Kingston Resist 2010 Protests Olympics

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Posted By JORDAN PRESS
The Kingston Whig-Standard, March 24, 2009

A group of local activists protested in front of the K-Rock Centre over the weekend in a move they said was designed to raise awareness about the Olympics taking place on stolen aboriginal lands.

The group chanted for "no Olympics on stolen land" and handed out pamphlets in front of the arena just before the Canadian women's hockey championships on Saturday.

The approximately 30 protesters were with a group known as Resist 2010.

The group says that work for the Olympics, including the expansion of ski resorts and the construction of facilities, is damaging the rural environment that was aboriginal land and hurting urban native communities.

The Olympic ideals of fair play, sportsmanship, equality and freedom are being lost when it comes to dealing with aboriginals in B. C., said protester Adam Gaudry.

"We're turning the Olympic message back in on itself," said the 24-year-old Queen's University student.

"A lot of people don't know and they're surprised at this," said Gaudry, who is Metis. "We're trying to raise awareness."

Many people on their way inside to see the final of the Clarkson Cup took pamphlets from the protesters, who banged on an empty bucket and held up a banner by the arena's ticket office.

The group chose Saturday's final as the site of their protest because across from the front entrance to the arena on Barrack Street sat a van carrying the Vancouver Olympic torch -- unlit -- for residents to see and snap a picture with.

About 75 people went inside the trailer, which is on a cross-country tour to Vancouver.

The protesters were outside the arena when former Gov.-Gen. Adrienne Clarkson arrived at the rink. In an interview, she said she saw no problem with the protest.

"No, not at all. There is freedom of speech in this country. People should be allowed to say whatever they like ... I absolutely stand up for their right to do it," Clarkson said.

The group had held events around campus and Kingston and held their first public protest Saturday at the game.

Protester Amanda Divito Wilson said people walking by were by and large interested in at least talking with demonstrators, and not becoming defensive about the Olympics.

"People are pretty receptive because it's something that hasn't been discussed," said the 24- year-old, who works at Queen's.

The group says the aboriginals in B. C. never formally ceded much of the land that is being used for the Olympics. They say the expansion of ski resorts and facilities for tourists will not benefit the native people who live in the area.

Protester Robyn Hartley, 29, said demonstrators were using the building the $46.5 million K-Rock Centre as an analogy for their cause. She said demonstrators were telling passers-by that the arena was built to benefit a few at the expense of the many.

Divito Wilsono said protesters let those coming to the game know that Kingston was once native land.

"Everyone is personally implicated in this," she said.

The protesters left the arena shortly after the game began. -- With a file from Mike Koreen