Four Host First Nations

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are being held in the greater Vancouver and Whistler area of British Columbia, Canada. These are the shared traditional territories of the Four Host First Nations ~ the Lil’wat, the Musqueam, the Squamish and the Tsleil-Waututh, who have shared these lands for thousands of years.

The mission of the Four Host First Nations is to facilitate engagement between the Nations and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to ensure that the Games are successful and that the Nations’ languages, traditions, protocols and cultures are meaningfully acknowledged, respected, and represented in the planning, staging and hosting of the Games.

In 2005 we signed a Protocol with VANOC which includes our commitment to work with them and other partners, primarily the provincial and federal governments, to achieve “unprecedented Aboriginal participation” by ensuring that opportunities to participate in the 2010 Winter Games are extended beyond the FHFN to other First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada. The Protocol marks the first time that Indigenous peoples have been recognized as full partners in an Olympic and Paralympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.

The FHFN logo reflects the unique culture and spirit of the Four Host First Nations, respecting each other and working cooperatively together, united within the sacred circle of life. The rim of the logo represents the creator and our ancestors watching over a human face symbolizing each of the four nations. In the centre, four feathers point to the cardinal directions – north, south, east and west – inviting and welcoming the nations of the world to come to the Games. The feathers can also be seen to symbolize our arms stretched up and open, welcoming and extending respect to all visitors. It is the tradition of the Coast Salish people to welcome visitors, or to compliment for something well done, by saying “I hold my hands up to you”.

For more information, visit fourhostfirstnations.com.