When scads of Olympics-related funding were being dangled in front of aboriginal artists, Carey Newman was skeptical. He'd seen it all before. Non-natives trying to give cred to whatever it was they were doing by tossing in a bit of West Coast native art. Tokenism.

"I thought it was going to be similar," Mr. Newman admitted the other day, as he prepared his booth for the weekend's Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Auction and Exhibition.

But the Kwagiulth artist from Vancouver Island was won over by the scope of government and VANOC commitments. He wound up winning a bid to design and build four large steel and glass panels for the Athletes' Village in Whistler.

The panels, to be installed temporarily at the Four Host First Nation pavilion during the Olympics, are part of VANOC's ambitious program to have significant works of aboriginal art at all 15 Olympic-related venues in Vancouver and Whistler.

And perish the thought that just familiar native art from the West Coast is represented. Pieces from Cree, Mohawk, Ojibway, Inuk and Mi'kmaq artists also take pride of place.

"When you see the diversity of the work from right across the country, you really have to give VANOC credit," said Mr. Newman. "It's erased a lot of skepticism. They've given everyone a chance."

Added to the millions of dollars provided by Olympics organizers for cultural pavilions, native jobs and reserve coffers, it's no wonder aboriginal associations across Canada are supportive of the Games, which have partnered from the beginning with the four First Nations on whose traditional territory events will take place.

"We like to call this the world's biggest potlatch, because we are sharing our culture with the world," said Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the Four Host First Nations.

"We have to break out of the mentality that we can't do things. We have to take the approach that we are good, we are great. This is not tokenism. This is real."

By showcasing aboriginal culture so prominently and in such a positive light, the Olympics may help to combat the poverty and suicide rates that continue to grind down indigenous peoples across the country, Mr. Joseph said.

"It's an opportunity to change that. This is more than art, it's life. These are our story-tellers."

Still, despite unprecedented aboriginal involvement in these Olympics, some natives continue to oppose the Games. And rather than protests to express their opposition, they are calling for actions to actually disrupt events.

Aboriginal leaders and elders have tried to dialogue with the critics without success, said Mr. Joseph. "We offered to have one of our hereditary chiefs talk to them, but they weren't interested in meeting with him.

"So I expect there will protests, which is fine. I just hope it's not the case that they tarnish what is going on."

Rod Mickleburgh is a Senior Writer for The Globe and Mail, based in Vancouver. He is currently the main news reporter covering the 2010 Winter Olympics.