Keeping it authentic!

The following is a post from From Shain Jackson, President of Spirit Works Limited about the authenticity of native products used for the 2010 Winter Games:

Please, we need your support,

We are Aboriginal producers of Authentic Aboriginal Products in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic games.  We define our products as Authentic in that they are designed, produced, and distributed by us, Aboriginal People, with the benefits going back to our communities where they are so desperately needed.
       
We have been under siege by competing non-Aboriginal companies taking our culture, mass producing it overseas, and selling it for cheap.

Unfortunately the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic games (VANOC) is one of these competitors. VANOC has branded the term “Authentic Aboriginal Products” to mean their licensed products displaying Aboriginal graphics but supplied by non-Aboriginal companies, and originating overseas where labour and environmental standards are less stringent.  They have branded the term “Authentic Aboriginal Products” so aggressively that when you Google these words in any order you are taken directly to the Olympic online store.  At the same time, VANOC has virtually excluded from their licensing program truly Authentic Aboriginal Products - those designed, produced, and distributed by First Nations people.

If you find this behaviour unacceptable we ask that you read and sign the following e-petition, then pass this along to a friend:  http://www.gopetition.com/online/32954.html (This is a reputable site and there is an anonymous option for those concerned about revealing their info publicly)

They can ignore us, but it is our hope they won’t ignore you.

For more information please visit our Blog at: www.trulyauthentic.wordpress.com.  It will be documenting our campaign as it evolves.

Thank you so very much

Shain Jackson
President
Spirit Works Limited