2010 Aboriginal Business Summit

I am naturally inclined to feel a little wary when I hear of ‘partnerships’ between the First Nations and the B.C. provincial government.

However, I was just reading about the 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit that took place this week and it looks as if some genuine dialogue is happening between the four host First Nations, the provincial government and the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC).

According to Summit organizers:

“For the first time in Olympic history, Aboriginal participation will be a specific function of an Olympic and Paralympic Games. Whether it’s doing business with VANOC, becoming a supplier, networking, developing partnerships, or leveraging the potential of tourism, the Summit takes a practical hands-on and how-to approach that will be of interest and value to Aboriginal businesses across the country.”

The focus of the summit was on identifying and pursuing economic opportunities for the First Nations in advance of, throughout and after the 2010 Games.

To add a little context here: the government is required to work with the First Nations in planning and implementing the Olympics because the land on which the Games will take place is the subject of land claims by the Lil’wat and Squamish First Nations.

Aboriginal law, an expanding wing of Canadian law, requires Aboriginal groups be consulted by the provincial government regarding initiatives held on disputed lands (One such piece of disputed land is the Sea-to-Sky Highway corridor, pictured above. The image is courtesy of Charchen.)

The relationship the provincial government and the First Nations are to uphold, where the Olympics are concerned, is mapped out here under "Shared Legacy Agreement".

Much of the ink on his document deals with land use. In recent years, it seems the government has been expanding upon its commitments by agreeing to build a multi-million dollar Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations cultural centre and laying the groundwork for a Tourism Management diploma program at Capilano College.

But just when I started feeling that something good might come out of the Games, I read this in yesterday’s Province.

The link only works if you’re a Province subscriber. For all you non-subscribers, I’ve pasted the article for your viewing pleasure.

Grab the gold rings, First Nations urged
2010 Olympics: Seize opportunity of Games, premier tells native leaders
by Damian Inwood, Staff Reporter

There are no guarantees that First Nations will win business gold at the 2010 Olympics, says Premier Gordon Campbell.

“There are, clearly, economic opportunities—there are not economic guarantees,” Campbell said yesterday.

Campbell struck a cautionary note while addressing a lunchtime crowd at the 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit, attended by more than 550 delegates.

“Just as we say to our athletes, ‘Go and set your goals and take advantage of those opportunities and move forward,’ so we have to say to our businesses, ‘Set your goals, think of what you’re going to do, dedicate yourself to it, make a commitment and, hopefully—and I’ll underline that—hopefully you will succeed,” added Campbell.

He compared winning a 2010 business opportunity with performing as an Olympic athlete.

“For every athlete that stands and receives a gold medal there are thousands that tried to get there,” he stressed.

Campbell said the Olympics are a “springboard for First Nations.”

Lil’wat First Nations Chief Leonard Andrew said 2010 has meant jobs for at least 30 of the 200-strong workforce on the reserve.

“We’ve formed our own company in concrete and supplying all the barriers of the Sea-to-Sky Highway,” he said. “Unemployment is down. It really reflects in the community with the pride that goes along with people saying, ‘I’m going to be working on these projects.’”

He agreed with Campbell that there are no guarantees of a pot of gold at the end of the Olympic rainbow.

“We say to our communities, ‘There is no guarantee but if we train you and you’re willing, you’ll have that great opportunity,’” he said.

Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson said that so far, her Burrard Inlet community doesn’t have a signed legacy agreement with either the Canadian or B.C. government.

“It’s something we’re working on,” she said. “We’re working on economic development opportunities and working with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic organizing committee.”

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Could Campbell have come out sounding any more patronizing? And why is there still no legacy agreement between the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and the provincial government?