Xatśūll Heritage Village lookout being replaced

Courtesy of the Soda Creek Indian Band (Xat'sull First Nations):

The iconic lookout overlooking the Xatśūll Heritage Village is being replaced.

“People come from a long way away to look down at the heritage village and the beautiful Fraser River from there,” says Cheryl Chapman, economic development and employment co-ordinator for the Soda Creek Indian Band (SCIB)

The total project is expected to cost is about $25,000. Of that, $5,000 came from the Cariboo Regional District (Areas D/F) with the rest coming from community development funding through the SCIB

The works is being done by Darren Russell, Dave Pop and Barry Beaulieu who are all community members, says Chapman.

The intent is for the project to be complete in a week but that will depend on a number of factors such as the supplies coming in and favourable weather.

Chapman says they’re not just looking to replace the deck boards but also some of the logs.

“When the logs settle, they crack so the logs kind of fill with water. That’s made it not totally unsafe but it was starting to get soft.”

The decking boards will also be replaced with 2x6s from what were 2x4s.

“So it’s going to be way sturdier and stronger than it is right now.”

Chapman says she’s looking forward to taking new pictures from the lookout.

The public is asked to slow down while the work is ongoing and not to climb out onto the lookout while the work is going on.

The deck had been closed for repairs for some time.