February 18, 2008

On February 18, 2008, members of the Native 2010 Resistance disrupted an
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Four Host First Nations (FHFN) photo op
at the Sutton Hotel, located on Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver).

Indigenous women From the Native 2010 Resistance poured bags of apples onto
the podium where National Chief Phil Fontaine was announcing "First Nations
participation and volunteer opportunities with the 2010 Olympics". Like
apples, Phil Fontaine and the Four Host First Nations sell-out chiefs are
red skinned but white on the inside, bargaining off Indigenous lands for
profit. Fontaine tried to keep his composure, his podium filled with apples
as Native women yelled in front of his face "No Olympics on Stolen Native
Land!" and told the small crowd "You should all be ashamed of yourselves for
contributing to the rape and destruction of Mother Earth!."

Indigenous resistance against the games has been snowballing as more are
learning about Olympic industrial development and destruction taking place
on Skwxwú7mesh-ulh (Squamish), Lil'wat, St'at'imc, Stölo, Nlaka'Pamux, and
Secwepemc Native Lands.

While the Four Host First Nations claim to have avid support, the room that
the media event took place in was nearly empty for the first 20 minutes and
filled to a measly 15 people with only one media personnel to take advantage
of the 'photo op'. There was also no security at the event or around the
hotel during the affair.

The AFN, which is the so called "national organization representing First
Nations citizens in Canada", will assist the Four Host First Nations and the
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games (VANOC) in distributing a series of newsletters that will provide
information on how to volunteer at the Winter Games. The AFN will also make
available other opportunities for First Nations peoples to participate in
the Games including the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay, Cultural Olympiad, and
employment and procurement opportunities.

According to conversations at the event today, Four Host First Nation's reps
expect over 350 First Nations volunteers for the 2010 Olympics. However, the
prospect seems daunting given the mounting resistance against and knowledge
of the negative impacts on Indigenous lands, and related Indigenous
homelessness and poverty. Native youth, Elders, women, and men are growing
more skeptical about participating in the 2010 Games and are fighting back.

Members of the Native 2010 Resistance vow to continue to disrupt events that
support the 2010 Olympic Games and contribute to the theft of Indigenous
lands, homelessness and poverty.

DON'T BE AN APPLE! RISE UP AND RESIST THE 2010 OLYMPICS!It is better to have
less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. ~Apache"

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