First Nations

Wednesday was a long day for me in the Athletes' Village due to various shift swaps amongst the chaplaincy team. I remained in the centre for 2 chunks of the day to be a presence and to greet anyone who called by, but I also got out and about visiting around the Village. This took me to the Polyclinic as usual, to the Paralympic GB base, and to a couple of other places I've been visiting where people hang out. The Multi-Faith Centre was visited by various people today, mostly individuals but also a group of Buddhists including 2 monks in their saffron robes who came to hold a ceremony.
Another feature of today for me was notification of the publication of two web-based articles about my role within the work of the chaplaincy. One arose from my interview a few days ago with BBC Radio Solent's Sunday programme, and the other arose from a 'chance' meeting at last week's Torch Relay with a lady who blogs for the Daily Telegraph under the name of 'Ice Maiden'. Both provide a different dimension to the work I've been doing here so, if you'd like to read them, here's both links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8569000/8569685.stm

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/expat/lucyhyslop/10138112/forget-physical-lets-get-spiritual/

One of the visits I did today was to the small exhibition in the Athletes' Village by the 'Four Host First Nations' so that I could learn more about them. Mention has been made of these peoples early on in my time here, on the days of the Village Inauguration and the Torch Relay. First Nations are one of the 3 distinct group of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The others are the Inuit and the Metis. The Olympic and Paralympic organisers have been keen to involve 4 of the First Nations as partners, because the Games are being held on their traditional and shared traditional territories - those of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Taleil-Waututh nations. These nations have co-existed as neighbours for centuries, and have used and occupied the lands and waters of their traditional territories for as long as they can remember. Across Canada, there are around 756,700 First Nations people living in more than 630 communities, as well as in rural and urban areas. They are incredibly diverse with more than 50 nations and languages. Many are young, and the Games organisers have been keen to honour the role of the Four Host First Nations, as well as to make sure that they share in the legacy of the Games.