Keeping an eye on the past, Xats’ull Heritage Village creates a vision for the future at Soda Creek

As Chief Lenny Sellars of the Soda Creek First Nation, we are a member of the Great Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, once known as the people of Xats’ull (on the cliff where the bubbling water comes out).

Xats’ull (Hat'suth) is the northernmost Shuswap tribe of the Secwepemc Nation, which is the largest Nation within the interior of BC. The Xats’ull have stewarded territory ranging from the Coast Mountains to the west, east to the Rocky Mountains. Use of the land brought about contact with neighbouring peoples.

I am going to tell you a story about a venture that our community embarked on in 1996. As a community we opened the Xats’ull Heritage Village, which is located 32 km north of Williams Lake. This Heritage Village is located on a beautiful plateau overlooking the Fraser River. It is a spiritual gathering place for community members, other Aboriginal visitors, as well as non-aboriginal visitors. This spectacular site consists of 7 teepees, 1 winter home or pit house (also known as kikule house), drying/tanning racks, lean-to, sweat house, summer hut, and breathtaking scenery.

However, we didn’t come up with this concept on our own. With the vision of a young German couple, Thomas and Bettina Schoen, we began our journey. They brought forth their idea to the Soda Creek Band, because they were new to the country and fascinated with First Nation culture. They also believed that there was high value in Aboriginal tourism. I believed that it was an excellent opportunity to revive what was lost – pride – as well as bridge an understanding between Soda Creek First Nation with the outside communities, and others around the world.

Xats’ull Heritage Village was designed to provide tourists with a place to experience authentic Aboriginal culture through hands on education provided by the peoples of the Shuswap Nation. More specifically the Heritage Site was anticipated to provide an educational setting for Elders to pass on their knowledge of the Shuswap customs, culture, language, legends and stories to the Xats’ull youth. I also felt that it was an awakening to the Soda Creek community, because the Heritage Site brought back dignity, a sense of worth, and proved that because of our history we do have something to offer.

Some of the community members struggled with the idea that we were selling our culture. We explained to them that their concerns were valid since we have lost so much through assimilation, residential schools and so forth; but that it was also important to share our culture in order to conquer ignorance. It goes back to finding our place in history, regaining our identity, building that bridge, and sharing that knowledge. All of a sudden community members realized that they had their own stories that they wanted to share with those who would listen. It goes back to revival once again. Story telling was a favorite pastime during the winter months for the Shuswap people, but at the Heritage Village you don’t have to wait until the winter time to hear them.

The Xats’ull Heritage Village provides an atmosphere where you can learn about other cultures. For example, the teepees and some of the traditional ceremonies are not part of the Secwepemc way of life, but it helps visitors to see the diversity among Aboriginal groups in BC and across Canada.

The most important asset to the Xats’ull Heritage Village is the Xats’ull community members; the elders are the eyes to the past, creating a vision for our future generations.

A fellow community member told me a story one time about their friend. He was walking on the road above the Heritage Village one evening, and he could hear drumming and singing coming from the Village. He wanted to go check it out; however he wanted to get to a friend’s place who lived on the Soda Creek Reserve. The next day he told them that he wanted to stop at the Heritage Village the night prior, and he asked what was happening down there, but they told him nothing.

I believe the grandfathers and grandmothers are happy that Xats’ull is sharing their knowledge and history; they are rejoicing in the revival of the past. The heritage site is an amazing concept. It is a hardship to keep it going, but it’s meant to be there. There is a reason for it to be there.

Kukstemc
Thank you for hearing my story.