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The Lil’wat Nation gave the Olympic flame a stirring sendoff on Saturday (Feb. 6), as a large crowd gathered at the front doors of the new Ullus community complex to start the Mount Currie leg of the Olympic Torch Relay with vibrant songs and drumming.
Spectators grouped around Lil’wat torchbearers Payton Dan and Linda Dan and local leaders to honour the torch and recognize the official opening of the new facility, with joyful songs ringing out in the misty morning as the flame burned brightly from Payton Dan’s torch.
After he passed the fire to Linda Dan, who set off running the stretch of the relay that would pass through Mount Currie on Day 100 of the flame’s 45,000-kilometre journey around Canada, the member of the First Nations Snowboard Team said he was excited to carry the flame, and wanted to do it “for a new experience.”
Randall Phillips, Bobby Stager, Keegan Andrews and Hayden Leo bore the flame through the rest of the Lil’wat leg of the relay, along with Whistler’s Tanya Goertzen, and dozens of people flocked to follow their progress through the streets, some carrying Canadian and Lil’wat Nation flags.
Stager beamed as he bore the flame on horseback, and Leo sprinted through his own leg.
“I was running really fast, it was really cool,” said Leo, who is in his final year at Xit’olacw Community School. “It was really fun.”
Joking that he didn’t find the 3.5-pound torch all that heavy because he’s a “good strapping young lad,” Leo said he thought the torch relay helped boost Olympic spirit.
“Everyone’s together here now, just for this one thing. I’m guessing it’s bringing everyone together,” he said.
Lil’wat Councillor Lois Joseph said it was moving to have young people so involved in the torch relay, and everyone could feel the spirit in their hearts. Lil’wat members Dillon Sampson and Jazzmin Pascal also carried torches in Whistler and Lillooet on Days 99 and 100, respectively.
Some community members said they came out into the Saturday morning fog to take in a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Iris Pierre added that her two-, eight- and 12-year-old children have “always been excited to see it” because they have long been aware of the event, as Pierre worked for the 2010 Information Centre before leaving to work for the Mount Currie Band.
After the flame started on its journey, Lil’wat Councillor Maxine Joseph-Bruce’s declaration that the community would break in the Ullus complex that day and “dance our feet off” was greeted with cheers.
The opening of the Ullus facility, which houses a new gym and banquet hall, offices and band-run services, drew more than 500 community members. The lively celebrations included hoop dancing by Alex Wells, live music, dancing performances, bone games, ticket draws and honouring and head dress ceremonies.
“Today is the most awesome day. It’s been so awesome that all of these people are here,” said Joseph.
As a 12-year-old, Joseph performed at the opening of the community’s old gym, and she said it was significant for her to be part of the opening of the new facility in her current role as the Lil'wat7úl culture team leader.
The Ullus complex stands where the old gym used to, as the facility was torn down. The Ullus name, which was chosen in a community vote, refers to coming together or gathering, and Pierre said she thinks it will have that effect.
“I think it’s a bonus to our growing together. It’ll bring a lot of our people together, and believing, believing in the leaders and believing in each other, open to understanding and communication,” she said.
The Lil’wat Nation is one of the Four Host First Nations of the 2010 Games, with the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, as the Olympic and Paralympic events will be held within their traditional territories.
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