Tourism 2010 Resource Centre

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Aboriginal Tourism Welcomes the World

Archive Story, Winter 2010:
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC) and its more than 60 member businesses made sure visitors and international media in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games had a chance to enjoy authentic experiences that bring to life the fascinating ancient traditions of our province’s indigenous peoples.

One in four visitors to BC seeks out an Aboriginal cultural experience during their stay and this trend has grown by 67 per cent over the past three years, resulting in a rebirth and revitalization of First Nations culture throughout the province.

Throughout the Games, the lobby of the Pan Pacific Hotel was transformed into an Aboriginal village called Kla-how-ya (meaning “welcome”). There AtBC presented a 16-day showcase offering colorful and dramatic live demonstrations and performances every day.

At Robson Square, AtBC featured spectacular dance and drum groups every day from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., and at the BC Canada Pavilion in the Vancouver Art Gallery, artisans demonstrated how they work with cedar, a sacred life-giving wood throughout the ages in Aboriginal culture.

AtBC member businesses were also on hand at the Aboriginal Business Showcase at Vancouver Community College and the AtBC Trail Blazers helped staff the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion to introduce visitors to the vast breadth of Aboriginal culture from across Canada.

“AtBC is an association of people who are passionate about their culture and who wish to shape the future by sharing and educating people about the extraordinary traditions of our proud and vast heritage,” says Sophie Pierre, Chief of the Ktunaxa First Nation and Chair of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC.

“The Olympic Games gave us an opportunity to showcase excellence and opportunities for visitors to come to know us while having a cultural experience unique to British Columbia.

“We called our installation at the Pan Pacific ‘Kla-how-ya’ because this word is a greeting from the heart. There is a spirit in the word Kla-how-ya that means welcome and connects us all. It is the spirit of inclusion. In British Columbia, when we say Kla-how-ya, there are no strangers, no enemies, no outsiders. All are welcome. This is the message that the Aboriginal Tourism Association wishes to share with the world during the Games. Come and share our stories and enjoy your own unique experiences,” says Pierre.

AtBC is grateful for the financial support is has received from the following sponsors: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Province of British Columbia, Terasen Gas and The Pan Pacific Hotel. Their partnerships have made this Olympic showcase possible.

The more than 60 members of AtBC range from gallery curators to jet boat guides, eco-tour operators and wineries, and they are located in every corner of the province. Each member is an Aboriginal-owned business and a formal authenticity certification offered by AtBC guarantees an authentic cultural experience.

More information about the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia and their activities during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games is available HERE.

CALENDAR OF AtBC GAMES-TIME EVENTS

From February 12-28, Here’s What’s Happening:

Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel
Daily scheduled performances and cultural demonstrations including traditional dancing, cedar bark weaving, Aboriginal fashions, birch bark chewing, moose hide tufting, jewelry making, carving, storytelling and an opportunity to understand the traditional harvesting of wild herbs for traditional medicines.

BC Canada Pavilion at Vancouver Art Gallery
Cedar has long symbolized life for coastal Aboriginal people as it provided shelter, transportation and clothing, aided in food preparation (baskets, fishing, hunting), and served as a means of spiritual and historical communication. In the forestry section of the BC Canada Pavilion, AtBC artisans will demonstrate traditional uses of cedar and other wood products. Demonstrations will include carving, bent box making, cedar bark weaving and birch bark chewing.

BC Showcase Stage at Robson Square
Dancers, singers and drummers from throughout the province are sharing the stories of their culture through colorful and dramatic performances daily from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Aboriginal Business Showcase – Vancouver Community College.
Throughout the Games, AtBC member businesses are showcasing their tourism businesses, providing visitors with a chance to meet with operators and learn more about what Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences are available throughout the province. (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily)