Completion: 2017
Owner: Esk’etemc First Nation

Sxoxomic School Replacement

Alkali Lake, BC

Located in the remote BC interior, east of Williams Lake, the small Northern Secwepemc community of Esk’etemc has vowed to keep its youngest children in the community for their elementary education and provide a nurturing education up to grade 7. Their new facility, conceived in close collaboration with community members, is intended to assist this nurturing quest by providing warm and inspiring spaces with a strong connection to local cultural symbols.

The new building sits in the river valley surrounded by typical Chilcotin mountains, whose autumn colours acted as inspiration for the colour of the building. Reproductions of ancient Northern Secwepemc pictographs found in the surrounding river canyons provide proud ornamentation to the interior and exterior walls, and a reminder to the children of their cultural roots.

The building is organized around a vibrant multi-use central commons, surrounded by classrooms and smaller project rooms, and conceived to support a wide range of activities from dining, to arts & crafts and story-telling.

Photos: Michael Elkan

Related work: First Nations Schools