Tsleil-Waututh Set To Explore Olympics Bid Along with Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Two Municipalities

Tsleil-Waututh Set To Explore Olympics Bid Along with Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Two Municipalities

News & UpdatesTsleil-Waututh Set To Explore Olympics Bid Along with Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Two Municipalities

Tsleil-Waututh Set To Explore Olympics Bid Along with Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Two Municipalities

On Friday, December 10th, an MOU was signed between Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as well as the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The signing of the MOU is a positive first step forward for the four First Nations and the two municipalities, who will now work with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) along with other stakeholders to explore the impacts and benefits of hosting the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The MOU creates a Host Nations Exploratory Assembly for the consideration of a 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bid.

“In 2010, we had the opportunity to host the world on the traditional territory of the Líl̓wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Those Games created a legacy for the four Host Nations,” says Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jen Thomas. “From all that we learned from hosting the world in 2010, we know that along with the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, we will be able to build off that legacy, making the 2030 Games the first Indigenous-led Olympic Games and the best Games yet.”

Vancouver and Whistler, as the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games co-host cities, have been invited by the Host Nations to participate in these exploratory discussions. The MOU has been formally endorsed by the elected councils of each of the partners and builds on the legacy of the 2010 Games.

The Assembly will work with the COC and CPC to assess the feasibility of 2030 Games concepts for the region that all partners will review. The feasibility analysis will focus on collective benefits and priorities, and on how the bidding process can set frameworks for government partnerships. 

As one action addressing reconciliation in sport, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) has called upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth Games to ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events (TRC Call to Action 91). 

To learn more about this exciting announcement click here.

Latest Articles

On Thursday September 14, 2023 TLR’s fisheries crew noticed part of the Indian River had gone subsurface and dry due to low flow drought conditions. This was preventing spawning pink salmon from moving upstream to access the spawning habitat. 
Representatives from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation celebrated the signing of a Relationship Protocol Agreement with Simon Fraser University (SFU) at a September 6th, 2023 ceremony held at SFU’s Burnaby campus. The agreement marks a formal commitment from both parties to work together, strengthen their relationship and advance reconciliation. SFU commits to promoting success and achievement of Tsleil-Waututh Nation learners and supporting the Nation’s cultural, economic, social, environmental, health, and community priorities.
As a way to support our Tsleil-Waututh Nation survivors, we have established a Tsleil-Waututh Nation Residential School Survivors Fund.
New research confirms that Tsleil-Waututh Nation has consistently and sustainably fished for chum salmon for 1,200 years longer than the archaeological record had previously demonstrated. This supports Tsleil-Waututh knowledge and further demonstrates that Tsleil-Waututh people have been sustainably living on and stewarding their traditional territory for longer than Western science may recognize.
We have an incredibly exciting announcement to share with you: Dennis Thomas-Whonoak, who has been employed at Tsleil-Waututh Nation for the past 16 years, is moving on to a new role as Executive Director, Indigenous Business Initiatives and Engagement, at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia (UBC).
After over 30 years of work in newsrooms around the world, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Member Andrea Crossan is joining the University of British Columbia in the School of Journalism, Writing, and Media. Andrea’s experience includes reporting in over 20 countries and has been based in the U.S. and the U.K., having worked for BBC World Service, CBC, Associated Press, and NBC News.