Before British Columbia bid on the 2010 Games there was concern that First Nations groups would oppose some of the major Olympic construction projects taking place on disputed territory.

But there are a number who see the Olympics as a plus; if for no other reason than the economic opportunities it's brought.

In fact, involving the First Nations people in Olympic projects has proved very helpful on the road to the Olympics.

Hundreds are working on the Sea-to-Sky Highway -- the key connector between Vancouver and Whistler during the 2010 Olympics.

First Nations workers have contributed half a million man hours to this project, and have cemented an Olympic legacy for their people.

Greg Bidaki of Lilwat Business Corporations struck a corporate partnership with Kiewit construction. He says over the last three years, they've produced 35,000 barriers for the roadway.

Bidaki's crews are also credited with helping complete construction of the cross-country and biathlon venues.

"In some cases, we took it from essentially a forested area to its Olympic park state today," says Bidaki.

The project has brought pride and employment to a community where more than 50 per cent were once jobless. "Over the last four to five years since the construction phase of the Games started we've reduced that down to 20 per cent or less in many cases," says Bidaki.

Officially, there are four First Nation communities that have been given specific Olympic legacies, including land and money. The new Squamish Cultural Center, located in Whistler, will play a big part in showcasing Aboriginal cultures during the games. And CTV, in conjunction with the Aboriginal Television Network, will do its part.

Keith Pelley of the Olympic Broadcast Consortium says CTV plans to broadcast two hours of Olympic events a day in aboriginal languages.

The Lilwat people will be watching on the big screen in the new gymnasium that they are now constructing themselves, using skills they have acquired or improved upon in the years leading up to 2010 -- an Olympic legacy of their own making.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan