mr.x
May 31, 2008, 8:14 AM
Below is an idea posted by Kendegra at GamesBids......it truly is amazing:
I would like the Opening Ceremony to be a dignified event, but with an air of mystery and wonder.
I think it should begin with the Haida Creation Myth played out. In the myth, the raven swoops downs from the heavens to a giant clam shell in the murky waters and coaxes all the creatures out, including humanity. I'd also like to see Haida art come to life - with animals of legend and reality flying about the stadium, forming totems - bears, thunderbirds, eagles, wolves, orcas, etc. And they can re-enact the Spirit of Haida Gwaii story. It has a profound meaning. All the creatures, including man, climb into the canoe and paddle off together into the horizon. They don't always get along, but they are tied together and have to find balance in order to survive. Thus, the canoe is the Earth and we're all in it.
Spirit of Haida Gwaii (Wikipedia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_Haida_Gwaii)
I'd also like the ceremony to represent the various culture of Canada (and I don't mean the national cultures off all the immigrants that arrived on these shores). I'm talking about the diversity of Canada - the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, the North, and British Columbia. Each part has distinct cultural contributions.
The ceremony should also express the Canadian love of nature. Emily Carr and The Group of Seven expressed this artistically. This could come to life and for the back ground for how this country should be explored and appreciated.
The Dignitary arrival can be all Canadiana...Mounties escorting Rogge & Furlong to their seats, while the Musical Ride accompanies the Govenor General and "O Canada" is performed by a choir of Mounties and rung out by the carillon at the Peace Tower in Ottawa. Oh, so maple sugary sweet you'll go into diabetic shock.
And since the Olympics are about sport, ya need to have some sporting reference. And the deep affection of hockey to this nation must be there, it is afterall, Canada's gift to the world of Winter Sport. Roch Carrier's "The Hockey Sweater" is a great allegory - both for the love of the game and the cultural differences within Canada.
As for performers...I prefer "higher brow" for the Opening Ceremony. Interludes with Diana Krall and Sarah McLachlan come to mind and Nelly Furtado could close the show and kick off the competitions on an upbeat note with a pumping tune. And it would simply be heaven if Leonard Cohen's rich voice recited a poem for peace. I would also love if Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman and choir performed the Olympic anthem in a highly melodramatic operatic interpretation.
But I would like the Closing Ceremony as a kick up your heels party filled with Canadian talent - fill it up with all the big names Michael Buble, Barenaked Ladies, Avril, Shania, Great Big Sea, Simple Plan, Sum 41, Arcade Fire, and who ever else they can get into the dome.
Haida Creation Myth
One of the most famous stories that the Haida tell is the story of Raven. The story begins during a time when there was only water and the sky above. There was no earth, only a single reef that came out of the water. A reef is a chain of rocks close to the surface of the water or sticking out of it. All of the great beings lived on top of this reef. The greatest of the beings lived on highest point of the reef. Next to him were all the others stretched in a row. Finally at the end was the weakest of the great beings. The great flying being, Raven, flew above but couldn't find a place to land. He decided that he would travel to the sky country instead.
In the sky country, there was a town that was set up in five rows. In the town, the chief's daughter had a baby. During the night, Raven entered the chief's house, scooped the baby out of its skin and took its place, becoming Raven Child. Then Raven Child began to get hungry, so he took an eye from everyone in the first row of the village and ate them all. He did this for four more nights with each of the other rows in the village. A woman made of stone saw everything that was happening, and she told the sky people about it. The chief of the town called everyone together and sang a song for Raven Child. One of the people was holding Raven Child in his cradle and dropped him. He fell down though the sky and drifted on the water.
Suddenly Raven Child heard a voice say, "Your grandfather is going to let you in." He stepped out onto a two-headed totem pole made of stone and he found he could climb up and down it. He climbed down and found a house at the bottom. He entered the house and found a man that looked like a seagull. The man said to Raven Child, "Put this speckled stone in the water first and the black one next. After you do this, bite off a piece of each and spit it out. You will see them unite and become one." Raven Child did as he was told. When the two pieces came together they began to appear as trees. He put them in the water and they stretched and became the land called Haida Gwaii.
After this, Raven Child was able to make many things. When the great waters had gone down, Raven Child summoned four groups of human beings. One of the groups of human beings was the Haida.
We learn from this oral tradition that the Haida believe in a world that lives above them, an earth world in the middle, and a world below the earth. The story also tells us that the trees and land are sacred to the Haida. The Raven is also sacred. He is a trickster who is greedy and mischievous, but who also teaches humans how to live a good life. The Raven has supernatural powers and uses them to obtain important things for humans. He stole the sun, moon and stars for humans, as well as giving them fresh water, salmon and fire. When the Haida look at their country, they understand the story of Raven. His creation is all around them.
I would like the Opening Ceremony to be a dignified event, but with an air of mystery and wonder.
I think it should begin with the Haida Creation Myth played out. In the myth, the raven swoops downs from the heavens to a giant clam shell in the murky waters and coaxes all the creatures out, including humanity. I'd also like to see Haida art come to life - with animals of legend and reality flying about the stadium, forming totems - bears, thunderbirds, eagles, wolves, orcas, etc. And they can re-enact the Spirit of Haida Gwaii story. It has a profound meaning. All the creatures, including man, climb into the canoe and paddle off together into the horizon. They don't always get along, but they are tied together and have to find balance in order to survive. Thus, the canoe is the Earth and we're all in it.
Spirit of Haida Gwaii (Wikipedia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_Haida_Gwaii)
I'd also like the ceremony to represent the various culture of Canada (and I don't mean the national cultures off all the immigrants that arrived on these shores). I'm talking about the diversity of Canada - the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, the North, and British Columbia. Each part has distinct cultural contributions.
The ceremony should also express the Canadian love of nature. Emily Carr and The Group of Seven expressed this artistically. This could come to life and for the back ground for how this country should be explored and appreciated.
The Dignitary arrival can be all Canadiana...Mounties escorting Rogge & Furlong to their seats, while the Musical Ride accompanies the Govenor General and "O Canada" is performed by a choir of Mounties and rung out by the carillon at the Peace Tower in Ottawa. Oh, so maple sugary sweet you'll go into diabetic shock.
And since the Olympics are about sport, ya need to have some sporting reference. And the deep affection of hockey to this nation must be there, it is afterall, Canada's gift to the world of Winter Sport. Roch Carrier's "The Hockey Sweater" is a great allegory - both for the love of the game and the cultural differences within Canada.
As for performers...I prefer "higher brow" for the Opening Ceremony. Interludes with Diana Krall and Sarah McLachlan come to mind and Nelly Furtado could close the show and kick off the competitions on an upbeat note with a pumping tune. And it would simply be heaven if Leonard Cohen's rich voice recited a poem for peace. I would also love if Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman and choir performed the Olympic anthem in a highly melodramatic operatic interpretation.
But I would like the Closing Ceremony as a kick up your heels party filled with Canadian talent - fill it up with all the big names Michael Buble, Barenaked Ladies, Avril, Shania, Great Big Sea, Simple Plan, Sum 41, Arcade Fire, and who ever else they can get into the dome.
Haida Creation Myth
One of the most famous stories that the Haida tell is the story of Raven. The story begins during a time when there was only water and the sky above. There was no earth, only a single reef that came out of the water. A reef is a chain of rocks close to the surface of the water or sticking out of it. All of the great beings lived on top of this reef. The greatest of the beings lived on highest point of the reef. Next to him were all the others stretched in a row. Finally at the end was the weakest of the great beings. The great flying being, Raven, flew above but couldn't find a place to land. He decided that he would travel to the sky country instead.
In the sky country, there was a town that was set up in five rows. In the town, the chief's daughter had a baby. During the night, Raven entered the chief's house, scooped the baby out of its skin and took its place, becoming Raven Child. Then Raven Child began to get hungry, so he took an eye from everyone in the first row of the village and ate them all. He did this for four more nights with each of the other rows in the village. A woman made of stone saw everything that was happening, and she told the sky people about it. The chief of the town called everyone together and sang a song for Raven Child. One of the people was holding Raven Child in his cradle and dropped him. He fell down though the sky and drifted on the water.
Suddenly Raven Child heard a voice say, "Your grandfather is going to let you in." He stepped out onto a two-headed totem pole made of stone and he found he could climb up and down it. He climbed down and found a house at the bottom. He entered the house and found a man that looked like a seagull. The man said to Raven Child, "Put this speckled stone in the water first and the black one next. After you do this, bite off a piece of each and spit it out. You will see them unite and become one." Raven Child did as he was told. When the two pieces came together they began to appear as trees. He put them in the water and they stretched and became the land called Haida Gwaii.
After this, Raven Child was able to make many things. When the great waters had gone down, Raven Child summoned four groups of human beings. One of the groups of human beings was the Haida.
We learn from this oral tradition that the Haida believe in a world that lives above them, an earth world in the middle, and a world below the earth. The story also tells us that the trees and land are sacred to the Haida. The Raven is also sacred. He is a trickster who is greedy and mischievous, but who also teaches humans how to live a good life. The Raven has supernatural powers and uses them to obtain important things for humans. He stole the sun, moon and stars for humans, as well as giving them fresh water, salmon and fire. When the Haida look at their country, they understand the story of Raven. His creation is all around them.