2010

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How to host the world’s biggest potlatch.

Tewanee Joseph leads four BC First Nations as they prepare for an Olympic first.

by Sue Dritmanis 3 March 2009

It’s called a potlatch: a big party hosted by one First Nations clan in honour of another. And for Tewanee Joseph, that’s precisely what the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games amounts to.
“For the first time in Olympic history, Aboriginal people are going to be part of the fabric of the Games,” says Joseph, the man overseeing First Nations participation. “We’re official sponsors with the right to use the Olympic logo. It’s never been done before.”
The 2010 Winter Games will unfold in British Columbia on the traditional, shared territories of four First Nations. The Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations came together to form the Four Host First Nations Society (FHFNS)—the steering committee for Aboriginal involvement in the international games—and made Joseph the guy in charge of party planning.
He’s a dynamic, 35-year-old communications consultant, half-Squamish and half-Maori. His first name comes from the North Americans of California, and means joy and happiness. “My mother, an Indian princess, fell in love with one of the Singing Quintikis who performed in Vancouver in the ‘70s. They were from Wellington, New Zealand, and they travelled the world. I think I have 10 or 12 brothers and sisters around the world,” he says, laughing.
A college business graduate, Joseph has been active in band affairs and is adept at explaining complicated economic and treaty issues to First Nations communities. In his new role as executive director of the FHFNS, he’s travelled to Olympic host cities Beijing (China) and Turin (Italy), where he cheered on the Canadian women’s hockey team to a gold medal.
Visitors to the 2010 Winter Games will find a First Nations imprint on almost everything they see and do—from ceremonial carved doors, pillars and totem poles welcoming spectators to downloadable MP3 files of contemporary and traditional native music. Souvenirs? Authentic products such as cedar salmon boxes and Haida rattles will be available. There’ll also be an Aboriginal Trade Pavilion on the plaza near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre showcasing the art, cuisine, music and dance of Inuit, Métis and First Nations.

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We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.) If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author's byline and "courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission." If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: "The text has been modified from the original." Thank you.

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