The New Pathways to Gold Society (NPTGS) has awarded at total of $12,500 to four projects that promote heritage tourism, First Nations reconciliation and Multiculturalism in the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor.

The four projects received between $1,000 and $5,000 under the NPTGS Small Projects Funding Program.

NPTGS Co-chair Terry Raymond said the projects proposed by the four organizations met the Society’s criteria of increasing economic development and enriching the cultural fabric of the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor from Hope to Barkerville.

“We were very impressed by the caliber of all four projects,” said Raymond. “And we know these organizations have the track-record and capacity to deliver quality projects that will benefit the communities along the corridor on an on-going basis.”

The four projects are:

FraserFEST 2018 received $5,000 for this celebration of the Fraser River which emphasizes environmental stewardship, First Nations reconciliation and sustainable development to attract people to B.C.’s largest, most iconic river. This year’s festivities include community dinners along the Fraser River, raft trips in the Fraser Canyon, guided paddling trips on the Lower Fraser River, guided cycling trips in the Lower Fraser region and educational tours.

Vancouver Island University received a $4,500 grant for a place-based education field trip for 25 VIU student teachers. The student teachers will raft from Lytton to Yale, visiting historic sites in the Fraser Canyon on the way. The students, in their final semester of VIU’s post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Education program, will develop a teaching resource based on their experiences. The trip is also designed to encourage this next generation of teachers to include more Indigenous viewpoints and historic truths in their lessons.

The Canim Lake First Nation received $2,000 to assist in staging their annual powwow. Held at the Canim Lake Arbour, the powwow celebrates the coming together of the community with songs, dances, prayers and other ceremonies.

The Spuzzum First Nation received $1,000 towards their First Fish Ceremony celebration. Held at the picnic area of Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park, the event is an opportunity to learn about Spuzzum First Nation traditions and customs. The festivities also highlight the campaign to restore the 1926 Alexandra Bridge, an icon of B.C. transportation history.

“These projects support communities from one end of the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor to the other,” said NPTGS First Nations Co-Chair Cheryl Chapman. “We’re especially pleased that First Nations people and traditions play such a prominent role in them.”

The NPTGS Small Projects Funding Program is designed to assist projects that match the Society’s goals of economic development through heritage tourism, First Nations reconciliation and Multiculturalism. NPTGS dedicates $25,000 per year to these types of initiatives, with a $5,000 cap for each project. For details, please see the NPTGS Small Projects Funding Application Form in the Resources section of the Society’s website.