Chilliwack (Pelolxw Tribe/Sqwa/Cheam First Nation) – UPDATE – The Pelólxw people unveiled an impressive physical marker, a very attractive and educational addition to the Five-Corners area.rs area. The unveiling of the artwork took place on Wednesday, December 3. This was open to the public to witness the unveiling of this inspirational artwork of great historical and lasting significance to the life of downtown Chilliwack. There was drumming and singing and speakers to help promote and celebrate the spirit of fostering good understanding and respectful relations.
From the Pelólxw Tribe notes to media: We are grateful to the City of Chilliwack for contributing $60,000 towards this project, to Chilliwack Community Services contributing $5,000, to Tourism Chilliwack and S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance for each contributing $10,000. Each of the Pelólxw Tribe members contributed $16,000 to make the installation of the marker at 5-corners possible. We acknowledge with great appreciation Luke Pike, Swaleusa, of Xwchíyò:m First Nation who designed the marker, and Challen Clarke of State of the Art Concepts for the fabrication of marker to be installed at five-corners near the Chilliwack Court House.
The Sqwá people’s preferred village site has been at Chilliwack Five-Corners prior to being displaced to its current location at Lower Landing Road. Five Corners is a place of ongoing cultural, spiritual, and territorial importance for the Pelólxw Tribe, and is part of our unceded territory. The Tribe includes Sqwá, Kwaw Kwaw Apilt (Qweqwe’ópelhp), and Xwchíyò:m First Nations. Despite the extreme reductions in reserve lands by colonial authorities in 1869, the Pelólxw Tribe’s inalienable and inherent rights and connection to their whole territory remain unextinguished.
ORIGINAL STORY – It has taken a couple of years to put this together. The base of the marker has been in place in front of the Chilliwack Court House for some time.
Finally, it’s a reality.
The Pelólxw Tribe would like to invite all of you to the unveiling of the Pelólxw Tribe Marker at 5-corners which takes place on Wednesday, December 3rd at 2:00 pm. Feel free to invite your friends, colleagues and associates as this event is open to the public. There will be ceremonial drumming and singing and speakers from the Pelólxw Tribe, the City of Chilliwack and others.
On behalf of the Pelólxw Tribe, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all who collaborated with this important marker installation at five-corners, including the City of Chilliwack, Chilliwack Community Services, Chilliwack Tourism, S’olh Temexw Stewardship Alliance, and MacQueen Systems Inc.
Five Corners was a favoured Sqwá village site for trade and gathering among neighbouring tribes, and continues to hold profound cultural, spiritual and territorial significance for the Pelólxw Tribe, which includes Sqwá (Skwah), Kwaw Kwaw Apilt (Qweqwe’ópelhp) and Xwchíyò:m (Cheam) First Nations.
