First Nations helping bring 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to NWO

Bearskin Lake band member Marshall Fox (2) was called up for a four-game stint with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League over the winter holidays. Fox was able to play in two of those games, including this one Jan. 2 against the Mississauga Ice Dogs.
-photo courtesy of Jim Egan/Soo Greyhounds

Wabigoon Lake First Nation and Eagle Lake First Nation are working with the city of Dryden to bring the Olympic Games torch to their area.

January 8, 2009: Volume 36 #1 

“This is a chance for Wabigoon Lake and Eagle Lake to be noticed in the world,” said Wabigoon Lake councillor Sheila Chief, who is representing her community on the local organizing committee. “We’re pretty excited about this opportunity.”

Dryden will be hosting the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay on Jan. 4, 2010, one of about 182 communities across Canada   participating in the torch’s 106-day journey to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games.

Chief said that her community has been involved in a number of initiatives with Dryden over the past few years.

“We work well with them,” Chief said, explaining that the organizing committee will be holding meetings on the relay in the New Year. “We need to decide what we can do for a positive reflection of the First Nations in the area.”

Suggestions include dancers in traditional regalia, but any final decisions will depend on where the relay will be held.

“In January, it will be cold,” she said. “How do we get people out to it without freezing.”

Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation (Rat Portage) and Red Rock First Nation (Lake Helen) will also be participating in the relay; Wauzhushk Onigum on Jan. 4 and Red Rock on Jan. 3.

“We’re a part of the relay team,” said Wauzhushk Onigum office manager Terry Skead, explaining that the community of about 300 on-reserve band members will be meeting with a Torch Relay official in March 2009 to determine their exact role in the relay.

The torch relay route is available at vancouver2010.com and information on how to apply to be a torchbearer is available at icoke.ca and rbc.com/carrythetorch. The icoke.ca website states: “You don’t have to be an athlete or a celebrity. Just tell us how you live Olympic every day.”