The Martlet

First Nations leaders brought the Olympic flame to the Legislature — and Songhees Chief Robert Sam lost his opportunity to welcome it, to the clear female tones of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) pre-recorded announcer.

In the middle of Sam’s address to the large crowd at the Oct. 30 beginning of the torch relay, concert speakers boomed a welcome to dignitaries who included Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Gordon Campbell and the CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), an official Olympic sponsor. Sam retreated, and Esquimalt Chief Andrew Thomas stepped forward after the announcement to make his address.

Unlike the evening festivities, which were put together by the Victoria Spirit Committee, the morning event was coordinated by VANOC, who could not be reached for comment. But the Spirit Committee’s Alice Bacon said she was under the impression the announcement couldn’t be stopped once it started playing.

“It’s disgusting,” said crowd member Ralph Burgharbt, owner of Victoria’s Budget Break and Muffler.

Sam had his own feelings.

“I’m not saying it’s all right, but I think this event was bigger than we were,” he said after the event.

If he had not been interrupted, Sam said he would have welcomed the four Vancouver First Nations chiefs to traditional Songhees and Esquimalt territory.

“I think, for a long time, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations have been out of sight and out of mind,” he said. “This was one of the events that would tell people, we are still here. That’s one of the things we didn’t get to say. And I think it was a chance to show the people of Victoria, and British Columbia and the world that our culture is still alive.”

Sam said the Olympics offers opportunity for the indigenous peoples of B.C. He also noted that the children of the current adult generation will probably end up paying for the Olympics.

No-2010 Victoria protestors were present throughout the day, including several at morning events. Members chanted “no Olympics on stolen native land.” The slogan is also on No-2010 Victoria stickers. Sam said this was inappropriate.

“If there’s anybody who’s going to be talking about stolen land, it’s us, not some outside group,” he said. “If they want to really support us, they should be coming to some of these negotiating meetings and expressing their opinions, or trying to influence their MLAs, or their local politicians.”

Another widely-publicized talking point related to the indigenous role in the Olympic games was the notable presence of people wearing authentic Cowichan sweaters. Their distinctive patterns were visible throughout the day downtown.

Heather Campbell, a member of the Startlip Band, said she won’t go into the Bay since they started manufacturing the controversial made-in-China Cowichan sweaters. She wore her own authentic sweater on Friday.

Fran House, a Chilliwack native who came to town for the start of the Torch Relay, said her Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) knockoff is extremely comfortable, but she thinks the contract should have gone to the Cowichan.

Bacon said the Victoria Spirit Committee’s only part in the morning events was bringing VANOC together with local indigenous leaders, and connecting them with schools to bring in the droves of red-wearing schoolchildren who filled space before the stage centre.

Mayor Dean Fortin attended the morning event wearing an official Vancouver 2010 four-nations tie, which shows the faces associated with the Four Host First Nations, Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.