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 sa国际传媒� clearing the way for construction of the communitysa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒渉eartbeatsa国际传媒� to pick up.

sa国际传媒淭he building is now shaped and itsa国际传媒檚 becoming a reality that itsa国际传媒檚 actually here,sa国际传媒� said Becky Wilson, an executive assistant with Tsawout First Nation. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 created a positive, happy impact on the community.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淭here was just so much pride and happiness that was going on that day. sa国际传媒� It was just like we can breathe again,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 one place where everyone is safe to go, theresa国际传媒檚 no turning anyone away,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 the heartbeat of our community so theresa国际传媒檚 an unspoken respect, for anyone who goes in there, that theysa国际传媒檙e doing some sort of cultural work.sa国际传媒�

Tsawout members are using other bighouses, such as Tseycumsa国际传媒檚 and Tsartlipsa国际传媒檚, but the absence of their own meant there was nowhere to pass along teachings and protocols to youth sa国际传媒� creating a gap in the community. The new bighouse will bring that life back, Wilson said, and give elders more of a voice again.

sa国际传媒淚t really reminds us of who we are and where we come from,sa国际传媒� 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 theysa国际传媒檙e accepting donations at the band office.

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