Williams Lake First Nation Willie Sellars speaks about the significance of Sḱulé7ten park during its official opening.
Photo by Khushi Arora
This story was originally printed in the Williams Lake Tribune and appears here with minor style edits.
The Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) celebrated the grand opening of a new memorial park in downtown Williams Lake, unveiling its name as Sḱulé7ten Park.
WLFN, also known as T’exelc, welcomed the community to the park on Oct. 13. The space memorializes WLFN’s journey towards reaching a historic specific claim settlement with “Canada.” The colonial government illegally displaced the First Nation from their traditional village site 165 years ago, in what’s now the City of Williams Lake.
After guiding attendees through the pronunciation of the park’s name “skoo LET nn,” WLFN member William Lulua explained that the surrounding area included spaces where people did vision quests. Although there was a disconnection from the practice as Williams Lake developed into a city, he said the names of the people received through those places could not be taken away.
William Lulua shares the history and meaning behind Sḱulé7ten park’s name during the official opening on Tuesday, Oct.13. Photo by Khushi Arora
According to the Facebook post by WLFN, the name Sḱulé7ten is the traditional Secwepemcstin word for the area that makes up downtown Williams Lake, and the name translates to “where you find yourself.”
Before the main opening drum song, Elder Virginia Gilbert was called upon to do a prayer. She spoke about attending both day and residential “schools,” expressing gratitude that her five children had not attended those institutions. She gave thanks for her ancestors, family, food, water and medicines, and asked that the park provide a place for rest for people struggling with addictions.
“Great spirit, let this place bless them and look after them,” added Gilbert.
Students from Little Chiefs Primary School performed drumming and songs during the ceremony.
Little Chiefs Primary School students drum and sing during the official opening of Sḱulé7ten park on Tuesday, Oct.13. Photo by Khushi Arora
WLFN Chief Willie Sellars thanked the students, recognizing the strength it takes to perform and carry forward songs significant to the First Nation and their ancestors.
Sellars also thanked the contractors who helped design and build the park and said, “we couldn’t have done it without all those contractors stepping up and contributing to this project, city representatives, community members and WLFN staff who attended the opening.”
WLFN councillor and director of self-government Chris Wycotte recalled the First Nation’s persistence through decades of pursuing its specific claim.
“We just said, no, we’re going to take it as far as we can,” said Wycotte.
Community members gather to celebrate the official opening of Sḱulé7ten memorial park in downtown Williams Lake on Oct. 13. Photo by Khushi Arora
He described finding documents in the provincial archives that revealed an injustice against the First Nation. After repeated rejections, WLFN continued pursuing the claim through legal proceedings, eventually taking its fight to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“And this is what we end up with today. And this park here is just a memorial to that journey,” he added.
Chief Sellars acknowledged relationships with municipal, provincial and federal governments, saying collaboration had helped bring community to where it is today.
“And that relationship has been tough at times, but where we’re at right now, we’re in a good place,” Sellars added.
“Under the settlement, Canada provided the Williams Lake First Nation with $135 million in total compensation,” the federal government stated in a September 2023 news release about the Village Site Specific Claim.
Sellars said the First Nation’s approach to the settlement honours its ancestors while providing for future generations. He described the opening as an opportunity for the wider community to participate in reconciliation.
“That’s taking care of our generations, four, five, six, seven generations from now, and that is what we are very proud of as Williams Lake First Nation,” he continued.
WLFN manager of culture and language Cecil Sheena introduced a grass dance with Reggie Sandy and Sellars and invited drummers to take part.
Afterward, Sellars thanked Sheena and the drummers and invited another round of applause for Sandy, whom he recognized as an emerging leader and a positive role model.
Williams Lake First Nation leaders, dignitaries and project partners cut the ribbon to officially open Sḱulé7ten Park. Photo by Khushi Arora
Sellars then invited dignitaries such as Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, councillors, WLFN leadership, staff and contractors to participate in the ribbon cutting, officially opening the park. The Sḱulé7ten Park is located at the corner of Yorston Street and Third Avenue.
“It’s open for anyone and everyone, “ he concluded.
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