The warm spring air is filled with sounds of ripping chainsaws and buzzing band saws. Hammers are swinging, cracking the freshly cut western red cedar placing the jigsaw pieces into place.

Traditional builder Murray Mitchell has a smile that reaches the four corners of the newly erected posts. He is beaming as he reflects on the progress at hand, “You know, I really get stressed out about getting every piece just right, but I know we are on the right track.”

New staff member, Troy Silvey see’s the project as a leap frog into building a stronger community. I asked Troy his plans for the future, “This is home for me, I’m moving here. We have a housing shortage but my sisters want to move back to Klahoose as well. I’m glad to be home.”

The canoe project has been going strong all winter. It all started with wood being delivered from the traditional Toba valley last fall. After prepping the site North West of the current band office a local saw operator, Ron Wolda began milling the vast amount of cedar and fir species.

After months of milling and training for many band members, the lumber pile was growing and the site was running out of space.  So Klahoose Administration decided to hire construction supervisor Kevin Peacy to begin using the bounty of wood for renovation projects long overdue.

The project also created an economy at I.R.#7.

“We have a record amount of people employed here at Klahoose. It’s amazing to see so many people on the payroll,” says Band administrator Bev Hills. According to Bev, a large percentage of community members either work at the local level or are employed through the Plutonic Power project in the Traditional Klahoose Lands. “It’s very exciting.” says Bev.

Contact: 250.935.6536 for more information.