The s7istken (pit house) at T’it’q’et – 040101
The aboriginal St’at’imc people inhabiting the dry bench lands
along the Fraser River near Lillooet have lived here for thousands
of years.
For much of the year, the St’at’imc traveled throughout their
territory hunting, fishing for salmon from the plentiful runs that
ascended the major rivers, harvesting edible plants and gathering
medicines across a wide area. During this time, they lived in
conical-shaped tents made of reed mats that could be easily erected
and dismantled for travel. When the first snows came, the St’at’imc
would tear down their tents, gather in villages and descend into
the warmth of s7istkens, which were circular, semi-subterranean pit
houses.
This replica s7istken is approximately 12 metres in diameter,
spacious enough to accommodate four families in pre-contact
times.
Traditionally, four main support rafters divided the s7istken
into quarters or rooms, with a section for sleeping and a section
for storing food. One room in the s7istken was known as the ‘hand
room’, because from this room, the hand of anyone ascending or
descending the ladder was easily visible. The entrance was via a
ladder through a square hole in the roof. A notch was made in the
top of the ladder, from which moccasins could be hung before people
entered the pit house.
Dancing, feasts, simple social gatherings, games and
story-telling were common winter activities. The men also spent
part of the winter manufacturing spears, daggers and other weapons.
It was painstaking work and it could take up to three hours to
craft a single arrowhead. The women processed hides, cared for
their families and completed other winter tasks.
The pit houses were built with the materials at hand, lodge pole
pine poles, rawhide to tie the poles together, a roof of
water-proof clay that was beaten and stamped firmly and 10-inches
of pine needles and dried grass that acted as insulation. While the
men were out getting the logs from the forests, the women of the
village used woven baskets and deer shoulder blades to excavate the
s7istken home sites.
What they did not already have, the St’at’imc traded for, using
dried salmon, which was a recognized and valued commodity
everywhere. Dentalia, small, slender, horn-like sea shells, have
been discovered in some Lillooet area s7istkens. Archaeologists
found a whale rib that was used long ago as a knife at the Keatley
Creek village site, located between Fountain and Pavilion on
Highway 99 North.
The story behind the construction of this s7istken is a tale of
community co-operation and effort. Members of the T’it’q’et
Community and volunteers from neighbouring Lillooet joined forces
to build the replica. Work on the project commenced in September
2006 and was completed the following spring under the leadership of
Community Chief Bill Machell and with expert advice from Grand
Chief Des Peters Sr.
The s7istken can be visited on a St’at’imc Cultural Experiences
tour that includes a presentation on the St’at’imc way of life, a
story performance by Bear around the s7istken fire and a meal
featuring traditional foods. |