Name: Aboriginal Participation in the 2010 Games
Time & Date: 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Location: Lillooet Room (3nd Floor), Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
Description: The Olympic Games have a unique ability to transform a host city, region or country not only in a physical and economic sense, but also socially and politically. In the case of the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it appears that the Games will be a catalyst, accelerant and spotlight in the strengthening and promotion of First Nations relationships both within the aboriginal community and with the rest of society through the involvement of the Lil’wat Nation, Musqueam Nation, Squamish Nation & Tsleil-Waututh Nation (the “Four Host First Nations”) as official partners in the operation and management of the 2010 Games.
The participation of the Four Host First Nations in the Games has provided the opportunity for a new group self governance in event management, increased the capacity and skills of these First Nations to act as one entity through the Four Host First Nation Secretariat as well as an increase in the human capital of these First Nation through significant investments in skills and work experience and other business opportunities in the construction and management of Games venues and infrastructure. Perhaps the greatest potential for positive outcomes of the Games lies in the development of positive working relationships and successful business partnerships among the Four Host First Nations, the 2010 Bid Corporation, VANOC, 2010 Legacies Now, and the Provincial and Federal Governments.
Professor Weiler and Robin Sidsworth will explore the historical context of the Olympic Games, the degree of participation of indigenous peoples in the Olympics leading up to the Vancouver Games, and then will examine the role of the Four Host First Nations in the planning and organizing the 2010 Games and the lessons to be learned from this participation that might be applied in other co-management contexts
Presenters:
- Professor Joe Weiler, Faculty of Law UBC
- Robin Sidsworth, LLM Candidate 2009/10, Faculty of Law UBC
To learn more about this and other Celebrate Learning events, visit us at celebratelearning.ubc.ca.