After spending a chilly night along the Fraser River, we woke up at the beautiful Xat’sull Heritage Village. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to be taken on a private tour of the community by a local elder by the name of Ralph.
Our first stop on the tour was the river, whereby we learned of the fishing traditions and fish drying methods. We spent a fair amount of time down at the river soaking up the natural beauty and the odd sense of calm that the roaring Fraser had to offer.
Our second stop on the tour was a visit to a beautifully curated pit house, which is a traditional First Nations home that gets shared among various families
and was typically used during the winter months.
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| The pit house entrance |
After viewing the pit house, we were taken to the sweat lodge,
which can be thought of as a sauna that includes a spiritual ceremony.
Our time spent with Ralph was both incredible and emotional.
We learned a lot about First Nations history and were blessed with the opportunity to hear some of his personal stories and triumphs. He told each of us that if we love ourselves and respect ourselves that anything is possible.
