The Four Host First Nations

Aboriginal is a collective name for the indigenous peoples of Canada and is used to refer to the original or first peoples of this land and their descendants. British Columbia is actually home to more than 200 First Nations including Inuit and Metis but the Four Host First Nations of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.  These four Nations have been chosen as they are the original people of the Vancouver Olympic sites.  This is the first time in history that Indigenous peoples have been recognized by the International Olympic Committee as Official Partners. 

There are lots of things about the First Nations at the Olympics.  I have seen an Aboriginal pavillion with handmade arts and crafts, an art gallery with totem poles and lots of native dancers. 

I will write again soon.

Kate O'Hare

Hey Class 3-3!

Hey everybody,

I hope you have been having a good time because I have!  Today I went to Cypress Mountain and watched men's moguls skiing and do you know what?  I saw Alex Bilodeau ski.  He won a gold medal for Canada today- the first one ever on Canadian soil!!!!!!!!  On Friday I went to the Opening Ceremonies and I saw Wayne Gretzy light the torch.  When Canada walked in the stadium I felt very proud not only to have the Olympics in Canada but to have so many Canadians work hard enough to compete in the Winter Olympics.  It was great and I will never forget it.  Tomorrow I will go to figure skating practice, women's hockey (Canada vs. Switzerland) and the Victory Ceremony when Alex Bilodeau will be awarded his Gold Medal.  Did you know that every single medal looks different and has different waves?

From Kate

Hello to Class 1-1 and 1-2!!

I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, mine was great!!  I have been having a great time at the Olympics.  It is like springtime in Vancouver.  We are staying in somebody's house and there is a treehouse in the backyard.  We have been doing lots of things.  On Saturday we went downtown and I met people from all over the world.  I have met people from Holland, Australia, USA, Finland, England, Norway and lots from Canada.  On Sunday we were at Cypress Mountain watching Men's Mogul Skiing and we saw Alex Bilodeau ski his qualifying race.  He won a gold medal for Canada!!!  What I learned about moguls skiing is that some of the men wear mouthguards just like when I play hockey because we both wear them to stay safe. 

At the Opening Ceremonies we saw a snow boarder go down a hill when there was no snow.  There were lights and there were special times that we had to shine them so I was part of the show.  Did you see me on TV?  Tomorrow I am going to see hockey- Switzerland vs. Canada.  I can't wait!

Write to you soon. 
From Shannon

Happy Valentine's!

Look for us at Cypress Mountain.
Men's Moguls Rock!
Go Canada Go!

The O'Hares

The Games Begin!

Today was nothing short of wonderous and I am still in a daze from an experience that promises to be a life-long memory.  As a Canadian I am filled with pride even though I am a visitor to this part of the country and experiencing the Olympics as a tourist.  This is still "our Olympics" and the world is grateful that we have invited them into our country for a few short weeks.  Vancouver is doing us proud as a Canadian city and as a host to nations.  The thousands of Olympic volunteers and Vancouverites, in general, have been gracious, kind and, in true Canadian fashion, polite to a fault.  The city is immaculate, organized and beautiful- a perfect stage for the XXI Winter Olympic Games. 

Our day started at the Olympic Countdown Clock at Robson Square which has been counting down the start of the Olympics for a year and ended at the Opening Ceremonies of the XXI Winter Olympic Games.  While it was never our plan to attend the Opening Ceremonies, the tickets which we bought with the intent to sell never did and so we used them ourselves.  It is often said that things happen for a reason and I believe that fate played a hand in this course as my Olympic experience has been made all the richer for the show of patriotism, compassion and inspiration that I was witness to tonight.  The Opening Ceremonies was a show like I have never seen before and probably will never see again.  It was a perfect blend of much of what makes us Canadian as well as being a fantastic spectacle.  It was an emotional display of people from every corner of the world mourning the tragic loss of a dedicated athlete and rallying to support his countrymen. It was a showing of pride and hope in our Canadian athletes that was beyond anything that I have witnessed and moved many to tears.  It was a challenge to athletes to act as role models for the youth of the world and inspire them to greatness.  It was an event that made me proud to be a Canadian.  I am looking at the world through Olympic glasses and it is a beautiful place- I have been forever changed.

Erika

Ready, Set, GO!

Hello,

The packing is almost done, kids are finally in bed, Erika is running around like mad trying to finish all the things that need attention before we leave.  It's finally sinking in, we are going to the Olympics!

This has been a dream of mine for a long time and I'm thrilled to have this chance to be part of Canada's moment on the world stage.  I definitely have the Olympic fever, even bought 2 magazines at full newsstand price today.  This is very unusual for me.  I would normally tend to side with the naysayers and support the protests that identify all that is wrong with events like the Olympics.  But for some reason I am gleefully overlooking these issues, seeing the greater potential this event can offer to the world. 

There is no doubt the Olympics are owned by, and run for, the benefit of the corporate world.  Coke, Bell, GE, McDonald's, and others boldly stake their claim to the Olympic ritual.  I'm sure it will become overwhelming and my patience for the advertising power play will wear thin.  For now, I have the pleasure of knowing this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that our family is very fortunate to enjoy.  Besides, no amount of capitalism and government propaganda can hold a candle to the power embodied in the Olympic flame.  For me, it is the Olympic Spirit that inspires and embraces all people .  I beleive this spirit represents the best of humanity and can not be tarnished by profiteers.  This is what gives me hope for a great adventure, for our childern's future, and for the world.

We will do our best to keep this blog updated with our daily activity and I will continue to comment on the greatest competition of the games - the struggle between Sport and Profit!

Keep in touch, love to hear your comments.  Rich

Is the Olympic Symbol really an Inukshuk?

An Inukshuk is the official symbol of the 2010 Olympic winter games for us, but according to the Inuit people this symbol is actually called an Inunwok.

 An Inukshuk is a pile of rocks with a special meaning used by Inuit peoples to mark special places or guide them on their travels.  These rock piles take many different shapes and have been used for thousands of years.  Only recently have these formations been made to look like people, and these are call Inunwok which means "in the likeness of a person". 

Therefore I believe the Olympic symbol is actually an Inunwok not an Inukshuk.  However, I think it looks great and we don't have any choice to change it now. What do you think???

See these links for more information.

By: KATE OHARE

More Info on the Olympic Symbol
YouTube Video with Peter Irniq