A new powwow celebration space is taking shape near Mount Currie and Pemberton thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers.
A product of registered charity the St’at’imc Northern Tribe Powwow Society and the Timber Framers Guild, the arbour will host powwows and ceremonies as early as next summer.
More than 60 people from the U.S.-based Timber Framer’s Guild camped on the site for the last few weeks, learning skills and working together as a team, and volunteers came from all corners of the globe, from Hawaii to Cardiff, to help out with the ambitious build.
“They built our arbour. We are so grateful and thankful that they came in to help us. At the same time people were learning,” said St’at’imc Northern Tribe Powwow Society’s Chris Thomas Wells.
Wells expressed his gratitude to landowner, Brian Lester, who made everything possible, adding the arbour—a series of covered, wooden structures on concrete slabs arranged in a massive circle in the shadow of majestic Mount Currie—was desperately needed as a place of gathering.
“We needed a place of ceremony and a place to hold powwows. A powwow brings people together. We sing and dance,” Wells said.
“It will be utilized from all around. Everyone is welcome to use this arbour and be part of this journey.”
Wells stressed the final touches will be put on the arbour in the coming months. “We were very happy with the finished product. It is amazing and so beautiful,” he said. “There is still a little bit to go. It’s going to be covered all the way around.”
Pemberton’s Mark Mendonca, of Grimm’s Gourmet and Deli, is the director of the society. He would like to see the arbour used to display local art and bring people to the area.
“It has been a pleasure to work with everyone on the project itself,” said Mendonca. “We have to put a roof on. We will have water and electricity. We will groom up the property and that will be it.”
But the arbour is already making an impression.
The first time Allison Aurand of the Timber Framers Guild saw the finished product, she was overcome with emotion.
“When I drove into the site, I had to stop,” she said. “It was so beautiful.”
Some volunteers came for a day or two, while others stayed the whole time, Aurand added.
“The volunteers had the opportunity to work with really experienced instructors who can pass on their knowledge about timber framing,” she said.
Chris Koehn joined the Timber Framers Guild back in the ’80s, but found this project particularly special.
“This one really touched me in the heart in the province that I now call home,” he said. “I think it has exceeded everyone’s expectations. We have been invited up for the first powwow in August. I’ll be there.”
Most volunteers set up camp on site while they were learning from the instructors. Thankfully, the team had time in the evenings to share a few beers and partake in a makeshift Olympic Games.
“The events included axe-throwing and brace-throwing,” Koehn said. “We had a math challenge and tried to see how square we could saw chunks of timber without instruments.”
Volunteer Elena Jordansson travelled from Seattle to learn from the experts.
“Everybody was incredibly generous with their knowledge. They were kind and patient,” she said. “I wanted to learn, but that seemed kind of impossible or beyond me. It made perfect sense when it was taught by somebody who knew what they were doing.”
Meanwhile, Welsh woman Clare James felt impelled to come to Canada for the very first time to work on the project. “My husband has some timber framing experience,” she said. “I was particularly interested in this because it was a First Nations project. It’s been the best introduction to Canada. This is the best thing we have ever done.”
The goal for the arbour is directly linked to the St’at’imc Northern Tribe Powwow Society’s vision: to observe self, connect to culture, and unite communities for this and future generations across all walks of life.
The society’s mission is to host authentic homecoming powwows for all grounded in protocol, culture, respect, humility and knowledge-sharing by celebrating the natural medicines of dancing, drumming, singing and ceremony.
The society cannot wait to see the arbour in action.
“Thousands and thousands of people are going to use this,” Wells said. “Our powwow next year is going to be pretty big. We are going to be fundraising to bring it together.”
