Tse’k’wa Heritage Society welcomes public for National Indigenous Heritage Day festivities

CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — After extensive renovations and infrastructure upgrades, the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society is welcoming the public for festivities honoring National Indigenous Heritage Day on June 21st.

According to Tse’k’wa Heritage Society executive director Alyssa Currie, she is “excited” to showcase the efforts to make the national heritage site, which features the T’se’kwa cave, believed to be 12,000 years old, more accessible.

“Growing up and now working in Treaty 8 territory, especially as a non-Indigenous person, I have benefitted from that treaty being signed in the spirit of peace and friendship,” said Currie.

“Ultimately, the treaty was signed to share land and resources, which have ultimately made the North Peace so economically and culturally successful. To come and learn about the rich history of the places that we inhabit that we live, play, and work in is so important.”

Self-guided tours began again last fall after funds were secured to build the new archeology dome, an amphitheater, and trails. 

As part of the event, students from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) will be showcasing their finds from their on-site archeology field school.

The school is part of a five-year research agreement between UNBC and the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society.  Students last had a chance to excavate the land in 2022.

“It was a chance to have university students and Indigenous students come together to learn about archeology on this 12,000-year-old site,” said Currie.

“Now that we’ve conducted our field school, we can provide more context to the archeological materials found down at the cave. People can see what an archeological unit looks like and what we’ve found.”

One of the biggest discoveries of the excavations was hundreds of ancient microblade tools, according to Currie.

The cave was a historical gathering site for the Dane-zaa people and is one of the few Indigenous-owned and managed National Historical sites in Canada.

The Tse’k’wa Heritage Society resulted from a collaboration between Doig River, Prophet River, and West Moberly First Nations, who wanted to share their culture and history. 

Doig River Drummers and a barbeque for the public will also be featured. The Charlie Lake Pub will provide free parking and a shuttle for attendees of the event, which will last from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday.

Visit the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society’s website for more information or check their Facebook page.