By July 1991, the news of Gordon Mohs’ discovery in Hatzic had spread amongst the local community. That same month a group of volunteers visited the site and knew that something had to be done regarding the site’s long-term preservation. Together they formed the Friends of The Hatzic Rock Society and were officially incorporated in August of 1991.
Members of the FOHRS at benefit concert (1991)
The goal of the FOHRS was to create awareness of the Hatzic Rock site and work in consultation with local First Nations. Together they volunteered over forty-thousand hours from 1991 to 1995. The first board of directors was led by Roy Mussell of the Stó:lō Tribal Council, Bev Julian, Linea Battel, Chief Rose Charlie of the Chehalis Band and Marion Robinson. Members of the FOHRS were non-Indigenous and Indigenous alike. Eighty plus people showed up for the first FOHRS meeting at the Mission Leisure Centre. The FOHRS worked tirelessly to raise awareness regarding the importance of the site and to raise funds for a potential transaction from the land developer. The FOHRS also held educational tours of the site which blended Indigenous spiritual practice with science.
“Sacred landmarks are often exploited for their commercial value… that’s why it is absolutely imperative the Stó:lō people are involved first – it’s theirs”
– Marion Robinson, Fraser Valley Record, July 13th (1994)
In September of 1991, the FOHRS hosted a benefit concert at St. Mary’s Park in Mission. The event hosted local Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers and artists. There was also a traditional salmon barbecue and local art auction. The event brought in over ten thousand dollars to the FOHRS, but the exposure it had created would prove even more valuable.
Benefit concert poster (1991)
On October 30th, 1991, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article discussing the discovery of the ancient settlement and the unprecedented level of cooperation that it had brought to the small town of Mission. The story would also be covered by National Geographic in 1992.
“[The Stó:lō] were suprised to find that many Mission residents who never paid attention to Indian matters suddenly wanted to help save Hatzic Rock. The rock brought two cultures together in common enterprise”
– Wall Street Journal, October 30 (1991)
A slew of donations and support would pour in over the next year. The Low-Beer Foundation donated sixty thousand dollars, while developer Harry Utzig, who still owned the land, donated ten thousand dollars.
On April 8th, 1993, Premier Mark Harcourt announced that the province would be acquiring the site. Harry Utzig would be compensated via a land swap deal, which handed him eight acres near Fraser River Heritage Park. The announcement was preceded by a traditional sage burning and Harcourt was handed a feather and asked to only speak the truth.
“The rock’s great cultural and spiritual values are now intact and the future potential of the site is now in the hands of the people of British Columbia”
– Premier Harcourt, April 8th (1993)
The FOHRS had succeeded in saving the rock, but their aspirations proved larger. The FOHRS continued to develop educational tours and began the process of planning an interpretive centre that would rival the likes of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta.