A 'kiglee' house is a traditional house that the ancestors of the Esketemc lived in. It is formed by digging a pit in the ground and then placing a wooden frame around it that was then covered with mats woven from wild grass and then covered with dirt. This resulted in very compact, well insulated units. Smaller pit houses were used as 'cache pits' or storage for food.

Cacti are found around the houses given that this was a main staple of the Esketemc diet. The wild grass, from which the mats were woven, grows in the middle of the pit house. It is thought that the cacti and grasses growing in and around the pit houses are there because of the activities of the ancient people who lived in the houses. It is possible to find some flakes and arrowheads in the vicinity as well.

There is evidence of historic pit houses at certain sites near the river and inland from the river. Irvine estimates that some of the pit houses range in age from 800 years to over 8000 years old. These numbers are estimates based on estimated archaeological evidence of the Fraser River, more exact methods like carbon dating are in the works. It is possible to discern the cache pits from the houses and one can see the woman's entrance as well.

Additionally, there is a new pit house being built along the road to Esk'et to show visitors exactly how they must have looked.

The prize archaeological possession that the Esketemc has is a 'medicine stick' that Irvine found at a site with kiglee houses. He feels that this was used by the medicine/shaman people for spiritual activities.

For more information contact Irvine Johnson.