Tuckkwiowhum Village

This video was first uploaded while we awaited the beginning of the 2021 New Year. After the pandemic hit us in 2020, we all hoped 2021 would be a better year for all; that some semblance of normalcy would return and we could be with our loved ones again. However, it’s been another 10 months of difficulty for so many. Our global community continues to suffer from the Covid-19 pandemic and its variants. Many of us welcomed the vaccine, while others continue to refuse it. We’re still asked to wear masks, keep a safe distance from others and now many of us are carrying around a vaccine passport. Regardless of personal choice, we have all made sacrifices and continue to do so, to keep ourselves and others safe. Earlier this year, 215 children’s graves were located at the Kamloops residential school. These children’s graves were not ‘discoveries’, but "confirmations", as Phyllis Webstad recently pointed out on Orange Shirt Day. “We always knew they were there” she said. Now, over 6 thousand graves have been confirmed while the search continues to bring these children home. The years of suppressed pain rose to the surface and the grief and sorrow, immense. Families and survivors found themselves in crisis and in need of friends, family, prayer, songs and drumming to help with healing. But as if that wasn’t enough… Mother Nature decided to crank up the heat to record temperatures in our province this summer and create the ‘perfect storm’. Thousands of hectares were ravaged by wildfire, destroying homes, displacing people and animals. Our friends and families in neighbouring Lytton suffered enormous loss when, within minutes, their wonderful home town exploded into a fireball, reducing homes, buildings and businesses to ashes. There’s no way to adequately describe the loss, sorrow and heartache our friends experienced. Already in crisis, these losses seemed more devastating than any human could possibly bear. Currently, evacuees still seek s

Following the difficult summer that our friends and family members faced during the 2021 fire season, we are re-showing this video of Byron speaking about the Sacred Bear. The Bear reminds us of our power, strength, resilience and ability to overcome many difficult obstacles in our lifetimes. Above all, the Bear teaches COURAGE, teaching us to meet our life challenges head-on. #TuckkwiowhumVillage #HeritageVillage #ExploreCanyon #ExploreFraserCanyon #NlakapamuxTerritory #NlakapamuxFirstNation #BostonBarFirstNation #IndigenousPeoplesOfCanada #FirstNationsBC #LyttonStrong #LyttonFirstNation #SpuzzumFirstNation #SacredBear #IndigenousCulture #GoldRushTrail #HelloBC #RivershedSocietyOfBC #SeventhGenerationPrinciples

We made this video about cultural burning with Byron Spinks back in March when Spring was just starting to appear and various plants were coming to life. However, a skiff of snow decided to fall on the ground, creating a bit of frustration for those that were eager to start harvesting traditional plants for food and medicines.. In keeping with Tuesday's post, Byron explains the reasons why traditional burning is necessary and important to the welfare of First Nation peoples, the wildlife, plant life and environment as a whole. #Tuckkwiowhum #HeritageVillage #ExploreCanyon #indigenoustourism #ExploreFraserCanyon #NlakapamuxTerritory #BostonBarFirstNation #LyttonFirstNation #CulturalBurning #TraditionalBurning #IndigenousTraditions #IndigenousCulture #SpuzzumFirstNation #FraserCanyon #HopeCascades #GoldRushTrail #FuelManagement #AboriginalForestry

Sorry about the interruption earlier….iphone overheated!!! (The music was just too hot? ) Back here again with Gerald Charlie BLUES!!!

We’re here at the Tuckkwiowhum Powwow Arbor on this warm and smokey holiday Monday! Musicians are here to jam together and spectators have gathered to support “Lytton Aid Jam”. Following a record breaking heatwave, Lytton was destroyed by a fast moving fire in a matter of minutes on June 30th, 2021. We will gratefully accept donations to help the evacuees and all those affected by this devastating fire.

Help needed! .

Lytton Fire Relief Centre is NOW OPEN in Boston Bar. Anyone affected by the fire is welcome to use the supply post. Tuckkwiowhum Village has many supplies, including: tents, blankets, food, hygiene items, water, pet supplies, gift certificates for groceries and more. They also have areas for you to camp, free of charge, if you would like to stay. Washroom facilities, showers, outdoor cooking areas, gazebos, and outdoor water access are the available amenities on-site on a beautifully landscaped area. Any and all who have been displaced by the Lytton wildfire are welcome at Tuckkwiowhum Village.

Lytton Relief in Boston Bar at Tuckkwiowhum

Lytton Relief Fund Update

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or in one of Canada's western provinces you have probably been feeling pretty uncomfortable with the record-setting temperatures created by that "heat dome" which has settled over all of us. The hot temperatures are even affecting the Northern Territories! This heat wave isn't quite over yet so we hope you are able to slow down, stay cool and well hydrated. We're going to change things up a little bit today and play a great song for you performed by our friend Willard Wallace. Let 'Em In by Paul McCartney. We are always very grateful when Elder Willard shares his many talents with us here at Tuckkwiowhum. #Tuckkwiowhum #HeritageVillage #ExploreCanyon #ExploreFraserCanyon #BostonBarFirstNation #WillardWallace #NlakapamuxTerritory #TuckwiowhumGas

Indian Pudding

We are very grateful to Knowledge Keeper Marlene Stewart of Lytton First Nation who visited us at the Tuckkwiowhum Village Longhouse to demonstrate how traditional Indian Pudding is made with Bitter Root and Saskatoon Berries. Marlene is a harvester, fisher and also a wonderful cook at the traditional Stein Valley School in Lytton, BC. She is also a great storyteller! We hope to have her back this summer to tell us more stories and show our visitors to Tuckkwiowhum, how to prepare more favourite foods of the Nlaka’pamux people. Please visit our YouTube Channel (link below) to view the full-length video. (Approximately 25 minutes) https://youtu.be/HPBIc4RB9Mo #NlakapamuxTerritory #IndianPudding #LyttonFirstNation #BostonBarFirstNation #TuckkwiowhumVillage #TuckkwiowhumHeritageVillage #ExploreFraserCanyon #ExploreCanyon #TraditionalFood #SaskatoonBerries #BitterRoot #GoldRushTrail #KnowledgeKeeper #IndigenousTourism #IndigenousBC #IndigenousCulture #IndigenousTradition #BCFirstNation #CanadaFirstNation #SpuzzumFirstNation #BoothroydIndianBand #SteinValleySchool #Storytellers

The name of our heritage site, Tuckkwiowhum, translates as “best berry-picking place”. For thousands of years, over 30 types of berries have been harvested in our traditional territories from early summer to late fall depending on the berry type and location. In the southern interior of B.C., we can find blueberries, saskatoon berries, cranberries, currants, huckleberries, elderberry, soapberries, bilberry, black raspberry (aka blackcaps) and wild strawberries. Berries have always been a very important part of our diet, being excellent sources of vitamin C, fibre and carbohydrates. As well, they have many medicinal properties. Blueberries and cranberries for example have anti-bacterial properties and can help to prevent urinary infections. Cranberries, elderberries, rosehips and blackberries are also high in antioxidants and are wonderful immune boosters. For Nlaka’pamux, berries are an important part of our traditional knowledge. By listening and observing the changes in the animals and plants, we know when berries are ripe and ready for harvesting. For example, when the wild rose begins to bloom, it is a signal that soapberries are ready for harvesting. We hope you will be able to join us at Tuckkwiowhum Village this summer to learn more about our history, traditions and culture. #Tuckkwiowhum #HeritageVillage #NlakapamuxTerritory #BostonBarFirstNation #LyttonFirstNation #SpuzzumFirstNation #BoothroydIndianBand #ExploreFraserCanyon #ExploreCanyon #GoldRushTrail #TraditionalKnowledge #TraditionalFoods #IndigenousCulture #IndigenousTradition #IndigenousTourism #IndigenousBC

Elder Willard Wallace sang this beautiful song for us at the Tuckkwiowhum Longhouse a few weeks ago. It seemed like a good music choice today to share with everyone. The song, Fire and Rain, written by James Taylor, was released way back in 1970 and quickly soared to number 3 on the music charts. There’s a long backstory to these lyrics, but in short, Taylor has said the song is about his battle with severe depression and his heroin addiction, as well as about his friend who was battling her own demons. Suzanne took her own life at the same time that this song was being released. The story goes that Taylor’s managers didn’t want to tell him about her death, because ‘things were going so well’ and they didn’t want to upset him. Taylor didn’t find out about her death for another six months and he was very sad that the lyrics he had written had been so prophetic. He had always hoped he would see her again. Our sincere thanks to Elder Willard for sharing his talents with us and so beautifully singing this poignant song. “Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song I just can't remember who to send it to I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again Won't you look down upon me, Jesus? You've got to help me make a stand You've just got to see me through another day My body's aching and my time is at hand And I won't make it any other way Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again Been walking my mind to an easy time My back turned towards the sun Lord knows, when the cold wind blows It'll turn your head around Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line To talk

Today, we have Elder Willard Wallace sharing another beautiful drum song with us, The Woman's Working Song. We are always very grateful to Elder Willard for visiting us in the Tuckkwiowhum longhouse and generously sharing his music and artistic talents with all of us. We look forward to seeing you very soon at Tuckkwiowhum Heritage Village when we open (STAY TUNED!). We would be very happy to share with you our history, culture and traditions. #Tuckkwiowhum #HeritageVillage #TuckkwiowhumGas #KnowledgeKeepers #IndigenousMusic #DrumSong #BostonBarFirstNation #IndigenousBC #IndigenousTourism #GoldRushTrail #CultureandTradition #NlakapamuxTerritory #ExploreFraserCanyon #ExploreCanyon #FirstNationElders #firstnationsbc #Stlatlmix #WillardWallace

At one time or another, we have all asked, “What does my dream mean?” Some of us remember all our dreams, some have recurring dreams, while others have no recollection of having dreamt at all. Many individuals, believing there are answers or messages coming to them during sleep, will keep a notepad by their bed and the moment they awaken, will write down as many details as possible, then attempt to decipher the meaning. Since the beginning of time, people of all ages, in every culture, on every continent, have believed dreams are important; that the stories spun while we sleep must have special significance. All ancient cultures placed great importance on the meaning of dreams. They would seek answers, direction, guidance, a prophecy or important communication from the spirit world. There were often dream interpreters to help clarify messages which were too obscure to understand. Dreaming was considered to be a very important teaching tool. Indigenous cultures have all used diverse methods to educate and prepare their young people for adulthood. Learning was a life-long process with the skills they would need being taught through observation, actively doing, storytelling, ceremony, song, dance, drumming, and prayer. Some young individuals were chosen to enter an apprenticeship (as a healer, for example) with Elders. Dreaming and visioning was an essential part of the teachings passed down through generations because that is when knowledge would come to the individual from the spiritual world. While sleep is certainly the most restorative thing we can do for our health, dreaming also assists us in three ways. Mentally, dreaming can help us work out a problem or face a difficult challenge. Emotionally, dreams are a safe place to release upsetting feelings that might otherwise be suppressed while we are awake. We might also experience emotions that enter our dreams from past traumas or those suffered by the ancestors. Spiritually, dreams can provide us wit