Back, from left, standing: Jason Loutitt, Specialist, Aboriginal Sport & Youth, VANOC, Lara Mussell Savage, Specialist, Aboriginal Participation,VANOC, Georgina Wheatcroft, BC Sports Hall of Fame – Honoured Member, Naomi Walser, 2010 Legacies Now, Virginia Johnston, Aboriginal snowboard team member.
Front, from left: Richard Peter, paralympic athlete, Hon. Michael de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation.
The feather headdress was worn by world-champion wrestler and Tsartlip First Nation Hereditary Chief Jean Baptiste Paul, known as Chief Thunderbird.
The Province of British Columbia has contributed $75,000 towards Canada’s first Aboriginal Sport Gallery and touring exhibit.
“Aboriginal athletes in British Columbia have made great contributions to the world of sport but, until now, have never had a permanent place to celebrate their achievements,” Minister de Jong said. “By creating this awareness and encouraging Aboriginal people to pursue healthy, active lives, this gallery will help support the Province’s efforts to close the gaps in health outcomes for Aboriginal people.”
Minister de Jong joined project partners and athletes at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Vancouver to unveil the first artifact for the exhibit, the feather headdress of world-champion wrestler and Tsartlip First Nation Hereditary Chief Jean Baptiste Paul, known as Chief Thunderbird.
As British Columbians celebrate 150 years of their history, they will be reflecting on the contributions to the province’s development made by citizens representing diverse cultures and communities. The heritage of Aboriginal people is uniquely rooted in the landscape of B.C.
“A key pillar of BC150 is to showcase the remarkable contributions of Aboriginal people in B.C. in every facet of our society,” said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. “The stories told in this sport gallery and on tour will motivate and excite our young athletes training for this summer’s North American Indigenous Games and inspire them to excel.”
“The Aboriginal Sport Gallery is not only a tribute to our ancestors and our athletes of today but a ‘celebration of dreams’ that our future generations can aspire to,” said Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director of Four Host First Nations. “The lessons learned in the area of sport can help prepare youth for the challenges in life. It is our hope that young people can draw inspiration from these champions.”
The gallery will include photographs, video exhibits, text panels and artifacts that celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal athletes.
“The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is truly proud to be the home of the Aboriginal Sport Gallery,” said Sue Griffin, President and CEO of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are grateful to the First Nations communities for sharing their inspiring sport stories and to all of our partners for their enthusiastic support of this unique project.”
As part of the project, a portable Aboriginal sports exhibit will be created to reach Aboriginal people in isolated and rural communities. BC150 supports the exhibit as part of its mandate to provide a forum for Aboriginal people in B.C. to share their stories and achievements with others across the province and around the world. The exhibit will travel throughout B.C. on display at events including the 2008 North American Indigenous Games in August on Vancouver Island, where 6,000 Aboriginal athletes from across North America will compete.
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will put a focus on sport in British Columbia. The Province supports 2010 Legacies Now, a not-for-profit society working with British Columbians to develop sustainable legacies in sport and helping communities create economic and social opportunities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
For more information about the Province’s efforts to build the New Relationship with Aboriginal people in B.C., visit www.gov.bc.ca/arr. To learn more about the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, visit www.bcsportshalloffame.com. For more information about BC150 events and programs, visit www.bc150.ca.