I wanted to draw your attention to protests against the Winter Olympics by a number of indigenous groups in Canada. I’d not heard much about it until Anna of Trouble is Everywhere drew my attention to the protests; speaking of which, thanks to Anna for for helping me find some of these links! It seems there has not been much coverage outside of Canada, so let’s you and I do some background reading. Before I go on, a note on language. I’ve done my best to use appropriate terminology when referring to particular groups. I recognise that I may have slipped up and if so apologise in advance. Here’s a terminology guide if you’d like to learn more yourself.
On Restructure!, Vancouver 2010 pretends indigenous people have institutional power over Canada, a look at the Opening Ceremony and an overview of race and racism (particularly as they relate to indigenous peoples) in Canada.
Another rather good overview is Vancouver Games & First Nations resistance by Renee Martin, writing at Global Comment. She also notes that ‘Much of the Canadian coverage regarding the protests does not seek to discuss why the protesters are attempting to disrupt the games. The protesters are seen as rabble rousers who are destroying our chance to showcase Canadian wonders.’
An Indigenous Olympics? by Toban Black, guest posting at Sociological Images. Black discusses the use of Arctic Inuit imagery in the Games logo and the wide range of problems this entails, including the collapsing of First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups into one, the implicit endorsement of the games on the part of these groups and much more. ‘Of course, the refusal to take indigenous protests seriously is just another manifestation of disinterest in the welfare of living indigenous peoples. Even as gestures are made toward native culture, actual natives generally are ignored.’
prof susurro at Like a Whisper has Winter Olympics & Aborigines’ Rights. She points out the wide range of impacts the Olympics is having – and will have long after the Games are over – on indigenous Canadian peoples, with a bonus ice skating routine incorporating a truckload of racism against Aboriginal Australians.
Games, Games,
go away at the Montreal Mirror, thanks to kaninchenzero. It’s a brief run down on resistance to the games (both in terms of reasons and organizations concerned). ‘“There’s a misconception that we’re against the Olympics,” says Stuart Myiow, secretary of the Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake. “What we’re against is the theft of land, the oppression of people, the destruction of our Mother Earth and the continued oppression of the Native people and of women.”’
On the 15th, Democracy Now! had a report called Olympic Resistance: Indigenous Groups, Anti-Poverty Activists, and Civil Liberties Advocates Protest 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Here is a collection of photographs of protesters’ posters, stickers, and graffiti around Vancouver.
Some protesting organisations:
The Olympic Resistance Network. This one’s via Dorian of Dorianisms.
no2010: No 2010 Olympics on Stolen Native Land.
The Indigenous Environmental Network.
Lastly, I thought you might also find this article from The StarPhoenix of interest as it features short profiles of the two Aboriginal women competing in the Games, snowboarders Callan Chythlook-Sifsof and Caroline Calve.