Knucwentwecw Society Breaks Ground on New Child and Family Services Building

On Thursday, May 8, following a ceremonial blessing of the land, Knucwentwecw Society broke ground on its future home on Quigli Drive, within the Coyote Rock commercial subdivision on Williams Lake First Nation’s reserve lands. The new Child and Family Services building will provide vital space and services for Indigenous children, youth, and families, while also anchoring a growing community at Coyote Rock.

Designed by Thibodeau Architecture and Design, the 11,000-square-foot, net-zero facility represents a $15 million investment in the local economy. The project will receive funding from the government of Canada as part of its commitment to the construction of capital assets for the delivery of First Nations child and family services.

Once completed, the new building will feature dedicated ceremonial space, modern offices, and facilities for a wide range of child, youth, young adult, and family programs. Sustainable energy sources, including geothermal and solar power, will be key features of the building’s design. A commercial-grade kitchen, a smudge room inspired by traditional pit houses, storytelling and cultural education spaces, and dedicated spaces for child protection services will create a holistic, culturally grounded environment true to the spirit of the Society’s name: Knucwentwecw, meaning “helping each other.”

Knucwentwecw Society is an Indigenous-led agency delegated by the Ministry of Children and Family development that supports the well-being of Indigenous children, youth, and families through culturally based child safety, family support services, youth transitions, post majority supports, extended family program guardianship, and resource services.

“We’re Incredibly excited to host Knucwentwecw Society and this new building on our lands,” states WLFN Chief, Willie Sellars. “The programs and services that Knucwentwecw Society provides are vital to our community and having those programs and services out of a new, state of the art building, will be truly transformative. The beauty and quality of this project will be unequalled in the Cariboo, and it aligns perfectly with our vision for development on our lands.” Chief Sellars adds that, “WLFN is quickly becoming a hub of opportunity. We’re substantially built-out on the first phase of our residential subdivision at Coyote Rock Estates, and we’ve done the land use and infrastructure planning to unlock future phases. There are several other projects in the works, too, and folks will soon discover that WLFN presents the best opportunities for commercial and residential development in our region. The Coyote Rock lands have spectacular views, they are fully serviced, and our development processes are far more user-friendly than those of other jurisdictions. We’re open for business and looking for investment.”

Executive Director Arlene Adie of Knucwentwecw Society expressed heartfelt gratitude: “We are deeply thankful to Coyote Rock Development and Williams Lake First Nation for making space for us at Coyote Rock, and to Gregory Miller, Susie Esgin, and Uniza Khan at Indigenous Services Canada for their incredible support through the Capital Project process. This building will have a direct impact on real people — children, families, and staff — many of whom have been working for years in facilities that no longer meet their needs. We also thank Dr. Cindy Blackstock and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society for their tireless work toward substantive equality for Indigenous children and families.”

Construction will begin immediately, with completion expected in early 2028.

NT4