Four Host First Nations (FHFN)
In 2004, the four area band councils (along with government & VANOC) established the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) as an official Indigenous Olympic organization. According to a Nov. 24, 2004, press release, the FHFN was established to
“take advantage of all opportunities including economic, and establish a clear First Nations presence in the [Olympic] Games while protecting aboriginal rights and title.”

The last reference flows from the Indian Act chiefs and councils co-optation of ‘Aboriginal rights and title’ as political & legal leverage in negotiations with government & corporations. It also helps portray them as defending Native peoples and ‘fighting’ for positive gains (rights and title). In reality, of course, they actively collaborate in eroding and extinguishing rights & title (including through events such as 2010).
In February 2006, the band council chiefs from the FHFN participated with VANOC at the closing of the Torino Winter Olympics in Italy, “inviting the world to join them in 2010.”
Through the band councils & Four Host FN, Olympic organizers also gained access to artists and cultural performance groups, who are now routinely employed for public VANOC events to officially open & welcome visitors (government & corporate officials, tourists, etc.).
During 2010, the Four Host First Nations and various Native performance groups will be highlighted in the opening and closing ceremonies. The Four Host First Nations will also be responsible for coordinating the 2010 Aboriginal Trade Pavilion, featuring a ‘Trading House’ (gift shop), a ‘Great Hall’ (banquet hall), a theatre, restaurant, and business center.

Four Host First Nations

Members: Squamish, Musqueam, Tseil-Watuth (Burrard), and Lil’wat (Mt. Currie, part of St’at’imc) band councils in traditional territories where 2010 events are to occur, in both Vancouver & Whistler.
Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Tseil-Waututh, and Squamish lands, while Whistler is located on St’at’imc & Squamish lands.
• The Musqueam reserve is located near the University of BC; the band has some 1,000 members.
• Squamish are located in North Vancouver and near the town of Squamish (on Sea-to-Sky Highway, close to Whistler); the band has some 3,324 members (with 2,239 on reserve).
• The Lil’wat, at Mt. Currie north of Whistler, have 1,800 members.

Established: November, 2004.

Purposes: to act as official Indigenous Olympic partner; to provide traditional openings and welcomings for VANOC & Olympic events; to better exploit Indigenous culture, peoples, and lands for 2010; and to provide legitimacy to the Olympic industry.

FHFN Structure

Chief’s Executive
Leonard Andrew (Lil’wat/Mt. Currie)
Ernest Campbell (Musqueam)
Bill Williams (Squamish)
Leah George-Wilson (Tseil-Waututh)

Board of Directors
Connie Wilson, Lil’wat
Ruth Dick, Lil’wat
Chief Ernest Campbell, Musqueam
Allyson Fraser, Musqueam
Chief Bill Williams, squeamish
Julie Baker, Squamish
Chief Leah George-Wilson, Tseil-Waututh
Leonard George, Tseil-Waututh

Staff
Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director & CEO. Formerly a Squamish band councilor for 8 years.
Paul Manning, Technical advisor
Lea Nicholas-Mackenzie, Director of Aboriginal Outreach and Participation
Jessie Williams, student intern
Dennis Thomas, student intern
Peter Natrall, student intern

Community Coordinators
Lois Joseph, Lil’wat
Wanona scott, Musqueam
Aaron merchant, Squamish
Justin George, Tseil-Waututh
Lori Simcos, Tseil-Waututh

Contact Info:

Address: Ste. 610-100 Park Royal, West Vancouver, V7T 1A2
(previously at 7th floor- 3585 Gravely St., Vancouver, where VANOC is based)
Tel: 778-327-5775
Toll-free: 1-866-809-5257
Fax: 604-296-2867
Web: www.fourhostfirstnations.com
E-mail: info@fourhostnations.com

Tourism BC 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit
From Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2007, VANOC, corporate sponsors, & government officials organized a Tourism BC 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit, in downtown Vancouver. The summit involved BC premier Gordon Campbell, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, VANOC officials, business representatives, FHFN band council chiefs, BC-Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, Aboriginal Peoples Television (APTN), and Aboriginal business consultants. The purpose of the summit was to better organize and exploit Indigenous culture & peoples for 2010 and the tourism industry overall. It was also a means of maintaining the support of the Aboriginal business elite by opening up parts of the Olympic industry to them.

Tourism BC 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit
Jan. 31- Feb. 2, 2007
Sheraton Wall Center Hotel, Vancouver

Featured representatives from federal and provincial governments, VANOC, Tourism BC, Four Host First Nations, and corporate sponsors including Hudson’s Bay Company, Royal Bank of Canada, Rona, etc.

Participants:

• BC Premier Gordon Campbell
• David Emerson, federal minister of International Trade (inc. 2010)
• David Henley, Indian & Northern Affairs, economic development branch
• BC Minister of Tourism, Stan Hagen (provincial minister responsible for 2010)
• BC Minister of Economic Development
• First Nations Summit, Ed John
• BC Assembly of First Nations (BC-AFN), Shawn Atleo
• Squamish chief Gibby Jacob
• Lil’wat chief Leonard Andrew, elected in 2003 (formerly chief 1981-1989)
• Musqueam chief Ernest Campbell, served 3 two-year terms in 1980s, re-elected chief 2006.
• Tseil-Waututh chief, Leah George-Wilson, co-chair of FN Summit, treaty negotiator, direct on FHFN Board.
• Tewanee Joseph, executive director and CEO, Four Host First Nations
• Ian Campbell, hereditary Squamish chief & band councilor, consultant for Vancouver Opera.
• Leonard George, actor & entertainer, served as band council chief for Tseil-Waututh 1989-2001. CEO of Children of Takaya dance group, Tayaka Tours, a director on Board of FHFN.
• Lyle Leo, Resource Business Ventures (Mt. Currie), former band councilor Mt. Currie, pro-business. Served as represenatitive on 2010 Bid Corporation, 2001-2003.
• Bev O’Neil (Ktunaxa), business consultant, author of ‘Traditions and Marketing’, promoter of Aboriginal tourism.
• Chris MacDougall-Ross, General Manager, Olympic merchandising group, Hudson’s Bay Company
• Tamara Goddard, Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Business Corporation.
• Brenda Baptise, chair, Aboriginal Tourism BC, Osoyoos Indian Band, director of marketing
• Flavio Caron, Aboriginal Business workshop facilitator.
• Hil’ary Dunn, manager, Aboriginal Participation, VANOC.
• Gary Youngman, consultant, Aboriginal Participation, VANOC. Helped coordinate early 2010 Bid activities with Native groups, lawyer and former treaty negotiator for BC.
• Bob Joseph, (Kwakwaka’wakw) Indigenous Corporate Training, Inc., business consultant.
• Richard Krentz, Coast Salish artist.
• Jean LaRose, CEO of Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN). Larose discussed the need to get Olympic propaganda out to Native communities, and described 2010 as “The greatest opportunity of this generation” during his power point presentation.
• Tzo’kam, Lillooet singing group.
• Christ Scott, non-Native Chief Operations Officer of Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation. OIB-DC owns 9 businesses, including Nk’Mip resort, winery, golf courses and a museum.

AFN Endorses 2010 Winter Olympics
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national organization comprised of Indian Act band council chiefs and is funded by the Canadian government. At its July 2007 Annual General Meeting, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the AFN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Four Host First Nations. AFN ‘grand chief’ Phil Fontaine stated,
“The 2010 Olympics will provide a unique opportunity for First Nations and Canadians to work side-by-side, to share in the long-term social & economic legacy that these historic Games will provide.”

The memorandum formalized a working relationship between the two groups, with a commitment and partnership in 2010 related activities. A VANOC official was a signing witness.