A Coast Salish Olympic Welcome: The 2010 Vancouver Opening Ceremony and the Politics of Indigenous Participation

In this global world there is no greater opportunity than that of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games for the international community to convene, for a few short moments, in celebratory exchange of culture, friendship, and approbation. In regards to the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, some may remember this performance as being the first in Olympic history to be held indoors, others may remember the event for a mechanical malfunction at the most inopportune time, and all will, undoubtedly, remember this Ceremony for the significant attention paid to Indigenous peoples and cultural imagery. Immediately following the official opening of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, national and international news sources enthusiastically reported on an Opening Ceremony that was intended 'to inspire the world'. While many expressed an overwhelming satisfaction with the content of the Opening Ceremony performance, not all were inspired. Whether reporting on the splendour of considerable Indigenous content, or the hypocrisy of it all, the majority of media outlets drew attention to the fact that Indigenous programming was a prominent aspect of this two and a half hour long performance. While it is important to note that various national and international reporters, naturally, expressed differing perspectives as to their satisfaction, indifference, and displeasure with such extensive Indigenous programming, the intent of this piece is not to critique the merit, and perhaps fallacies, of certain reporting. The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has been widely credited for producing an advanced model for Indigenous participation, which was evident throughout the bid, planning, and hosting phases of these Games. paper is in accordance with the suggestion that the Vancouver Olympic Games, indeed, produced a progressive model for Indigenous participation; however, this piece goes further as it provides added clarification as to political requirements and peripheral pressures placed on Vancouver bid, organizational, and hosting initiatives. Following a brief summary of the 2010 Vancouver Opening Ceremony, with particular attention paid to Indigenous peoples and cultural imagery, this paper addresses political and external pressures placed on Vancouver bid and organizing committees. In consideration of extensive Indigenous programming, this paper argues that such political requirements and peripheral pressures resulted in an advanced model for Indigenous involvement--or what has been termed, 'unprecedented Indigenous participation'. The Opening Ceremony, arguably, provided VANOC with the greatest opportunity to demonstrate whether or not it had prolifically achieved a model of unprecedented Indigenous participation, and whether or not such diligent labours would be readily understood and favourably received by national and international onlookers. Prior to the staging of the Vancouver Games, Canadians and global citizens alike were advised as to what to expect in the Opening Ceremony of these Games. VANOC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eagerly reported that This year, the focus is on Canadian diversity, whether linguistic or cultural; the indigenous groups in particular will be featured prominently. (1) Accordingly, in the opening segment of the Opening Ceremony, titled 'Countdown and Welcome: Fire on the Mountain', and after carrying out an awe-inspiring theatrical display, a lone snowboarder offered the world with the first of many official welcomes and greetings. What may, or may not, have been readily apparent to audience members and global television viewers was that this individual was clad from head to toe in eminent designs of Northwest Coast Indigenous artistic traditions, which included the raven, the wolf, the sun, and the moon. (2) proved to be only the first of many accolades paid to the Indigenous peoples and cultures of Canada throughout the duration of this Opening Ceremony. …

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