Jaws dropped in March when Lhtako Dene Nation chief Clifford Lebrun announced the First Nation was going to contribute $55,000 cash to the BC Winter Games. It was an amount equal to the City of Quesnel’s introductory contribution, making the municipality and the First Nation equal partners in the venture, now known as the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games.
That surprise has become utter shock upon learning, now, that the Lhtako Dene Nation has written a second sizable cheque. This time, they are contributing $62,000.
“This recent donation is earmarked for Participant and Volunteer Services, a key component in the success of the Games,” said Games vice-president Brenda Beatty.
It makes Lhtako Dene Nation (LDN) not only co-hosts of the entire sports super-spectacle, but also a driving force in the legacy of the Games. Tim Michell, a councillor with the LDN government and a director on the Games board, delivered the new funding. He explained the reasoning behind the substantial sponsorship.
“It’s time for Lhtako to be out and about,” he said, noting that this element of the Games ensures the LDN logo will be on all the athlete take-home material like lanyards, pins, toques, and those sorts of items. “We’re going to have 1,800 athletes, officials, coaches, supporters, all coming through Quesnel so at the end of the Winter Games, all these kids are going to disperse all across B.C. with our logo. Some are going to wonder ‘what is that bear and that fish, there?’ and it’ll be explained that it’s the Lhtako Quesnel Winter Games, and this is an experience that they will always remember, with our name right there part of that, advertised everywhere.”
Part of the reason for stepping up as equal partners is to raise the profile of the Lhtako Dene Nation and its shared geography with Quesnel. But partly it is also to make people think of their own First Nations home roots, and wonder more about the land on which their own homes and schools and sports facilities are located, no matter where in the province they might live.
“It’s an eye-opener for the BC Games organization,” said Michell. “It’s the first time they’ve ever done an event hosting with a First Nation, so there is going to be a little bit of a twist to these Games because of that side of it.”
“It has been a joy to work with Lhtako Dene members while planning to host the 2024 BC Winter Games,” said Beatty. “In order to be successful, our entire community needs to work together to host an event of this scope and size in a small city like ours. In the spirit of reconciliation, we must engage together as true partners; and working together on hosting the 2024 BC Winter Games has been a rewarding way to learn how to do that in a direct and local way.”
The public will get more than logos on lanyards. The LDN presence will be a constant element throughout the many events that go beyond sports. Michell said he went to Prince George in 2015 for the Canada Winter Games and that event also incorporated their home First Nation, the Lheidli T’enneh people, with their own pavilion alongside the main cultural area. Michell got to watch his cousin, Travis Hebert, aka Heebz the Earthchild, of hiphop duo Mob Bounce, perform in that pavilion. Now that his town has a major event, and his territory is in the spotlight, he wants to capitalize, in a cultural sense.
“What I envision here is incorporating First Nations from the surrounding communities, with a focus on Lhtako as the frontrunner, showcasing tradition and culture as much as possible,” he said. “We will have singers, jingle-dress dancers, marshalling in with these 1,800 participants. We are also hosting a special event for the participants up at Lhtako in the longhouse and arbour. We are going to try to utilize the community as much as possible. And at night, so there are things for people to do while they are here but not doing their sports. We will have another event down at the rec centre, planned as well.”
Beatty said Lhtako’s liaison with the board, Wanda Aldred, has been an invaluable resource for knowledge of language and traditions, as well as connections with LDN people who also want to see these Games be a growth opportunity between Lhtako and Quesnel.
The next major event coming up is on Nov. 17 when Lhtako and Quesnel jointly celebrate the 100-day mark until the opening of the Games. This event will be highlighted by the torchlighting ceremony and Moonlight Madness, plus so much more.
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