Petra's, Gail's and Jeannette's dispatches from the 2010 Games
VANCOUVER, BC-With the last gold medal awarded-Go, Canada, go!-and the flame now extinguished, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, held in Vancouver, BC over the last two weeks, have officially drawn to a close. But unofficially, the Islanders who were fortunate enough to participate will retain lasting memories for a long time to come.
Manitoulin was well represented at these games, from those participating to those who attended as visitors taking in all the games had to offer. G'Mewin Migwans of M'Chigeeng, along with five Wikwemikong youth-Keith Edger, Elizabeth Trudeau, Tyrone Shawana, Crystal Recollet, and Matthew Pheasant-performed in the opening ceremonies amid 350 Aboriginal dancers from across the country.
Joining them were Celina Cada Mantaswagon, a hoop dancer who hails from Sheshegwaning, and Tracy Recollet, who is originally from Wikwemikong and now works in Sudbury as the First Nation, Métis and Inuit support worker for the Rainbow District School Board.
Performing the women's fancy shawl dance in the opening ceremonies was "emotional," said Ms. Recollet, noting that the recognition of Canada's First Peoples was an opportunity to build cultural awareness.
"The whole world was watching and it was an honour to share our story as the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people," she said in a news release. "When the athletes came into the stadium, the atmosphere was intense. The cheers grew so loud for the Canadian athlete, I could feel my heart pounding. My shawl was shaking from the sheer energy. It was an unforgettable experience."
These games have been heralded as unprecedented in their inclusion of First Nations peoples-the games were held on the traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations; Aboriginal symbolism has been infused in everything from the Olympic inukshuk emblem to the medals; and there has been an overall increase in showcasing Aboriginal art, language, traditions, history, and culture.
Wikwemikong's Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, was in attendance for the first few days of the Olympics and believes the event was put together in a way that was respectful and inclusive of Aboriginal people.
"Everywhere I went there were Aboriginal symbols and logos, and people were really friendly," she said, noting that the Aboriginal pavilion was voted the best pavilion of the games. "If they saw that someone was Aboriginal they were outgoing and friendly all over."
She was impressed with the contributions from the Four Host First Nations, and even had a chance to meet Corinne Hunt, the Vancouver-based designer of the medals, whom Ms. Corbiere Lavell describes as "a nice, quiet woman," who was "down to earth and friendly. It was nice to meet her."
As with any large group, there were protestors who, unfortunately, chose to be destructive at the games, all in the name of Aboriginal rights, but the Wikwemikong women's advocate said they were "hired to disturb," and weren't associated with any Aboriginal group of which she was aware. "All the people I met made it very clear they did not have anything to do with it," she added.
Ms. Corbiere Lavell arrived on the Thursday morning before the start of the games, spending a week there in total, where she was invited to speak at the Aboriginal youth forum alongside National Chief Shawn Atleo and Governor General Michaelle Jean.
More than 350 youth gathered at workshops on leadership skills, and Ms. Corbiere Lavell said she was struck by the contributions of the youth, who seemed to have their pulse on significant issues facing Aboriginal people today.
"The young people entertained and they spoke on issues like human rights, equality, justice-they're right on top of it," she said. "I was really impressed."
One of her main reasons for attending was the 19th annual Women's Memorial March, which pays tribute to the Aboriginal women across Canada who have gone missing or been murdered, and brings attention to the issue with the hope of ending the violence.
Family members and friends had an opportunity to speak about those they have lost, and then they led a march through downtown Vancouver, with participants and spectators alike showing support for the cause.
"The day was beautiful," Ms. Corbiere Lavell said. "We even had six eagles in the sky; the traditional people were saying that these are the spirits of the women who had been killed."
"It was really good to hear the women talking right from their hearts and saying, 'We mustn't let this continue, it has to be followed up to give rest to those women who lost their lives,'" she added. "It was very moving."
There was also time for her to take in the opening ceremony and the Friday night gala for heads of state where Ms. Corbiere Lavell met Governor General Michaelle Jean, US Vice-President Joe Biden, California Governor Arnold Schwartzeneger, and Princess Anne. She later took in the first Canadian women's hockey game, speed skating, and pairs figure skating.
"It was lots of fun," she said. "Pretty exciting."
For Gail and Rick Gjos of Little Current, who travelled to Vancouver both to take in the Olympic Winter Games and to volunteer at the Paralympic Winter Games, the atmosphere created by the event was magical.
"It is so very hard to put all of our experiences down on paper," wrote Ms. Gjos in an email from Vancouver. "Ever since we arrived here, the Olympic spirit has been quite overwhelming."
The pair took in a variety of events, including speed skating, where the Netherlands won gold, and several hockey games, including the women's final, in which Canada beat the US 2-0. "Now that was a game!" Ms. Gjos enthused.
"We were loud and proud in our section," she writes, noting that they were seated in a section with many US fans, including family members of the US players. "It is something to be in a venue of that size and see a sea of red and white. There were so many Canadian flags waving in the air and lots of tattoos on faces, and many more wild, but exciting, costumes. It was a proud time for us all when we got to sing 'O Canada' and see our flag raised above."
Other highlights included watching the pairs freestyle skating, women's aerial skiing (in which Ms. Gjos called the talent of the Chinese skiers "incredible"), and curling, which Canada "dominated."
While Ms. Recollet was dancing her way through the opening ceremony, the Gjoses were watching from the stands-tickets were given out free to volunteers-and Ms. Gjos said it was fun to see it all later again on television.
Lineups to many of the venues were hours long: to get into Heineken House the night Netherlands won gold in speed skating would have meant a seven-hour wait, and the lineup for the Olympic Store continued for blocks, Ms. Gjos reports.
The couple now await their turn to volunteer at the Paralympic Games, which start on March 13, and they have already picked up their uniforms and are ready to work.
The Olympic experience has been one that the Gjoses would "not have missed for the world," with faces young and old participating and contributing to the festivities, and it will be interesting, they note, so see how the mood transforms when all the hype has died down.
"It has been just so great to be here and experience this city in Olympic mode," Ms. Gjos writes. "Everywhere you go people are happy, courteous, and, we like to think, Canadian."
For those of us who couldn't be there in person, the level of excitement was nearly as high, and when the gold-medal hockey game between Canada and the US kicked off on Sunday afternoon, at least one local establishment was packed to the gills for the nail-biter. "It was a memorable experience," said Anchor Inn proprietor Bruce O'Hare.
The bar installed a new, large LCD television for the event, and wired the PA system for sound "so it was all around you," Mr. O'Hare recounted. "It wasn't quite like being at the hockey game, but it was the next best thing."
Throughout the afternoon, staff fielded phone calls from a bar in Colorado, the proprietors of which are frequent travellers to Manitoulin, who checked in with the Anchor at each period to get a Canadian perspective on the game.
Even Anchor staff got in on the action, closing the restaurant, and closing down the kitchen entirely during the third period, so they could see the game. Maggie Burton, although from the US, was coerced into wearing a Team Canada jersey and didn't seem to be too uncomfortable pulling for representation of her new homeland.
The match, which had to go to overtime to break a 2-2 tie-US player Zach Parise cut short Canada's lead with only 20 seconds left in the third period-kept fans on the edge of their seats until Nova Scotia's Sidney Crosby ended the stalemate, earning Canada the gold medal.
At that point, "the entire bar stood up and blew the walls off the Anchor singing 'O Canada,'" Mr. O'Hare said.
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