Feature stories

The Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising Program

When you purchase an official Vancouver 2010 licensed Aboriginal product, you'll be making history and investing in the future.

Making History

The Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising Program marks the first time an Olympic Organizing Committee has partnered with Indigenous people in creating an official licensed merchandising program - a program that showcases excellence in Aboriginal arts, culture and enterprise in Canada. Just as the support of the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) enriched Vancouver's bid for the 2010 Winter Games, authentic Aboriginal products will enhance the array of 2010 Games 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. This will bring global attention to Aboriginal artists and businesses, and an investment in Canadian Aboriginal youth.

"Our young people are our most important resource. Sixty per cent of Aboriginal people in Canada are under the age of 30," said Tewanee Joseph, executive director and CEO FHFN Secretariat. "We need to develop our young people's skills and capacity. We need to invest in our young people."

Investing in the Future

One third of the royalties from the sale of 2010 Aboriginal licensed products will go toward the Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund. The fund will support education, sport and cultural initiatives for Aboriginal youth across Canada well beyond 2010.

The Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising Program includes five categories of art and design, all of which will raise funds for the Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund:

1. 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. 

2. Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Graphics: The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) commissioned Coast Salish artist, Xwa lack tun to create authentic Aboriginal designs for use by VANOC licensees in a wide variety of products.

3. 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. 

4. Aboriginal Themes and Icons: Developed specifically for pins, these products will include representations of canoes, paddles and other Aboriginal icons.