First Nations Canada Heritage Village, BC

June 22, 2009
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First Nations pithouse at the Xat’súll First Nations Heritage Village in Soda Creek, BC (Canada).

First Nations pithouse at the Xat’súll First Nations Heritage Village in Soda Creek, BC (Canada).

After docking the boat at the only spot with a little bit of land to hike up, we got to the Xat’súll Heritage Village in Soda Creek, BC (near Williams Lake).

Unfortunately, we were running extremely behind schedule so could only do a quick tour, but Mike and Melanie took is around their land. Up from the launch point, Mike showed us pictographs and rocks that their ancestors had trampled on so much, footprints were actually imprinted into the rock.

Up at the First Nations village site, tipis are set up (which aren’t traditional for the Cmetem, or Soda Creek First Nations people but are put up for guests to sleep in), a pithouse (which you can go into and they usually do a smudge fire lighting), and a summer house are all built for visitors to see.

Summer house at the Xat’súll First Nations Heritage Village near Williams Lake, BC (Canada).

Summer house at the Xat’súll First Nations Heritage Village near Williams Lake, BC (Canada).

Walk around, bring a picnic or arrange to have lunch there, and learn about the Cmetem First Nations people.

What I liked:

  • Mike and Melanie were really warm and knowledgeable about their culture. An elder, Roger, also came out to meet us, which was an honour.
  • The pithouse is really neat to go into, with the dug out, tiny entrance at ground level and a hole in the top with a ladder to the inside.
  • We had lunch catered from the new Beeotcheese Bistro & Bakery in Williams Lake. Their First Nations Chefs-in-training made us “Indian Tacos” and salad, which were pretty delicious :)



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