X̱á:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Center

Mission, BC

2006

"I would strongly urge support of this endeavour.... There is no permanent public interpretation of a First Nations archaeological site in British Columbia. This is a serious gap in our public history." Dr. Michael Ames, Director and Professor, Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, August 1991.

The scope of this project involved the renovation of the existing longhouse and a new addition, doubling the size of the longhouse. Two pithouses of 90 sq. m. each were also constructed. They were the first ever architecturally designed, structurally engineered, geotechnically surveyed pithouse ever built, this project has combined traditional appearance with modern, hi-tech materials and construction techniques.

Traditional pithouses or skumels were used by First Nations people in BC as a winter dwelling up to the 1930’s. This semi-subterranean, circular dwelling was a timber framed structure built to house extended family in the winter. They were energy efficient and provided warmth in the coldest winter months.