In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any community, including First Nation communities in British Columbia. A well-designed, user-friendly website serves as a vital tool for communication, cultural preservation, and community engagement. For First Nation communities, it is not just about having a digital footprint; it is about ensuring that their heritage, values, and needs are effectively communicated and accessible to both members and visitors.
A website acts as a virtual gateway to the community, offering a platform where information can be shared, events can be promoted, and resources can be accessed. It provides a space to highlight the community's history, culture, and achievements, while also serving practical purposes like updating members on important news or offering portals for accessing services. In a region as diverse and geographically dispersed as British Columbia, a website can bridge distances and bring the community closer together.
For visitors and those outside the community, the website becomes a first point of contact. It shapes perceptions, fosters understanding, and builds relationships. It can showcase the community’s strengths, its commitment to sustainable development, and its role within the broader fabric of Canadian society. A website that is difficult to navigate or outdated, however, can hinder these connections and fail to do justice to the community it represents.
How We Helped Tzeachten First Nation Refresh Their Website
Ch’íyáqtel (formerly Tzeachten) is a First Nation community located within the boundaries of Chilliwack and Sardis, BC. With over 700 members, Ch’íyáqtel has a proud history of success, including several real estate ventures and affordable housing projects. However, while the community was thriving, their website was not.
The existing website had an outdated design and was difficult for both members and visitors to navigate. It failed to capture the essence of who the Ch’íyáqtel people are and the progress they have made. Moreover, Ch’íyáqtel operates similarly to a municipality within a city, meaning their website needs were complex. They required a “members only” section to serve the community’s needs, as well as a clear messaging strategy to communicate their heritage, successful land stewardship, recent name change, and the promotion of their new Ch’íyáqtel Sports Complex.
To address these challenges, we united the Ch’íyáqtel team through a brand strategy session, honing in on key stakeholders and the messages they wanted to communicate. We also helped them recreate their logo suite, ensuring they had the right files and assets for effective branding across all mediums.
Using Webflow, we redesigned the website to be a high-performing, clean, and minimalist site that reflects the community's identity. We implemented Webflow Memberships to create a gated content area, enabling members to access vital information with ease. This feature has streamlined communication, saving time for the admin staff at Ch’íyáqtel and providing members with immediate access to key resources.
Additionally, we planned and executed an extensive photoshoot, including drone videography, to capture the beauty of Ch’íyáqtel’s developments, housing projects, and reserve lands. The result is a website that not only looks great but also functions seamlessly, meeting the needs of both Ch’íyáqtel’s members and visitors.
Enhancing Community Engagement and Communication
For First Nation communities across British Columbia, a user-friendly website is more than just an online presence; it is a tool for empowerment. It allows for greater community engagement, enabling members to stay informed and connected. By offering a platform that is easy to navigate and full of rich, relevant content, communities can strengthen their internal communication and ensure that all members, regardless of where they are, can access important information.
Moreover, a well-designed website can serve as a cultural ambassador, presenting the community’s heritage and contemporary achievements to the world. It can help attract visitors, forge partnerships, and promote economic opportunities. For First Nation communities, whose voices have often been marginalized, a strong online presence is a powerful way to assert their identity, share their stories, and engage with the broader public.
With Us, Transform Your Online Presence Today
Investing in a user-friendly, well-designed website is essential for First Nation communities in BC. It is an investment in communication, culture, and community cohesion, ensuring that the community remains connected and engaged, both internally and with the wider world. Through our work with Ch’íyáqtel, we have seen firsthand how transformative a website can be, and we are proud to help communities like theirs thrive in the digital age.
