After the Tsawout First Nation lost its bighouse to fire in 2009, community members are finding relief as they watch the cultural building start to take shape in Greater Victoria.

After construction was delayed due to a wait for logs, four cedar trusses were raised onto the structure last week 含羞草研究社� clearing the way for construction of the community含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渉eartbeat含羞草研究社� to pick up.

含羞草研究社淭he building is now shaped and it含羞草研究社檚 becoming a reality that it含羞草研究社檚 actually here,含羞草研究社� said Becky Wilson, an executive assistant with Tsawout First Nation. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 created a positive, happy impact on the community.含羞草研究社�

With the arrival of the cedar logs, donated by the Namgis First Nation, work can continue with the roof, framing and siding soon to go up. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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Community members who have worked tirelessly on the project were on site to watch the trusses go up, Wilson said.

含羞草研究社淭here was just so much pride and happiness that was going on that day. 含羞草研究社� It was just like we can breathe again,含羞草研究社� she said.

The bighouse is a place where the Nation can gather for a number of cultural practises. Wilson said when an individual or family is facing obstacles, the entire community goes to support and rally behind them at the bighouse.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 one place where everyone is safe to go, there含羞草研究社檚 no turning anyone away,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the heartbeat of our community so there含羞草研究社檚 an unspoken respect, for anyone who goes in there, that they含羞草研究社檙e doing some sort of cultural work.含羞草研究社�

Tsawout members are using other bighouses, such as Tseycum含羞草研究社檚 and Tsartlip含羞草研究社檚, but the absence of their own meant there was nowhere to pass along teachings and protocols to youth 含羞草研究社� creating a gap in the community. The new bighouse will bring that life back, Wilson said, and give elders more of a voice again.

含羞草研究社淚t really reminds us of who we are and where we come from,含羞草研究社� she said.

The First Nation is still looking to fundraising a little over $1 million for the remaining work. They have a , a golf tournament next month and they含羞草研究社檙e accepting donations at the band office.

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