Members of the Lil’wat Nation will soon have a chance to develop their skills in a new facility for one of the few First Nations-led post-secondary institutions in the country.
The new $8.8-million Ts̓zil Learning Centre will be opening on Oct. 18 at 125 Lillooet Lake Road in Mount Currie.
Footing the bill was $8.1 million in federal funding, plus an additional $775,000 from the Nation.
“When students walk through the doors of the new Ts̓zil Learning Centre they will be walking into new opportunities in education and training. The value of having a state-of-the-art, post-secondary institution to our community cannot be underestimated,” said Kúkwpi7 Skalúlmecw Chief Dean Nelson in a news release.
“Ts̓zil will also provide the people of our neighbouring communities with the choice to learn at home.”
In addition to classrooms and common areas, the 22,000-square-foot facility will house a culture centre.
That means language and culture reclamation will be offered as well.
The Lil’wat Nation is a First Nation community located seven kilometres north of Pemberton.
With a membership of almost 2,200 people — approximately 1,450 of whom live in the community — this Nation is the third largest in the province.
