His dream was to carve a cedar canoe to join the tribal journey to Victoria's Commonwealth Games, but Bill Helin never expected his treasured Raven's Song would again be honoured at the 2010 Olympic Games.

Ten men were needed Tuesday to help unload the 540-kg canoe from a gillnetter and carry it to Canada Place for a welcoming ceremony at the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel.

The canoe, carved out of 600-year-old cedar, is the centrepiece of an aboriginal village called Kla-how-ya, meaning "Welcome," which will transform the hotel's atrium lobby Feb. 12-28.

The 16-day showcase of aboriginal art, performances and culture is free to residents and visitors during the 2010 Games.

"This is definitely the journey of a lifetime," said Helin, a Tsimshian artist. "I never envisioned this canoe ever portaging, let alone going up the escalators."

Helin conducted the traditional blessing of the canoe, drumming the spirit of the raven song into the territory of the Squamish Nation, outside Canada Place. Other first nations members, dressed in traditional garb and carrying paddles, drummed and sang along with him.

"Thank you for letting us be on your territory," Helin said. "We're honoured to be here to share out art, our spirit, our creativity through our culture."

Squamish Nation Chief Bill Williams and representatives of several B.C. first nations, joined by a group of Pan Pacific chefs, carried the 12-m canoe from the Canada Place street entrance to the atrium's lobby.

There were a few tricky bits navigating the boat up the double escalators, but they eventually got it to the top, prompting applause from dozens of onlookers.

"It's within our hearts to recognize who we are and where we come from," Williams said.

The hotel lobby rang out with the sounds of native song and drumming while two first nations women danced on the stage by the canoe.

Tim Tindle, of the Pan Pacific, said there will be aboriginal exhibits every day during the Olympics. This will include traditional dancing, cedar bark weaving, birchbark chewing, moosehide tufting, jewelry-making and storytelling. There will also be an opportunity to explore the harvesting of wild herbs for traditional medicines.

Tindle said it is the first time indigenous people have been recognized as host partners in an Olympic Games.

The Raven's Song, which was carved by members of various first nations artists, was repainted before it was brought to Vancouver.

"You just can't imagine your vessel as part of the Olympics," Helin said, but added: "She was ready to come out. It's a journey that keeps carrying on."

The canoe was donated in 1995 to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach.
 

Bill has had a very rewarding career as a designer, creative gold and platinum engraver, painter, woodcarver, book illustrator and writer.

His designing abilities in art and fashion follow his Tsimshian Indian traditions, telling stories and displaying native `Life Crests` that transform and come to life in every beautiful creation. In 1996 Bill took a break from the fashion and jewelry business to focus on his designing, writing and illustrating of childrens mythology stories. This new creative journey has brought him into the animation world and soon will bring his stories to life in 3-D computer generated movies.

In 2005 Bill made a new creative approach back into the fashion industry and has been designing new and exciting wearable art forms in leathers, cashmere, denims and fine accessories and jewelry.

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