The Longhouse for the People project is a decolonization effort to restore Indigenous people to their ancestral land, and sustain intergenerational transmissions of their Native language, cultural practices, ceremony, food wisdom and lifeways.  

 

A Longhouse is a traditional home and multi-generational community space for the Indigenous people of this region. Longhouses were destroyed by European settlers and made illegal in 1910. There were many plank houses existing in this area previous to settler colonialism and they were burned down, as tribal families were forced to relocate. By constructing a Longhouse in our ancestral territory, we are reclaiming what was taken from us.

Plans for the Longhouse for the People construction were engineered by experienced feast hall designers and we purchased a portable sawmilll to prepare locally harvested cedar. Many trees have been donated and we’ve hosted work parties to pull the bark. Our next step is preparing the ground for construction. We also plan to construct a traditional smokehouse for drying salmon harvested by our family.

Longhouse for the People is committed to the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and to creating opportunities for all their relations and neighbors to join together in creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all people and Mother Earth.

The Longhouse Project creates opportunities for:

  • Community and economic development and resilience based on sustainable, regenerative principles

  • Climate change solutions such as renewable energy, local food production, composting toilets

  • Sustainable food systems and food sovereignty and security initiatives in the form of First Foods gardens and orchards

  • Community food harvesting and processing

  • Shared community food distribution from the First Foods garden   

  • Care and restoration of Tarboo Creek watershed, that flows through the land 

  • Renewable energy sources: 10 solar panels are being installed to reduce carbon emissions and generate sustainable power

  • Housing security for extended family

  • Indigenous ceremonies and cultural vitalization. 

  • Indigenous wellness and community care through community collaboration and land work parties     

  • Decolonized Education models through homeschooled children