2010 Olympic Games viewed as threat

Calling the decision by the International Olympic Committee to grant Vancouver and Whistler the surrounding area to host the 2010 Olympic Games a grave threat to their territories, members of the Lil'wat, St'at'imc Territories say they are incensed that the IOC neither responded to their concerns regarding the original bid or bothered to consult with them regarding their position when it was first raised in June 2002.

"I am very upset that the IOC did not hear our words as we spoke them at our meeting here in Vancouver and did not read the words that I had written to tell them why the games should not be granted to Whistler/Vancouver," said Lil'wat spokesperson Rosalim Sam.

"The promise of jobs and money will only last only for a few days and our land will be destroyed for hundreds of years. I look at the future for seven generations, the games look only to 2010, seven years from now, for a three week party."

Central to the group's opposition to the games the Whistler site where the massive Sun Peaks Ski resort expansion has been proceeding over the objections of local first nations who have attempted to enforce their territorial rights.

"They (IOC) had always made it clear that according to international law, indigenous peoples have to give their consent to developments on their land and that whoever supports the 2010 games in Vancouver-Whistler violates the internationally recognized rights of indigenous peoples," she said.