A film capturing last month’s Shihiya School groundbreaking ceremony in Splatsin is now available for viewing.
The film, Shihiya School Groundbreaking, a 35-minute documentary, was released on Sunday, Dec. 14. TIt features reflections reflections from Splatsin leadership, community voices, cultural protocols, and the ceremonial turning of the soil, marking the beginning of construction of the new Shihiya School.
“It (the film) serves as a lasting record of the shared vision and collective work behind this project,” it read in Splatsin’s announcement.
The ceremony took place in November. More than 100 attendees, including students, community members and leaders, gathered to support and celebrate the beginning stages of construction of the modern school. Dignitaries and guests stood holding ceremonial golden shovels and turned the first soil, marking a meaningful transition from a vision into reality.
Shihiya School currently serves around 60 elementary students, and due to space limitations, has had to turn away student enrollment applicants in recent years.
The Splatsin Band said the new school will address overcrowding and create space for future growth. Once complete, the facility will provide a modern, purpose-built learning environment rooted in Splatsin language, values and culture.
The construction of the Shihiya School will start in March 2026 and is expected to be complete and ready to welcome students by June 2027.
The film can be found below.
