Tour Purpose & Structure
Objective: To provide an opportunity for students to experience and explore Sto:lo history, culture and archaeology at an authentic and unique First Nations site.
By means of hands-on activities and presentations, the student leaves with an understanding and appreciation for traditional Sto:lo technology, housing and culture and the importance of cedar, salmon and oral tradition.
Tour Structure:
- Morning tours begin at 9:30 a.m., afternoon tours will begin at 12:30 p.m
- Each tour will take approximately 2 hours. Please schedule your transportation accordingly.
The Site Visit
- There is an outdoor covered area available for snacks and lunches.
- Part of the tour is outside; please have students dress in accordance to weather conditions.
- We suggest a maximum tour of 60 visitors.
- Tour fee: $10.50 (prices include GST).
- Cheque/ Cash/Visa/Mastercard/Interac
- Cheque payable to Xá:ytem Longhouse Interpretative Centre.
Xá:ytem Gift Gallery: Plan to visit the Gift Gallery for museum quality art, fun keepsakes, books, posters, and other teaching tools. Custom orders are welcome!
Program Content
- Xá:ytem is an ancient settlement with evidence of 9,000 years of occupation. The students learn about “BC’s Oldest House” at 6000 years old and the thousands of artifacts that were unearthed in 1990 and 1991.
- Students will learn about the sacred transformer stone. A physical manifestation of Sto:lo spirituality.
- Students will take a walk back in time when they enter “Siyemchess” or “Skw:im Spath”, the first two pithouse (skumels) built at Xá:ytem in over 6000 years.
- Students will work at a number of hands-on activity program stations..
The Tours
The Cultural Tour
- 3 stations
- Pithouse
- Story of Rock
The Archaeology Tour
Welcome/ intro
- 3 Stations
- Pithouse
- Story of Rock
Group/ Family Guided Tour
Welcome/ Intro
Workshops
- Drum making
- Rattles
- Overnighter
- Mat Making
Each tour has three hands-on activities each specific to the type of program:
- Cultural Tour: Salish weaving, cedar station, and woodworking
- Archaeology Tour: Sifting, tool technology, and archaeological lab and questionnaire.
