Playing host to the world at Olympic Games
Playing host to the world at Olympic Games
Playing host to the world at Olympic Games
Steve Bonspiel
The Eastern Door
The 2010 Vancouver Olympics are certainly not shying away from promoting Aboriginal culture and the traditions of many nations across Canada, in fact they are setting a trend that will hopefully be emulated in future Olympic Games.
After playing a large part in the opening ceremonies and being displayed prominently on Team Canada’s hockey logos, the Four Host First Nations are putting on a show for everyone to see – and the whole world is watching.
One of the most impressive aspects of the games, where the average person can go to learn about traditional games and celebrations not usually on display to witness, is at the futuristic Aboriginal Pavilion and an impressive First Nations artist’s exhibition.
Centered on a 65-foot high, inflated multi-media sphere, the pavilion has showcased Inuit throat singers, traditional games, Native hip hop shows and maybe the most important instrument in every Aboriginal culture, the drum. Our songs, both old and new, have played a prominent role in a number of the demonstrations night after night before packed houses.
One Dene game, referred to as the stick game or hand game, had an enthralled audience of about 180 watching and learning about a traditional aspect of their culture that has been around for thousands of years.
The game is simple but full of laughs. You take an object, any object, and put it in one of your concealed hands under a blanket in front of you. Then you bring both hands up and dance to the beat of the drum.
On the other side is a ‘guesser’, trying to figure out which hand the object is in. If he is right, you are out, and you move to the back, behind your teammates, but if he is wrong he has to give you one of his small sticks to keep score.
When all sticks are given or taken, the game moves to the next phase, kind of like game, set, match in tennis. When all people on one side have been eliminated before the sticks are given or taken, then it’s game over.
It sounds rather rudimentary compared to Nintendo WII or Xbox 360, but the faces some of the participants make and the strong beat of the pulsating drum really captivated the audience.
And they were only demonstrating the simple version of the game, apparently there are tricks and other ways to add fun to the mix. It was a treat to watch.
After it was over, some of the participants, who came from the Yukon, northern Alberta and North West Territories, said that the game often results in a tremendous competitive spirit and sometimes, a fight.
The hand game is played at large gatherings, especially weddings, pitting community against community. It is a tradition that still lives today and is also played quite often at night in smaller get-togethers.
National Dene Chief Bill Erasmus was the emcee and he helped the audience to learn the game and to keep up with the fast-paced action.
They are ways to psyche out the other team, which could be from 10 to 20 men, including elaborate dances and facial expressions after a wrong guess, to leaving the drums on the ground and singing in unison if that side happens to be on a bit of a losing streak – in a way to hopefully change their luck and at the same time confuse their opponent.
The artist’s exhibition, just a block away, put on display so much that one visit just wasn’t enough to take it all in.
Some of the best Aboriginal painters, silversmiths, sculptures and pottery makers were all under one roof, showing off their talents from all over Indian Country.
Always an impressive display is an artist who can show you what they do firsthand, with an audience.
Jeff Monias, a Plains Cree based in Manitoba, took an empty canvas and transformed it throughout the day into a nocturnal nature scene with predatory wolves.
The ease with which he created the scenery and the animals while talking about his experiences as an artist was the highlight of the day.
Monias sells his pieces for $150 to $17,000 around the world. He has been to exhibitions all over Europe and North America, and maybe his biggest claim to fame is he has never had a sip of alcohol in his life.
Growing up traditionally ‘in the bush,’ he never needed it nor had a desire to try alcohol. He admitted to smoking marijuana a few times, but he had a bigger reason to quit.
“My parents protected the three youngest children from going to residential school,” said the 43-year-old, who has been painting since he was 15. “And they said if one of the kids did not abuse alcohol and made something from their life, they would be proud. So that’s what I think about; I paint for my family.”
Monias was approached by interested buyers while talking to The Eastern Door and said that he has not yet made it to Mohawk territory with his works, which focus mostly on nature, because by the time he reached Thunder Bay Ontario, everything was already sold out.
Birch bark biting, which is exactly what it sounds like, was one of the more interesting exhibits.
Cree artist Pat Bruderer, who lives in Chase, BC, first gets connected with the bark as the primary step of her process. Then she folds the bark, visualizes what the finished product will look like, and literally bites the bark to create whatever vision she has in her head.
Birch-bark biting is an ancient art once practiced by Aboriginal people from Labrador to the West Coast. Bruderer is only one of a rare breed that still practices this almost lost art.
Also on hand was the very impressive Corinne Hunt, who is the co-creator of the Olympic medals given out everyday at the Olympics. Her display, including full-sized metal skis and gorgeous jewelry with heavy inspiration from a long line of family artists and her Komoyue and Tlingit culture, were simply breathtaking.
She collaborated with others, including the Royal Canadian Mint and renowned industrial designer Omer Arbel, to create the medals for both the Olympics and the Paralympics based on two large master artworks.
The cool part is no two medals are the same. The orca motif was used for the creation of the Olympic medals and the raven for the Paralympics.
The exhibition also had a life-sized teepee on the exterior next to a large hand-carving exhibit. Live music on a small stage nestled amongst the artisans was contemporary with a nod to traditional values and rez life, a perfect blend for our people who are always fighting to keep our traditions, language and culture alive in the modern age.
