Tepees at Soda Creek

The presence of Dave on the left shows the size of this enormous central teepee; the others on the site are smaller.

These contemporary versions are made of canvas in the city, as the label below left shows. Mukwa Teepees are made in West Vancouver.

New pit house at Soda Creek

Left: Dave Johnson stands beneath the skylight.

On the edge of Soda Creek, a few miles off Highway 1 north of Williams Lake, a demonstration village has been set up to illustrate some of the traditional lifestyle features of the aboriginal group who occupied this area before the arrival of the Europeans.

This modern pit house is built around the natural shape of the wood. It is a large and spacious shelter, with this small tunnel entrance that leads from the external slit door to a large round space lit from above by a window opening.

Wooden platforms line the edges and the central fireplace is placed to allow the smoke to escape through the top.

Old pit houses at Xatsull Village

This pit house, located at Xatsull Heritage Village near Soda Creek, BC, has aged and fallen into disuse.

Newer and larger demonstration models have been built to illustrate the features of these fascinating and practical traditional dwellings.

Xatsull Village is open for tours, demonstrations and interpretive talks by elders.

Sweat lodge at Soda Creek

This summer hut is part of the Xatsull Heritage Village located on the bank of the Fraser near Soda Creek.

The sweat lodge ceremony is a healing tool used by many aboriginal peoples.

In addition to conferring the physical benefits of cleansing toxins through the skin, this sauna-like outdoor steam room is also used to confer spiritual benefits, purifying the mind and soul along with the body.

Traditional village at Soda Creek

The Xatsull Heritage Village flanks the Fraser River a few miles north of Williams Lake.

A few weeks ago, my brother and I visited this place, following the narrow road that leads steeply down from the highway.

As well as teepees and a large central shelter, pit houses, both old and new, can be seen, along with a traditional sweat lodge roofed with cedar boughs. This fascinating town gives a glimpse of how Shuswap people lived before.

Afghan storytelling evening

"Peace bears" wear traditional Afghan garb

Last night a non-profit organization called Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan hosted a storytelling evening in Surrey. This group works to promote education for Afghan girls and women.

Activities include training teachers, providing libraries and school equipment and hosting a Centre of Research and Innovation for Afghan teachers at the University of Kabul.

Following a delicious dinner prepared by the Afghan Chopan restaurant, poems were read, songs were sung and storytellers spoke on a variety of subjects. Accompanied by slides, these tales educated and inspired the audience. 

Lauryn Oates, Programs director of the organization, talked about its history and emphasized its important goals of building human capital in Afghanistan by educating girls and empowering women, as well as educating and engaging Canadian women as world citizens.

One passionate young judo expert described the benefits gleaned from the judo she learned with other girls and boys in Kabul. A communications engineer described the current state of cell phone and wireless internet coverage.

A retired geologist showed and described Band-e Amir National Park and other astonishingly beautiful geographical features of his mountainous home country, and showed slides of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan, already faceless after damage inflicted by Genghis Khan. Deliberately destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, these remarkable and ancient works of art were recalled by a Canadian woman who saw them on a youthful trip to Bamiyan in the 1970s.

A young Afghan woman spoke about Afghan music, past and present. I learned that Kabul Dreams is a popular contemporary band and Afghan Star is a televised talent show "like American Idol."

The next annual symposium of this valuable volunteer-run organization will be held in Banff next October.

Mary's Wedding recalls First World War Cavalry battle in Moreuil Wood

Image from Peninsula Productions

Stephen Manicotte's one-act play is currently running at the Black Box Theatre in White Rock, and the first matinee was sold out. With a simple stage set that suggests in turn a barn, a horse, a war zone and a formal tea, the cast of two carries the audience back to WWI.

The play's time line goes backwards; "Tonight," the young actor tells us, "is just a dream" that "begins at the end and ends at the beginning."

Young players Julia Seidlanowska and Harrison Macdonald move from humour to pathos to romance and carry it all off beautifully. Playing until November 15, this is well worth seeing.