First Nations leaders say theyB次元官网网址檙e still open to pursuing a bid to host the 2030 Olympics in British Columbia, but need the provincial government to engage in talks for plans to move forward.

At issue is not just the future of the Games, but the future of reconciliation in the province, said councillor Wilson Williams of the Squamish Nation.

B次元官网网址淥ur canoe is stalled right now,B次元官网网址� he told reporters Friday. B次元官网网址淭ruly, if we donB次元官网网址檛 get the provincial or federal government in the canoe, we are still here. We arenB次元官网网址檛 going anywhere. And the power of us working together, itB次元官网网址檚 not going away.B次元官网网址�

B.C. Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare announced Thursday that the provincial government wonB次元官网网址檛 support the Indigenous-led bid to host the 2030 Games in Vancouver, Whistler and Sun Peaks.

B次元官网网址淭he current bid is cost estimated at $1.2 billion and an additional billion dollars in risk,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd when we measured that against our governmentB次元官网网址檚 priorities we believe we need to focus on people.B次元官网网址�

Williams said he was B次元官网网址渄isheartenedB次元官网网址� to hear the news in a short video call on Monday because the government did not speak with the four host nations B次元官网网址� the LilB次元官网网址檞at, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh B次元官网网址� before making its decision.

B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 allowed the time to negotiate or have that extended dialogue about what the potential of what an Indigenous-hosted Olympic Games would look like,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭rue reconciliation was never acted upon. We were suffocated from a true colonial process.B次元官网网址�

Leaders of the four nations have since requested a meeting with incoming premier David Eby and said they have been turned down.

ItB次元官网网址檚 estimated that holding the Games would cost between $3.5 and $4 billion, with funding coming from a mix of public and private sources.

The province is being asked to cover 17 per cent of the total cost, said Tricia Smith, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Another 52 per cent would come from the private sector, including contributions from the International Olympic Committee.

B次元官网网址淲e need to have some clarification on those numbers and thatB次元官网网址檚 all weB次元官网网址檙e asking for,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 get in a room. If it doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense at the end of the day B次元官网网址� it doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense and we donB次元官网网址檛 go forward.B次元官网网址�

Government support is critical for the bid to go ahead.

B次元官网网址淣o support from the governments would kill the bid,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檙e saying that weB次元官网网址檙e still here to have that conversation. We want meaningful dialogue. If we want true reconciliation, we need to be in the room, talking amongst and with you as an equal voice.B次元官网网址�

If the current bid fails, the nations may consider trying to host another Games in the future, he added.

Japan is also looking to host the 2030 Olympics in Sapporo and the U.S. has said it is open to holding the Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, but would prefer to host in 2034.

While Canada has B次元官网网址渁n excellent chanceB次元官网网址� at being awarded the 2030 Olympics, additional bids are likely to come forward for future Games, Smith said, diminishing the countryB次元官网网址檚 chances.

B次元官网网址淲e certainly think itB次元官网网址檚 beneficial to bring Games to Canada, we think Canada does a fantastic job of hosting the world with Games,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e think the Games bring people together like nothing else. WeB次元官网网址檙e still very much committed to bringing Games to this country.B次元官网网址�

Beare noted Thursday that B.C. has already committed to holding the 2025 Invictus Games and being a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The province initially opted not to support Vancouver as a host for the 2026 World Cup, but changed its mind in the summer of 2021 and the city was officially awarded host status in June.

Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band wants B.C. to reconsider its position on the 2030 Olympics, too.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping itB次元官网网址檚 not too late,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he timeline is very short but weB次元官网网址檙e here to have that dialogue and see if something can be worked out with those timelines. IB次元官网网址檓 hoping that theyB次元官网网址檇 reconsider like they did with FIFA.B次元官网网址�

Moving forward, though, will require the provincial government to recognize each of the four host nations as governments, said Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

B次元官网网址淩ight now weB次元官网网址檙e still at the bottom of the totem pole and we need to be at the same level to truly have these conversations,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淩econciliation is a journey together. B次元官网网址� LetB次元官网网址檚 find ways to work together, not only for the nations but for everybody in this province.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press