After decades of exemplary service, the Barkerville Heritage Trust (BHT) is marking an important transition as it offers a heartfelt thank you and fond farewell to the Rummel family. Any long-time visitor to Barkerville Historic Town & Park would quickly recognize the faces of the Rummel brothers, along with their spouses and children, who have been a constant presence in Barkerville since at least 1980. For more than 45 years, the family has contributed to the interpretive landscape of western North America’s largest living history museum through the operation of several businesses under park use permits, first with the Province of British Columbia, and later under the management of the BHT. Through these partnerships, the Rummels have played a vital role in providing visitors with an authentic Barkerville experience.
Over decades of hands-on work and business ownership, the Rummel brothers (Bill, Rob, and Doug) helped shape visitor experiences by operating cornerstone institutions. Together, they went on to manage five of Barkerville’s interpretive retail businesses: Mason & Daly General Merchants, C. Strouss Drygoods & Provisions, A. McPherson’s Watchmaker & Jeweller, McMahon’s Confectionary, and Eldorado Gold Panning & Gift Shop. Known for their high-quality merchandise, authentic presentation, and attention to detail, the Rummels set a standard for immersive, historically grounded guest engagement. Their sister, Marilyn Rummel, also played an important role during the family’s early years in Barkerville. In the 1980s, she worked as an assistant producer at the Theatre Royal and later operated the Wake Up Jake Restaurant. Now, as the brothers and their families prepare for retirement, their departure marks the end of a significant era in Barkerville’s living history interpretation.
The Rummels’ concession licenses are now transferred to the Lhtako Dene Nation with the approval of the Barkerville Heritage Trust. As new park use permit holders, the Lhtako Dene Nation will continue the operation of these historic businesses in keeping with the BHT’s established standards, and operational oversight will be assumed by Rocky Nenka on behalf of the First Nation. Nenka, former Commerce Manager for the BHT and most recently the Regional Indigenous Tourism Specialist for Cariboo Chilcotin Coast with Indigenous Tourism BC, will be joined by several staff members who were long-time employees of the Rummel family. As Barkerville enters this next chapter with the Lhtako Dene Nation, visitors can expect the same high level of service, historical accuracy, and attention to detail that have long defined the Barkerville experience to ensure continuity, authenticity, and quality.
“For the Lhtako Dene Nation, this is more than a business transition,” says Chief Clifford Lebrun of the Lhtako Dene Nation. “It is an opportunity to create jobs, build long-term revenue, and help tell a fuller story of Barkerville and the Cariboo — one that recognizes the deep presence, trade, and leadership of Indigenous peoples in this region. We are honoured to carry forward the standard set by the Rummel family while bringing Lhtako Dene culture, values, and vision into this next chapter.”
“By taking on these businesses, the Lhtako Dene Nation restores a narrative that is often overlooked,” says Rocky Nenka. “Indigenous people were merchants, bakers, guides, suppliers, and economic participants long before and throughout the gold rush era. These businesses are not simply retail operations. They are cultural touchpoints, interpretive spaces, and economic engines that honour the deep and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples in the Cariboo region.”
“We look forward to this new opportunity with the Lhtako Dene Nation,” says Al Richmond, Chair of the Barkerville Heritage Trust, “This partnership strengthens the site by acknowledging its history, supporting reconciliation, and building a future rooted in mutual respect. As we make this transition, the BHT extends its best wishes to the entire Rummel family as they embark on their next endeavour, with hopes that it will include a well-deserved holiday. Their world-class contribution to Barkerville has been immeasurable.”
Barkerville sits along the historic Grease Trail, an extensive Indigenous trade network that connected the interior with the Pacific coast for thousands of years. These routes were used primarily for the transport of eulachon oil, which was a highly valued nutritional and ceremonial resource traded between coastal nations such as the Nuxálk and inland peoples including the Dakelh. Portions of this network later became known as the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, reflecting how early European explorers relied on Indigenous knowledge and established pathways to navigate the region’s challenging terrain. Long before the gold rush, Indigenous nations sustained vibrant economies defined by trade, mobility, and sophisticated intercommunity relationships. Recognizing this rich economic history underscores the significance of the Lhtako Dene Nation taking on these businesses, reinforcing both continuity and reconciliation within Barkerville’s evolving story.
Barkerville’s upcoming Main Season takes place between May 30 and September 13 with a full schedule of programming that will include guided tours and street scenes, shows at the Theatre Royal and rides at Barnard’s Express Stagecoach, along with open shops and restaurants. Those who are interested in employment at one of the Lhtako Dene Nation’s new ventures in Barkerville can inquire by emailing rocky@lhtako.com.
For more information about Barkerville, its upcoming season, and merchant information, visit www.barkerville.ca.