Virginia Johnston, First Nations Snowboard Team

Although Virginia Johnson will not compete in the 2010 Winter Games, this talented Squamish and Ojibwa First Nations snowboarder is, in many ways, a symbol of what these Olympic Games are all about. Virginia is a competitive high-performance rider, coach and administrator with the First Nation Snowboard Team. This first-of-its-kind organization began in 2004 with funding from the Partners Creating Shared Legacies from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It now boasts some 200 Aboriginal youth as participants.
Virginia was introduced to snowboarding during a school trip to Whistler Blackcomb when she was 12 years old. Now 26, Virginia lives in North Vancouver, trains on Cypress Mountain and is climbing a steep competitive ladder that she hopes will one day lead to international competitions and, if dreams become reality, the 2014 Olympic Games. On November 2nd, she was an Olympic torchbearer on Vancouver Island.

Where do you take friends who come to visit Vancouver?
I like to go to the Museum of Anthropology (home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Northwest Coast native art). If someone hasn’t been there I highly recommend it. I also suggest people go to Vancouver Giants or Canucks (hockey) games. I love North Shore paintball. Everyone who goes there says, “Yeah, it’s one of the best places.”

When you are not snowboarding what are you doing?
In the winter? Usually taking a bath and going to sleep! I ride everyday. If I’m not training myself, then I’m coaching. If I’m not coaching, then I’m in the (First Nation Snowboard team) office.

What are you going to be doing during 2010 Games?
I’m not quite sure, but I know I’ll be really busy! Media have already been all over the (First Nation Snowboard Team) program and I help manage it, so there will be that. I’ll be training - the high-performance team will hopefully be on Grouse Mountain—and then I’ll probably be doing cultural song and dance.

What do you hope visitors to the 2010 Winter Games experience?
I hope that they feel welcome and find that the people here are really friendly. I hope that they experience our culture in some ways.

How can visitors to Vancouver experience First Nations culture? They could get a good feel for our culture by visiting the Museum of Anthropology -- I never have enough time when I go there. Also by visiting First Nations owned gift shops like Khot-la-cha (Art Gallery and Gift Shop) in North Vancouver and Authentic Cowichan Knits – those are really, really good places to go. If there’s any sort of BC Snowboard events happening you would see the First Nation Snowboard Team competing. If it’s around the right time, lacrosse (played for over 500 years by First Nations people and still an integral part of native culture) might be going on. During the Games, in the pavilion organized by the First Nations (the Aboriginal Pavilion), tons of groups from across Canada are going there to perform. I think I will be doing ceremonial things there as part of Squamish First Nation.

You are one of the women featured in the 2010 Dreams for Women Female Athlete Calendar. What does your page say?
I dream of a world where women discover their strengths to overcome any obstacles.

This interview took place in fall 2009.