T]here is wide consensus that first nations people will participate in and contribute to everything from the pavilion to the torch relay to educational programs that the four host first nations are developing.

The showcase is the $3.5-million Four Host First Nations Pavilion, which will be set up on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre concourse. There, visitors will see both traditional and contemporary aboriginal artists, dancers and singers from every region of Canada.

Since more than 30 per cent of first nations people are under 30, getting them involved means new technology. Auditions for some of the pavilion’s entertainers will be done through YouTube. The Four Host website has downloadable ring tones of everything from elders’ songs to Inuit throat singers.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Aboriginals Argue Over Olympics.