So, the olympics have started...and I'm right in the thick of it. The opening ceremony took place last night and I'm curious as to what those of you not experienced with canadian culture thought of it. Myself, I enjoyed it overall but was a little unimpressed with how much native stuff was included. I realize being on the west coast, there's a lot of native culture exposed to the population...but that was too much for my tastes. I was thinking "wtf" are all this visiting nations thinking of this, I'm sure a lot of countries were thinking "didn't you conquer these people when you claimed Canada?" Sad, but true! We have a HUGE asian population in Vancouver whom IMO should've played a much bigger part in the ceremony. Imigrants make this city what it is, it's a shame to see them left out.
Originally Posted by OnOneRyder
As an international observer, that sounds disgusting.
That's like saying that international (male) New Zealand teams shouldn't perform the haka before games, as we 'conquered' the Maori in the 19th Century.
What ever happened to embracing indigenous culture and points of difference?
I agree with Alpha.
Opening ceremony needed some good ol' fashioned seal clubbing.
Last edited by Furore; 02-14-2010 at 03:59 AM. Reason: Needed graphical help.
victoria aut mors
As someone who's lived in BC for quite a bit of my life, I can say without a doubt we embrace it enough. Hell take a visit here and it's shoved down your throat as a tourist and it's eaten up! Sadly what you don't see is how disrespectful many aboriginal people are to their own culture. I understand we need to let first nations people have their culture seen by the world, but canada is a melting pot of hundreds of different cultures...many of which had no mentioning in the ceremony. Hell as a white person in Vancouver I'm the visible minority! A lot of this came into play because of politics, the canadian government time and time again collapses under the demanding pressure of aboriginal requests.
On a more serious note, isn't the aboriginal culture an important part of Canadian history? We see the culture of aboriginal people here to be an important part of our history, even though parts were quite colourful...
Origins, Bro.
victoria aut mors
Absolutely! However the majority of the aboriginal people here have forgotten where they came from. Not to mention the horrible situations many are living in, a great part of this is their own doing. The government is doing a lot to provide them with better lives because they have been treated very poorly in the past. Canada is much more than a nation of aboriginal decent, we embrace all cultures yet because of pressures put on the government by a group who continue to choose to segregate themselves I think much of the world will have the wrong view of Canada. We are a relatively small nation population wise, it's not very often the whole globe tunes in to see us offer ourselves to the world.
I see where you're coming from, we get that argument recycled everyday with reference to the Maori. I don't agree with it, but that isn't the topic at hand. Basically, I just thought your OP had a hint of racism. You've clarified, and now I'll move along.
I didn't see the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics. The only Olympic opening ceremony I've ever watched is the Beijing one, which was fantastic. Too bad about how it all came to be, what with all the forced relocation of people and other events, but there's no denying that it was truly a human spectacle.
Hey, it isn't just Vancouver you know. Yeah, Vancouver is hosting it, but that doesn't meant that the rest of Canada gets zero input.
I'm Canadian, and I'm native, and I'm giving you a big go **** yourself. Not all of us are like the generalizations you posted. I get personal tastes and whatnot, but I think you went a bit out of line there. The conquered comment was highly crass as well.
There is a larger amount of the native population that ISN'T living on a reserve, who DON'T use the government cutbacks for schooling or abuse their status cards. You criticize in one post about how we're wanting to segregate ourselves, yet in the next you are criticizing because we're forgetting who we are?However the majority of the aboriginal people here have forgotten where they came from. Not to mention the horrible situations many are living in, a great part of this is their own doing. The government is doing a lot to provide them with better lives because they have been treated very poorly in the past.
Canada is a huge country dude. Just because YOU are a minority in Vancouver, doesn't mean that it is like that over the rest of the nation. I am the minority where I live. You'd think that being a minority in an area would give you a sense of empathy, all it seems to have done is pissed you off. Move then, if you dislike it so much.As someone who's lived in BC for quite a bit of my life, I can say without a doubt we embrace it enough. Hell take a visit here and it's shoved down your throat as a tourist and it's eaten up! Sadly what you don't see is how disrespectful many aboriginal people are to their own culture. I understand we need to let first nations people have their culture seen by the world, but canada is a melting pot of hundreds of different cultures...many of which had no mentioning in the ceremony. Hell as a white person in Vancouver I'm the visible minority! A lot of this came into play because of politics, the canadian government time and time again collapses under the demanding pressure of aboriginal requests.
I have never seen so many disgusting comments in one thread. You should be ashamed of yourself. There's being annoyed with something, then there is pushing the envelope. You could have voiced your opinions without resorting to the stereotypes. I'm not trying to say that the entire native population is perfect, and there are some who abuse the system. But that is true all over, white, black, asian, native, whatever.
Last edited by Tiffany; 02-15-2010 at 09:04 AM. Reason: Typos, FTW!
I think you're confused with some of my statements, and me not mentioning certain groups in my posts does not me I don't aknowledge them so don't get things twisted. I'm a crass prick most of the time, so being labelled racist or discriminatory comes with it...mainly because I say what I think without worrying about being labelled something or stepping on toes.
My main point was, there are so many different cultures who play a major role in canada now who were not included while natives seem to get half the show? Come on...
After some follow up posts, I think I understand your main point.
Unfortunatley "immigrants", are not native to the country. Even though Canada is made up of a diverse list of different ethnicites and cultures, and the ceremony is indeed about showing that culture, it's also about the history.
Let's take a Chinese-Canadian for example. How would you even convey their influence on Canadian culture in a ceremony? Honestly. If you've got ideas, tell me. Native-Candians have a clear, unique history which works well for a ceremony like the Olympics.
The 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics was dominated by Aboriginal performances, and it was appropriate. History dictates they were here first, and so if anyone should introduce our country to the world, it is them.
Conquering has nothing to do with it. Modern day Germany is made up of almost a dozen 18th century countries.
____Ernest
It isn't even worth talking about to you. You claim to speak your mind and not be afraid of labels and whatever, which is a total copout. No, that does not give you the right to shit all over someone else's culture.
Although it IS your opinion, and you are entitled to it. I stand by mine that you are completely ignorant.
The irony of this thread is laughable. Once again instead of being able to discuss the topic at hand people just bitch about racism and predujice towards natives. I voiced my opinion, but I was asking people to give their opinion ON THE CEREMONY. If all you're going to do is complain about me being "ignorant" go ahead, but there's no reason to respond multiple times when you're just gettingwithout actually contributing.
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