Ama Liisaos Heritage Trust Society

Fundraising to restore the 

Canadian National Historical Monument

"The Skookumchuck Church" Skatin B.C., Canada

Ama Liisaos Heritage Society's Family Tree Project

Ama Liisaos Heritage Society's Family Tree Project is made possible though funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada

We are calling family groups or anyone having an ancestral connection to the areas of  Lillooet River & Lillooet Lake & North Harrison Lake, in the communities of Baptiste Smith IR1, Skatin, Tipella/Port Douglas based on the common ancestor information from the 1850 to 1880AD 

These are the family names we have found so far dating from the mid to late 1800's

CHARLIE	DAN	DOUGLAS	FRANK	HENRY	HARRY
JIM	JAMES	PHILLIPS	PETER	PURCELL	PAUL
SAM	SAUL	SIAH	WILLIAMS	AUGUST	JACK

AND ANYONE THAT YOU THINK WE MAY HAVE MISSED "REMEMBER THE AREA"

THERE MAYBE NON-NATIVE CONNECTIONS TO PORT DOUGLAS WITH NEEDED INFORMATION POSSIBLE LIVING IN THE FRASER VALLEY AREA

Exploring Family Ties  - there will be five bi-weekly sessions in Mission, and 3 in the home territory ; these latter will be more loosely scheduled, as road and travel conditions will dictate when people can get together.  In addition, people will be asked to share results at the monthly InSHUCKch Elders gatherings, held in a number of communities on a rotating basis.

pleases email; or call us with more family names, wedding records, christening documents, photos, you stories, etc

amaliisaos@gmail.com

604-826-6104

Each ancestor group will have some overlaps, as marriage between families was common.  Some people interested in the project will have connections to a number of these families, and may choose to come to every Exploring Family Ties session that is close to their home.

Ama Liisaos Heritage Society's Family Tree Project is made possible though funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada

It took them over 8 years to build it all out of wood, the stain glass came from Europe. The Catholic Church blessed the church, but never held regular services in it all, they came by once a year for mass weddings and baptisms. 

The altar and all icons were handcrafted out cedar

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For your information, the Canadian Heritage Foundation has once again put the Church of the Holy Cross on their "endangered heritage list" - I think this is the 3rd year.  Information is also being forwarded to UNESCO for recognition on the International Day for Monuments and Sites: Religious Heritage and Sacred Places.  This is April 18th, "the occasion for communities to take stock of the various dimensions of knowledge, conservation, and preservation of the vast heritage of religious and sacred places"   It is an opportunity to establish links with the authorities who own or administer places of worship and to enlist their support.

You may choose to circulate this information, bring it to the attention of your religious leaders, parishes, heritage groups, politicians and friends.

 

If you desire to make donations or become a member of our Society please mail to:

Ama Liisaos Heritage Trust Society

33233 14th Avenue

Mission, BC

V2V 2P7

amaliisaos@gmail.com

Your help makes our dream possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can us restore the church by purchasing our book

"Spirit in the Land: Our Place of Prayer"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story of the Church of the Holy Cross, the people who built it, and the land that is a foundation for their faith. Community elders recall stories from their grandparents, with over 120 family photographs.

Spirit in the Land: Our Place of Prayers

Elder Margaret A. Peters and many others tell their stories about how their fathers and grandfathers built a unique Church at Skookumchuck, and what it has meant to the community over the past 100 years.

Completed about 1905 by people of the Stl'atl'imx Tribe, the Church is a unique example of Carpenter-Gothic style, translated into cedar with style and originality.

Three spires, corner towers, rose window and arches contribute the distinctive character of the "cathedral in the wilderness."

Copies are available for $16.95, plus $3.00  complementary copies to be sent to First Nation schools and libraries in you

 

 

 

 

Current Board of Directors

Elder: Margaret A. Peters

Founding Memorial Perpetual President Shirley L. Wallace (Peters) 1941-2008  

Board Members:

Agnes Giesbrecht (Treasurer)

Yvonne A. M. Peters (Vice-President)

Jaci Turner (Secretary)

Magnus Turner, Geneva Quipp, Susan Williams, Jeanette Phillips, Alma Louis, William E. Lowe

Volunteer Business Manager Sharon Syrette

Photographs by Ki7ya can be purchased from the society. Yvonne A. M. Peters (Ki7ya) 2005 AD                Samahquam Band / Stl'atl'imx Tribe

Drawing by 

Ama Liisaos Heritage Society's Family Tree Project is made possible though funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada

Website written, maintianed and donated by 

William E Lowe