Xá:ytem, Indigenous archaeological site in Mission, Canada

Xá:ytem is an archaeological site and museum at Hatzic, near Mission, British Columbia, on the northern bank of the Fraser River. It centres on Hatzic Rock, a large boulder held in Stó:lō mythology to be three leaders turned to stone by the transformer Xexá:ls. Excavations directed by Gordon Mohs from 1990 uncovered about 16,000 finds, including remains of rectangular pit houses, hearths, storage and trade goods.

The area was inhabited by Stó:lo communities over five thousand years, with various phases of human settlement documented through remains. In recent times, the land escaped development as a residential subdivision and was instead preserved as a memorial site.

Hatzic Rock is the boulder the Stó:lo call X̱á:ytem, said to hold the shxweli, or life force, of three siːyaːm turned to stone by the transformer Xexá:ls for refusing to share their knowledge of written language. The X̱á:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre, run by the XÁ:YTEM Siyaye Society, presents this story alongside excavated finds.

The site is accessible from Mission via Highway 7 and lies about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Vancouver. Guided tours on location explain the discoveries and the meaning of the place for visitors.

This land was long considered for residential development but the archaeological findings led to its rescue and protection instead. The discovery makes this place a rare example of preservation taking priority over modern expansion.