Feature stories

Aboriginal Pavilion to open its doors in time for the 2010 Winter Games

Plans for the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, an 8,000-square-foot building, were unveiled on February 2, 2009 in downtown Vancouver. Aboriginal and political leaders from across Canada joined the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) for this special event.

Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the FHFN and the visionary behind the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion project, conducted a special witness ceremony in the Salish tradition to mark this moment. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of the First Nations; Mary Simon, President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Clément Chartier, President, Métis National Council; Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia; and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson spoke about the importance of having such a place for Aboriginal people and the stories that visitors will hear.

"When people visit the pavilion, they will experience a feast of the senses," Tewanee Joseph said. "They will watch and listen to the top Aboriginal musicians; they will eat Aboriginal food and they can purchase artwork and authentic Aboriginal merchandise. People will be able to experience not only the traditional aspects of Aboriginal culture, but also a, contemporary forward-looking experience. We invite other cultures to come and participate in the Aboriginal Pavilion through performances and business."

Inside the Aboriginal Gathering Place

Inside the pavilion, visitors will experience an Aboriginal trading post, a great hall, a feast house, a theatre and a business centre. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the FHFN and other Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Visitors will also be able to taste Aboriginal food, see both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art and watch Aboriginal dramas and musical performances.

"Our main goal is to let the world know that Aboriginal culture in Canada is very diversified and that we're not all the same. We've been an important part of Canadian history for thousands of years," Tewanee Joseph continued.

The pavilion will create a space where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people can get together, develop skills and gain work experience in fields as varied as technical communications, retail, media relations, event planning and culinary art.

Technical features

The pavilion will be built using the latest technology to showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, music and culture in Canada. Located in the plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the pavilion will be at the heart of activity during the 2010 Winter Games - within easy walking distance of BC Place and Canada Hockey Place. The pavilion will be created from a 3,000-square-foot, a centered 65-foot-high inflated high multi-media sphere and a surrounding 3,000-square-foot Coast Salish longhouse, featuring a 1,500-square-foot trading post.

"The construction has not started yet," Tewanee Joseph added. "We're finishing off our conceptual design and we hope to start building off-site at another location this summer, and open at the anticipated date in January 2010."

During the Games, unique thematic days will showcase diverse Aboriginal groups from all regions of Canada. Shows will include Inuit throat singing, Métis jigging, hoop dancing and contemporary performances.

After the 2010 Winter Games, the pavilion will be moved to another location, as yet to be decided. "The City of Vancouver has been very supportive of our project, but the structure we are putting together for 2010 would not be appropriate for long-term use at this location. We haven't decided where we are going to move to and if we'll move the 3,000 square feet or the whole 8,000 square feet," Tewanee Joseph said.

Legacy

The Aboriginal Pavilion will continue to offer the same services once it moves to its new location after the 2010 Winter Games. "The legacy will be in the network that we have created with the FHFN, Inuit and Métis people from across the country. Our goal is to continue the FHFN brand and we'll focus on continuing to be a gateway to Aboriginal culture in Canada," Tewanee Joseph explained.

The $3.5 million construction project is supported by VANOC and the FHFN.

VANOC CEO John Furlong said: "The 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion is a true celebration of the partnerships that have been brought together in the spirit of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Our host First Nations partners have reached out to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada to join them in showcasing the best of themselves to the world through the Pavilion, demonstrating that these indeed are Canada's Games."

"VANOC has treated our people with the upmost respect," Tewanee Joseph said. "Their vision to include Aboriginal people and FHFN should be a model for this country - about how to work and stand together as proud partners."