published: March 09, 2010

(in photo) Cheryl McLeod was asked to “dance her own dance” using her own costume at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Photo by Katie Sanders

“The most amazing and powerful experience I’ve ever had.”

That’s how 22 year old Cheryl McLeod describes her involvement in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

“I know it’s a cliche,” she said, “but it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can’t even begin to explain all the ways it changed my life.”

McLeod, a member of the Upper Nicola Indian Band, was a performer in the native dance troupe representing aboriginal nations from across Canada. She was one of 350 dancers, all between the ages of 19 and 29, who were asked to bring a little of their own home and culture to the event.

“I had to bring my own costume, and was asked to dance my own dance, to represent myself, my home and my people.”

For two weeks prior to the opening ceremonies, and for one week after, McLeod, along with her fellow performers was sequestered in a private camp near Squamish.

Each day they were bussed into Vancouver where they participated in two rehearsal sessions. Once the dancers had completed their work for the day they were turned loose in the city, and given access to several local attractions.

“This was my first time away from home, and my first time in Vancouver,” McLeod said. “I had so much fun with all the new friends I made, I wasn’t ready to come home.”

On her many excursions around the Olympic city Mcleod took in the Grouse Grind, the Capilano suspension bridge, the Canadian women’s hockey game against Slovakia, and many of the free shows and events hosted downtown.

Even though McLeod went through a long application process to become a participant, her mother, also Cheryl McLeod, knew she was a shoo-in from the start.

“The application was extensive,” her mother explained. “They wanted Cheryl to prove she had aboriginal ancestry, that she was active in her community, that she had involvement in sports and that she was working on her education.”

McLeod was able to check all those boxes, plus a few extra. She is currently in the running to become a Provincial Youth Ambassador, which is the next step up from her reign as a local Youth Ambassador in 2006.

Should she be accepted into the program, McLeod will represent Merritt and the Nicola Valley. Being a Youth Ambassador will give her access to several scholarships which she intends to apply to her post secondary education at NVIT.

“I haven’t decided what I want to study yet, but there are a few things that interest me. Working with the RCMP K-9 unit, social work and becoming a pastry chef are all high on my list right now.”

It was her experience as a pow-wow dancer that eventually led to her acceptance in the opening ceremonies.

“I’m so glad that my Mom took me to so many pow-wows as a kid. Having danced in front of crowds before made this a little easier. A little, not a lot. The crowd at the ceremonies was huge!”

Now that the Olympics are over, and McLeod is back to reality in Merritt, she’s motivated to keep the momentum she gained at the event.

“I’m working hard to stay in touch with all the people I met in Vancouver,” she said, adding, “We all became such good friends, we’re hoping to go to Russia for the next games.”

When asked what the most important thing she learned at the games was, McLeod answered, “I can go anywhere, and I can be myself. I’m proud of who I am and where I come from.”