Playing the game

Page 6

With the Olympic Games in Calgary only three months away and the Lubicon's boycott against the Glenbow Museum's exhibition gathering steam, some say the government is under the gun to solve the land claim issue and save face.

It would seem the boycott threat is drawing results. But, many people are asking what exactly the boycott is and how do they support it. Does it mean we shouldn't watch the Games on television or buy tickets to the events? Does it mean our athletes shouldn't compete? Should craftspeople refuse to sell their goods at a marketplace attracting international tourists eager to buy? Should traditional dancers miss the opportunity to present their culture to the world?

To use craftspeople as an example, certainly they feel justice should be done and support their brothers in their fight for land, but they want a share of the action to sell their work. If they don't show up to sell their crafts, then a non-Native organization might nose in and sell Indian goods that are neither handmade nor authentic.

Dale Auger, a Calgary artist, strongly supports the boycott, but also plans to stage an independent art show that will be held in February during the Games. When a story carried by Windspeaker stated he plans to have a showing at the Olympics, Auger had to field calls from mainstream media regarding his loyalty to his people. Just this week he called us to say, "I know what I feel and I didn't say I would have a show at the Olympics. I explained my situation to the Windspeaker reporter . . . and this whole thing is NOT a political situation . . . I am having a show during the Olympics."

Now that Auger has clarified this, there will still be some who would say he is supporting the Games, not the Lubicon, no matter what he says or really feels.

And this is the problem we all face. The Games are too big an opportunity to pass up. Publicity and economic gain are being offered on a silver plate and many of us can't push it away. Even though we want justice done and support the Lubicon, everyone knows the Olympics are a big publicity show anyway.

Windspeaker is fighting the same battle. Should we carry advertisements which flog the Olympics? Are we traitors? We have taken an editorial stand of balance ? we will present material generated by the government and Native people. As a newspaper, we cannot choose sides; instead we take the middle path and stick to it. We must present both sides of the story as best we can and let the ready decide for himself.

Bernard Ominayak has asked for Alberta chiefs' support. WE wants unity amongst his people in making a stand, but also understand the dilemma supporters face; he sees his people being bought by the government to participate in the cultural events. But, visitors can watch the colorful dancing and still be shown beyond the beads and feathers how Canada's Aboriginal people are really treated as they live with poverty and injustice. Athletes can compete, but also wear a "Last Stand of the Lubicon" badge pinned to their vest. People lined up along the roadside to watch the Olympic torch runner can carry placards in support of the land claim.

These passive shows of support are all that can be expected. A Native athlete from eastern Canada who's trained for four years to compete at the Games can't be asked to pull out and become a political pawn. Besides, as things shape up it looks as though support groups are gearing up to take care of much of the political demonstrating at the Games.

If we remember the ideals of the Olympic Games we realize none of this should really be taking place. The Games are an opportunity every four years for amateur athletes to meet and compete against each other. But, from the time Hitler used the Berlin Olympics to demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan race, to the black power demonstration at the '68 Mexico City Games, they have become a political forum. And, four years ago the Americans showed jut how much of a marketing and publicity circus the Games can become.

The Olympics really are just games, but they are political and publicity games ? and everybody's playing.