Prior to any major construction project, we invite our partners to participate in a Groundbreaking and Safety Blessing Ceremony, as a means to bless the lands and pray for the safety of workers during the construction period. In August 2020, together with our partner’s LandSea Camp Services, we hosted a ceremony with our elders’ participation to mark the start of construction of a new 350-room Workforce Accommodation Complex on Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation territory.
The Cultural Ceremony offered a traditional Site Blessing and Smudge, along with a prayer from one of Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation’s elders, to provide protection for all workers and offer them safety throughout the construction period.
One of the most exciting aspects of this particular project, is that it will be constructed with new infrastructure that has been designed to support a future housing or other legacy development project for the Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation community.
Disclaimer: Please note that during this event, Shxw’ōwhámél Ventures and LandSea Camp Services created a “PPE free” safe space and stopped all construction works on the project.