Behchoko's new cultural centre is officially open, and the hope is that the building will be just as important to the Tlicho community as its predecessor.
"ItSA国际影视传媒檚 good that we have a new facility for the new generation," said Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong, a Tlicho Elder who lives in the community of roughly 1,800 people. "ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an important part of the community."
Behchoko's old cultural centre was demolished in 2019. Construction of the new facility, which cost about $14 million and was spearheaded by Tlicho Community Builders, was completed last year. While the building has been operational for most of this year, the grand opening celebration didn't occur until the weekend of Aug. 23-25.
The widely-attended celebration featured a community feast, drum dancing, a $100,000 hand games tournament, vendors and lots more. It also coincided with the unveiling of a new bronze statue of Chief Monwfi, who signed Treaty 11 in 1921. The statue was designed by Gameti-born Tlicho artist Darrell Chocolate, and created at a foundry in Cochrane, Alta. Tlicho Elder Jimmy Rabesca, a direct descendent of Chief Monfwi, cut the ribbon for the new centre.
Weyallon Armstrong called the simultaneous opening of the cultural centre and unveiling of the statue "wonderful."
The new facility has quite a legacy to live up to. Not only did the old cultural centre host countless community events, but it was also one of the key settings of the creation of the 2003 Tlicho land claims agreement, according to Weyallon Armstrong.
"In 2003, when we voted for the land claim agreement, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where it all started," she said. "A lot of Elders were around, and we can see it in the pictures [at the new centre] SA国际影视传媒� a lot of Elders and leaders that are no longer with us. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of good connections from that [old centre] to the new one.
"A lot of events took place at the old one," she added. "ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of history. We have a lot of good, happy memories. A lot of hand games, a lot of drum dances, a lot of weddings and feasts, a lot of community celebrations that took place, keeping the community together and making it stronger.
"With new facility, we hope that we will carry on and continue with all the events, with the meetings, with the cultural events like drum dances and feasts, the hand games. All of that can continue into the future. It keeps our culture strong, our way of life."
