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THE FIVE BANDS

FRIENDS

THE PROJECT

THE BRIDGE

MUSEUM GROUNDBREAKING

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Irene Gilbert—President
Kerry Chelsea—Vice President
Agness Jack—Treasurer
Graham Leslie—Secretary
Alana Dixon—Director at Large

NORTHERN SECWEPEMC
CULTURAL SOCIETY

P.O. Box 553
108 Mile Ranch, B.C.
V0K 2Z0
Canada

Tel: 250.706.1610
grahamleslie@shaw.ca

THE MUSEUM GROUNDBREAKING

On the favourably warm and dry afternoon of Friday, May 5th and in defiance of the earlier forecasts of rain, a large assembly of Northern Secwépemc First Nation leaders and community members gathered on our site at the 108 Mile Lake to participate in and watch a simple groundbreaking ceremony. The event was organized by Society President Irene Gilbert, and was attended by representatives of all five of our participating Bands.

The event started with an opening prayer beautifully sung in Secwépemctsin by a large group of children from the Eliza Archie Memorial School at Canim Lake, under the direction of Antionette Archie and Elsie Archie.

The beautiful prayer was followed by the drumming of a distinguished group of leaders and elders from our various communities that included WLFN Chief Willie Sellars and former CLB Chief Mike Archie.

Among the many distinguished guests watching the opening drumming were three Band Councillors from the Williams Lake First Nation: Rick Gilbert, Ann Louie (formerly Chief) and Chris Wycotte Jr. who served as the Society’s Vice President for many of its early years.

Then came a simple ground breaking to mark the imminent start of the excavation work that was expected to begin the following week, and that indeed did.

That ceremonial ground breaking was followed by a series of short but inspirational speeches from leaders of our member First Nations. They were delivered by our President Irene Gilbert on behalf of the Canim Lake Band, Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation, Band Councillor Harold Duncan on behalf of the Stswecem’c/Xget’tem First Nation and Kerry Chelsea on behalf of the Esk’etemc First Nation. All the speeches had a common theme of honouring the many years of dedication by numerous individuals and Band Councils that had led to this extraordinary moment, as well as rejoicing in the opportunity to preserve the language, history and culture of the Northern Secwepemc peoples for the benefit of future generations.

Further remarks were delivered by Elizabeth (Liz) Pete of the Canim Lake Band who was the first Northern Secwépemc member to be associated with the idea that gave birth to the entire project, by a tearfully thankful Alana Dixon, the long-time Band Administrator of the Canim Lake Band who was a founding member of our Society when it was incorporated in 2006, and who has played a prominent role in its affairs ever since, and by the Society’s newest Director David Archie of the Stswecem’c/Xget’tem First Nation.

The final remarks were offered by Society Secretary Graham Leslie who took the opportunity to acknowledge the significant contributions to the project that had been made by members of the Williams Lake First Nation and of the Xat’sull First Nation during the important early years of the project. He was permitted to name them all and to include former Williams Lake First Nation Chief Ann Louie who had been a staunch supporter and promoter of the project throughout all her years as Chief.

Prior to the final drumming session there was a brief photo op that allowed for a shot that included all of the Society’s current directors in the company of Chief Willie Sellars and Joseph Alexis Archie.

The final word is to acknowledge the absence of numerous significant individuals with prior commitments who were unable to attend the event. Those we particularly want to mention are Chief Helen Henderson of the Canim Lake Band and Rhonda Shackelly, former member of the Society and recently elected Chief of the Xat’sull First Nation.