First Nations' Authentic Products From Haiti?From China?

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Harold Alfred Kwakwaka'wakw Native American Indian Artist

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sourced by Barbara McPherson

I haven't bestirred myself much about the Winter Olympic Games in 2010.  I've watched the debates and worried a little about how we in the Province of BC are going to pay for the big party.  The people of Vancouver voted to put the party on, but all of us, will be paying for it.

There is a huge debate going on right now about the possible violation of Constitution Rights to free speech in Vancouver.  Another is simmering away about the new Olympic athletes clothing.  One of the apparel items that I glimpsed appears to be what is commonly known as an "Indian Sweater"  The Cowichan Band First Nations has produced world renowned Cowichan Sweaters for years.  If what I heard on the radio is true, they were not consulted regarding these sweaters and they are not happy about it.

So I figured I'd have a look at the Olympic clothing on offer to the public.  There are some snazzy articles for sale on line.  What really caught my eye, though was the offering of Vancouver 2010 Authentic Aboriginal products.  I was looking at the clothing pages and thought, "What cedar bark hats? Button blankets?  Cowichan sweaters?"  Nope, you can get an Authentic Aboriginal Surviving Sideline T-shirt with a design depicting a scene from a Squamish legend made in Haiti.

"This classic unisex T-shirt is made from 100% cotton and features the Vancouver 2010 logo on the left sleeve.

Additional features:
• beautiful Aboriginal “Surviving the Flood” graphic on the front
• Four Host First Nations logo on the back
• subtle Aboriginal background graphic on the front

This T-shirt celebrates the Squamish First Nation legend in which the Squamish people were forced into canoes by rising floodwater and were sustained by salmon dropped into their boats by eagles. Still told to this day, this beautiful legend depicts the power of working together and the interdependence of man and nature."  Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Clothing Store

Some of the other authentic aboriginal products are manufactured in China and Italy.  You get the picture.  To me an authentic First Nations' product is made by a First Nations' crafts person.  I must express my ignorance of whether any First Nations people are receiving royalties for their images, but I'm also going to express my objection to calling T-shirts from Haiti as  authentic aboriginal products. To do so, in my opinion, demeans the fine artwork that is made by First Nations artisans.