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Aboriginal Affairs

First Nations art adorns Olympic Coke bottles

The opportunity to paint an iconic pop symbol couldn’t be missed by one Cree-Métis artist.

Kim Stewart yesterday joined three other Aboriginal artists from across the province to unveil their artistic interpretations of the native experience through Coca-Cola bottles.

“I was a graphic designer for 25 years and we saw Coke transform through that time,” she said of the Olympic sponsor. “For me, it was very exciting to reinterpret the bottle.”

Stewart’s piece, dominated by shades of red and gold, is adorned with a raven flying through the bottle’s neck. It is supposed to represent the Métis people finding their place within Canada.

The four bottles, on display at B.C. Pavilion by Robson Square, along with 11 others, were chosen from more than 100 entries by an independent panel.

All 15 pieces will be auctioned during the Winter Games starting Feb.15.

Dharm Makwana reports for Vancouver 24 hours.

Off the Throne

About The Hook

The British Columbia legislature resumes sitting this week, but not before Premier Christy Clark outlined her spring agenda in an appearance on the Vancouver radio station where she used to work in what was pitched as a replacement for the throne speech. That agenda amounted to staying the course: focus on the economy, no money for teachers or anything else, and no higher taxes.

This from a premier who won the leadership of her party on a "change" platform. Perhaps appropriate then that the government didn't bother with a more formal speech from the throne at a time when polls suggest an increasing number of people are wondering if the premier's going to, as they say, piss or get off the pot.

-- Andrew MacLeod