On this episode of The Tewanee Joseph Show, host Tewanee Joseph and co-host Koru Joseph explore the historic journey behind the Four Host First Nations—Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh—and their groundbreaking participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Tracing the story back to 1997, Tewanee reflects on the vision of the late Chief Joe Matthias, who recognized that Indigenous peoples needed to be directly involved at the decision-making table so they could tell their own stories on the global stage. Following Chief Joe’s passing, Chief Gibby Jacob carried the torch forward onto the bid corporation, ultimately paving the way for Tewanee to step into the CEO role of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat to build an unprecedented model of full Indigenous partnership.
The conversation highlights the extensive relationship-building, protocol, and cross-country diplomacy required to turn that vision into reality. Tewanee details how it took 28 meetings over a full year to establish a unified protocol agreement among the four distinct host nations, followed by an official protocol agreement with VANOC in 2005. Extending that invitation nationwide, Tewanee traveled to every province and territory—meeting with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders everywhere from community centers to the Yukon wilderness—to ensure the 2010 Games truly represented all Indigenous peoples in Canada. The effort culminated in iconic global moments, including the host Chiefs issuing an invitation in Torino, over 300 Indigenous youth performing in the opening ceremonies, and a dedicated pavilion in downtown Vancouver that welcomed over 300,000 visitors, leaving a lasting legacy of pride and inclusion for future generations.
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