Heritage Sites in British Columbia: Xa:tem Longhouse

Carbon-dated at between 5,000 and 9,000 years old, the centrepiece of the ancient village site is an enormous boulder dubbed the Transformer Stone, more prosaically called Hatzic Rock.

The Sto:lo people call it Xa:ytem, a place where Xa:ls, a prominent figure in Sto:lo, transformed three Si:ya:m or respected leaders into stone. Xa:ytem exemplifies the importance of Sto:lo oral tradition, and is said to contain the 'shxweli' or 'life force' of the three Si:y:m.

In 1990, when developers began clearing land around the huge Hatzic Rock east of Mission, hundreds of artifacts were uncovered. Archaeologists confirmed that this site had been occupied thousands of years ago. It's the oldest known dwelling site in the province, and is the first native spiritual site in Canada to be recognized by both Provincial and Federal governments.

The Sto:lo Nation has recently erected a magnificent longhouse at the site where, between July and mid-September, visitors can learn more about traditional First Nations' culture and history. Hours of operation are 10 am to 4 pm daily. On some mid-week schooldays the site may be closed, so it's best to give us a call to get a current schedule.

Xá:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre is right beside Highway 7, only three kilometres east of Mission, the largest town in the North Fraser Valley. Travellers on the Trans Canada Highway 1 can turn north at Abbotsford and cross the Fraser River to Mission via Highway 11.

Contact details:

Xa:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre
35037 Lougheed Highway
Mission
B.C., V2V 6T1

Telephone: (604) 820-9725
Fax: (604) 820-9735

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