Don Hauka
Observer Contributor
The Barkerville Players will be bringing “cutting edge” entertainment to the New Pathways to Gold Society’s (NPTGS) 10+ Anniversary Celebrations in Lytton on April 14. A troupe of four players in period costume will travel down from Barkerville Historic Town & Park to perform Gold Rush Era songs stage hold gold panning demonstrations at the festivities, co-hosted by NPTGS and the Lytton First Nation (LFN).
The troupe will deliver a very special present to the LFN.
Blacksmiths in Barkerville have made a commemorative hunting knife to mark the 160th anniversary of the critical moment in B.C. history when Chief Cexpe’nthlEm of the Nlaka’pamux Nation ended the Canyon War of 1858.
“The knife is a symbol of the Chief Cexpe’nthlEm’s courage and wisdom as an advocate for peace in a turbulent time,” said James Douglas, Manager of Visitor Experiences and Public Relations.
“We’re very happy to be celebrating with the New Pathways to Gold Society, who have been partners with us since they were founded in 2007.”
NPTGS and from Barkerville Historic Town & Park have worked together for over a decade on projects like the Motherlode Travelling Revue (Theatre Royal), the Educator’s Symposium held at Barkerville and Cottonwood House and the 1861 Gold Rush Pack Trail Ride historic recreation.
The Society has also staged events in Quesnel as well as working on heritage trails in the region.
“As a long-time North Cariboo area representative on the New Pathways to Gold Society board, I am proud of our more than 10 years of heritage tourism projects, such as the recently constructed Xatśūll First Nation multi-purpose trails at Deep Creek and Soda Creek,” said Quesnel Councillor Ron Paull.
“As a seasoned snowmobiler, I am particularly proud of our ongoing work in support of the Cariboo Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail linking 70 Mile House to Likely, which will hopefully lead to a future trail connection through Wells and Barkerville to Quesnel.”
The NPTGS 10+ Anniversary Celebrations feature a trade show, “Partners Along the Pathway,” where Douglas and his troupe will perform. The celebration also includes the Chief Cexpe’nthlEm Recognition and Reconciliation Storytelling Circle, at which the commemorative hunting knife will be presented.
Descendants of Chief Cexpe’nthlEm and Captain Harry Snyder will participate, as will traditional knowledge keepers, drummers and dancers from the Nlaka’pamux and other First Nations. Plans to renovate the memorial to Chief Cexpe’nthlEm will be unveiled at the event, which takes place at the Parish Hall in Lytton, commencing at 4:30 p.m.
That will be followed by “Rising From the Ashes,” a benefit concert to assist Interior communities hit hard by the 2017 wildfire crisis, 8:00 at the Lytton Memorial Hall. The concert features an all-star cast of talented, veteran First Nations musicians like legendary saxophonist and Sound Tribe front man Al Stager, Ritchie Adams, Jim Billy, Big George Kirstenstein, Francis Charlie, Willard Wallace and Gordon Dick of the Baby Fats Blues Band. Admission to this evening of country, rock and roll and blues music is by donation.
The New Pathways to Gold Society is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 2007. The Society partners with First Nations, communities, corporations, local businesses and government to develop and deliver projects supporting local economies and creating heritage tourism assets. With financial support from the Government of British Columbia and other partners, NPTGS has raised and/or leveraged over $4 million for projects and contributed nearly $4.15 million to local communities. NPTGS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
The Lytton First Nation is located on 14,161 acres of land divided into 56 reserves, located at the site of the Indian Village of Kumsheen, meaning, “where the Rivers Cross.” Rich in natural resources, they’re a vibrant First Nations community that has survived adversity by continuing to practice their core traditional values of generosity, respect and welcoming strangers into their territory.
For more information on the NPTGS 10+ Anniversary Celebrations, check out their event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/434722073614777/