What started as a dream is now becoming a reality for Xeni Gwet’in First Nation.
Chief Roger William says during the pandemic former Chief Jimmy Lulua’s wife and the Band staff were able to get $5.5 million in funding approved to build a Cultural Centre.
A year and a half after the pandemic William says they had to apply for an additional $2 million as the cost of the project went up.
Back in May of this year, Xeni Gwet’in held a ground breaking ceremony on the site that he said is very symbolic to his people.
“This Culture Centre is at a site where former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau when he came up to Xeni Gwet’in to apologize, to exonerate the Tsilhqot’in Warrior Chiefs of 1864 so the area is fairly important.”
William said the Centre will host a variety of functions and ceremonies for community members and plans for other additions are also in the works.
“Each Tsilhqot’in community is going to be able to build a Child and Family Care Centre just behind where the Cultural Centre is being built now. We also have our Xeni Gwet’in Horse Program, our people talk about an Elders Centre and things like that that maybe we’re going to start building those community centre’s in that area.”
William noted the Xeni Gwet’in Cultural Centre should be operational by this coming January of 2026.
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