— . “from which they: controlled. trade ¢ on

ae “Mount ‘Royal. ee

1

_ “middle. ‘of the: canyon may. also. be

: ay. 6,:1907, has’ ‘long been-one of the region’ "Ss...

; vee “Some pecile a say there: wis

“By JERE NAGEL OR

AMBITIOUS. “tourism i

__ development in historic, ’Kilselas: .

“Canyon i is ‘gradually taking shape,”

Work: crews employed by the.

Kilselas band ate now inthe” second -

_ phase: ‘of: ‘the: -projéct, which: ‘could |

+) s00n See. “the: site” east of: ‘Terrace «

begin welcoming tourists. Fe
“Tf swe é really”. work“ at-it, we

can; fiave: ‘the basics - ‘operating for. F

“next.” year,” “says “Wilfred. Bennett ,

“Ite the coordinator. of the canyon ;

development project for the. band.

_ Just upstream on the Skeeria from:

 Kleanza Créck,.: Kitselas - Canyen

~ has: had. a National’ Historic. Site.

- “designation for years | but ‘has been

undeveloped. .: .

; » Tt serich i in ‘history. - “evidence of.

" Kitselas: habitation. -has: been found -

stretching. back thousands ‘of years,
For centuries. it” ‘was the’ band? s.

” Gibraltar, Their old fortress’. ‘of.

Gitlaxdzawki in ihe natural botileneck

of thé ‘canyoit vas -the strongpoint ..

‘the’ ‘Skeena, .
“When riverboais plied the ‘Skeona “
int the eaily.. 1900s, it-was-the most
; dangerous: point on the river. ~ :
*. Thégoal: has’ been. to” open: ‘the ~
“canyon: development: in 2006, ‘but
Bennett said the aim now is to have il.
Peay: for basic tours. néxt summer.
ve We! ‘want to-do: ‘basic “guiding
“tours where ive’ walk- -in-and: talk:

f WILFRED BENNE] c
onighouse buildings astrall' network and vi fewing, Platform there,

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - A5

selas Canyon. and Ringbott | Island. The band is building several

JEFF NAGEL: PHOTO -

be ae musciim:
artifacts, :

River tours, 10 Risighott Island did
its. aficlent rock: petroglyphs: i in. the;::

- possible by. nextseason, he added: -
“All that’s needed i isto constttict 2 ae.
dock on the island. The band aiready .“
“thas. riverboats it uses s during fishing a

ihile the: other: is’:
_- intetpfetive cehtre ee

-' Foundations | for <t evidence. of. ;.
“longhouse style ‘buildings - have :
eodust, been poured, At least one is ta.

while. another. il be: set
“up for perfomances. Pat
“Bennett: Says the: ‘band, isalso
looking: at setting .up- one: “building: -
for, overnight ‘tour ‘accommodation,
so. visitars could. actually, sleep i in.

ae CAL: “the end’ ‘of (ie-trail,'
ote river, the, band* has: already ‘built

: the Sinking. of. ihe "Mount “Royal” :
Sally modified ‘trees “and “other”

“oggipation ‘of, the ¢ canyon. -:,
~The existing, buildings, road: and :

‘housing. ‘photos “and: %

“been “spent:

ine the; “canyon, * ‘and

historic‘ aboriginal their own? ‘people: =

arking: iat: Were all pat ‘of, phase”

ne work thatstarted last year. .
“So ‘far. just: ‘over-$1. million: has:*.-*
A combination. Of the.
pans ony: and: -prants, fram tie

. fan pas langhouses can: the:
= gail way side of:the: Skeent that could

l Je yo :
wil mean ‘a: ‘cultiital: rebirth: within

Yo Bennett’ himsell’ is- ane’ sat the
“band: members whe, admits, he ere

“people” s.culture: :
io He: sees: ‘young people learning B
‘More of their-heritage in. order to, be, -
_ Muent-as guides for the visitors: who’
vill come to thé canyon: : ‘
| see the canyain and: the. cultural. ve
tourism ds’ va“way.of ‘nol; only."
_ proioting our: history: and. culture;

seu ta 0 a way for our, people
i get ackio‘o r raditional ways.:

“I Ave want o our ‘people to ran: this,
“anyon: we're” going: to -have-to slant
training them,” "he said.“We. want 16
; pull the community together” ™

By JEFF NAGEL
“secrets.

“mud of. the canyon this sunvimer after the Skeena’ °
» River’ s high water. receded."
“ “And it’s. set the Kitselas- people abuer awith”
speculation that. ‘some of them might be. from he:
-Mount Royat—the old paddlewheeler that sank n
the canyon almost : a century: ag0. ne
“The first: find was what was, initially suspected :
to be the hub. from-the riverboat’ 's:paddlewheel..-
“The: cylindrical. item, ° ‘found ‘last “month: ‘by
" Gitaus “Subdivision resident “Ron “Gerow, wa
examined. by: Tertace’ ‘city. ‘freeman Bill’ McRae.
“P’snot fromariverboat; hedecided, but appears”
a “to be the hub.of a wagon wheel with historic. valuc’
da its. own right :
-Most upriver: freigh
art 2 mile- -long Wagon: rad ‘so: the paddlewheelers:
° could make-the tricky fun: ‘empty.: ;
— ‘Another. artifact, unearthed. from the: saridbar.
:. appears | tobe a part McRae’ believe: came’ ff. an
‘old.Cat. bulldozer. : ;
; : The,” newest! ‘dlgeovery, tas: been: _ spotie’
_ embedded: ‘in’ the: “bar, ‘but ‘not: yet: unearthed; .-
* says Wilfred’ Bennett Ini: awhio heads: the band’s:
“development of a-naiional: historic: site, in the”

ypassed the: canyon’ ‘via: ;

At appears | ‘tobea 1s door with ‘dé port | hole Window
in it—'and again: the hope is is il ‘could be from: the

-“We're.wait ng for law y waler % 80 n arid have
-qlook at ity? Bennett said.) : 2
we “The bars: change shape-and form, cach: year,”.

e.5al Every) time they. change there” 8 new stuff ’
» that. washes. up,” - ' Bos

Getting. MeRae’s ’§. advice about thé anyon -
“finds” ‘paid’ other dividends. for the Kitselasy, The’
city ‘freeman took'the ¢ Opportunity, 16 give the band”
an-old adze carving tool’ that had: once been Found “ft
“in the: canyon and passed onto him: ; .
: “Hopefully, we'll have {i display vill for
- them,” * Bennett added:

*“The sinking’ of ‘the ’138: foot ‘Mount Reval on

A beriés of aitifacts have, been found i in. ‘the. oe

-KITSELAS. CANYON. is giving up more of its on re

- GITAUS subdivsion resident ‘Ron Gerow holds the mystery artifact he foundin the waters of Kit .
selas Canyon last month. Itis. believed to be the hub froman old wagon wheel. JECFNAGELPHOTO. ;

“most ‘famous.tales from. the -lverboat days."
“Records indicate there was a. sale on. board, but

gold In ity" " Benne
“said. ‘“Thal's one of the stories I've heard: wee

The: passefigers: on the vessel escaped. but § Six.
“grew members died shen thestetnwheeler drifted:

Sideways through. the/canyon | and: ‘overturned,
‘And. if: that’s not’ “eerie” enough
| Rifgelas © band “members: SY,

Sometimes: ‘hear strange’ noises cemian: ating from
- thecanyon's waters. fone.
Py oat say. you: can, hear a “Kind oft a Knocking .”

Wo! d 20 down ioihe canyon i whe it sit high | we

"water and you. can. hear a knocking. and iv 8 not,
“rocks,” she says,”

s-al.ils most |

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

“is Tunning, “Only, ‘enough | water to allow.

up with “itt understanding. of his 1)

hut ailso redeveloping it," he’ says.:.-]°

“yhext emergency.~”

. Pigces of sonething: maybe ihe Mount oval’ 7
+ are, wwedged deep’ ‘under erate. inside. the’ canyon, =

_ The Mail. Bag

“Power not the only play.

‘Dear: Sir:
~-T am‘ writing: in: reeards to. “the ‘article: ‘headlined

| “Power: ‘plays” in. the August 25 Terrace: Standard. oe

The articles portray.an : answer: to: ‘the ‘economic ..
difficulties ‘of the: North.- 1: would. liké. to ‘give a.
different.“ point: of - view. of. stties proposed: PPS
* (independent power: producers).. ee
- ] haye. been. an ‘avid, whitewater. kayaker’ | in the

- north for six. years. ‘Through: those: six Lyears T° ‘have.
kayaked the local rivers with, people’ from: around. the.

world, Like. fisherman, kayakers: from: around: ‘the

‘world come to ‘Terrace for. its ‘amazing: nafural: beatity..

Kleanza.and: ‘the like are-some ‘of ‘the-most. popular
kayaking river-runs because: ‘of ‘their easy:access from:

the highway. super. fun whitewater and: breathtaking oS

scenery. : ;

- The proposed IPPs: would effectively + ruin ‘those two o,
creeks’ for: kayaking. The’ section of the river-that ‘the -
IPPs would ‘use: is the -same that . kayakers: use. The ©

pipeline: that; will run ‘along: the creek: will- carry most -

of the creek’s, flow while. the-micro- “hydroelectric dam ..
fish habitat to.

survive is kept in the creek.”
From other’ projects ‘in: Whistler and. Vancouver
Island, I-can tell’ you that: only about: 3- 10 per cent:of

- normal river flaws. ds left in: ‘the: river; ‘basically
dewatering the section used for. hydroelectricity...
Although -fish habitat cin suivive “in: these. low a
. flows, little concern -is:‘shown to: ‘resident fishi habitat”
during the ramping -of the creek: “Usually: the creek:

will only produce electricity” for ‘peak periods. The
peak periods are in‘the daytime ‘when we ship m most ‘of
our electricity to’ the USA for’ profit.’ ae

’ The ‘time. from. ‘when the. river.or. “reek is al its.
natural flow to the -time when, most of the: fiver ‘or.

“creek Es flowing ‘through ‘the. pipe towards the tribune
is called ramping’ time..In‘ many cases: the: ramping:

time happens: so fast that resident fish: are left:high.

-and dry to die in’ areas of the: river or. reek: that only ar |

minutes-earlier had water. - th °
- Finally “there is’ the access “foad ‘issue: e- through

 Kleanza Creek Provincial ‘Park. ‘Kleanza is one of the. -
‘|. tlicest parks ‘in B.C:-Do:we téally wait to-constrict an:

access road directly ‘through: the , park, and then send — .
consttuction. crews ahd: equipment up’ ‘this road. just.

od upstream. of, the: Park? How will this’ look 10, tourists. .
_ Passing through?. ’ we

“Although: ‘the. ‘north ‘is is: in, economic hardship’ right:

|. now-I don’t believe the’ building: of IPPs-in the.ared-is _
- the: long- “term. ‘answer. The: ‘jobs. it will create are
temporary positions, lasting | at most: only afew years. _

‘Once the IPPs are-up and ‘running’ there is: only one —_
job. it creates, ~ @ Caretaker job-for the: IPP. The: -

building: ‘and: running of the IPPs ‘will ‘affect Kayaking: mo
‘and: fishing-baséd. tourism’ in the: area ' for’. the Jong.
“term, ‘This ‘tourism. economically’ affects: hundreds: Of.

_long...térm.- permanent, jobs,
cn grocery, stores etc in Terrace.: *

in ‘hotels,

festaurants,, _

‘If you-are also concérned about 1 the ‘proposed IPPs 5:

“the. time to aci is now. before the’ projects: are. granted’
their. appropriate ‘permits, you: ‘can: write a letter of,
"concern ‘or¢all the’ : Ministry” of Water Land and ‘Air
- Protection.:?¥ou: ould: also waite .oricalk; Skeoha
Liberal. MLA. Roger - ‘Harris. Althougt the. BC. Liberal ; ne

inl yeklat

|. government ‘has. passed. legislation ‘thal allows! ther ‘to

‘push an ‘IPP through: even: without public: support it-is,

|: still: worth: swriting a as it is an election. year coming up.

: Puzzling artifacts and noises |
: rise from canyon’s depths _

“Jason Cathers'
‘Terrace, B. Cc, _

_ Remember paramedics.

” While: the local. fire ‘departinent, and ‘the RCMP. a

have. ‘their own" PR: ‘people’ —, someone: the media : -
“. contacts — the paramedics al B:C. Ambulance: do not,”

These, aré the: unsung heroes. of aur province.

_~ These-fine men‘and women, who, are there for us: in a
“our time of need, receive very-little. thanks:

~ In: -fact,. these’ people - face'a” ‘challenge: every | lime a
they” iry.lo leave: the station. ‘It takes extra precious
‘minutes:to . pull out. onto’ ‘the. highway 10 race, to their,

“These “unsung; “ heroes are. constantly: ‘being. oS
‘b mbarded, by bad press 2 and’ nasty rumours; yet: ithese:
hassuming people: ‘persevere quietly ome: 3. | :
For: instancé, the two paramedics . who were at the.

“recent Légate. Creek, mudslide, Caught. dn. the.

Hazelton side, “were: never. mentioned. ‘by: anyone,. Rot ;
even the other people who'were there. | *
These: two: ‘gentlemen. were : the! ones © ‘to “radio: .

“dispate have: them bring in emergency. services from
"Ls Terrace, took command of the : situation, at. hand, and
| - acted accordingly. °

‘They could still heii: ithe roaring: of debris storming :

J down’ the: mountain,” ‘They, were warning: people away
from ‘the incredibly. dangerovs slidé.area.:

They’ themiselves entered. the. danger zoné’ to assess’

. | the site; much to “the horror ‘of, the other paramedics a
gathered around. the. radio. at the station.” A-thumbs up

| should also go.out to the B.C: Ambulance dispatchers

4) for ‘ealmly” and“ -efficiently:. organizing” emergency .
~CreWS to.reach. the slide-area.:*.

~- Had: the. two, paramedics in question | been: a ‘ninute-
sooner,. traveled “a few kilometers: ‘faster, or-if they -

| hadn't been’ in a-ling at-Tim:,Horton’s' on their way
7 home. from. a Smithers transfer, they: would have: been:
: one ‘of the: victims themselves. .

‘This: is ‘how: ‘perilously: close: “they | were. ‘when’ the.

mud took over, the highway, Yet the. fickle finger of.

fate: decreed that'this not be so, Os
They were ‘meant to come home. Safely: ‘0 their’ 7

; families and.: calmly. take- up. another day" of being the:
unsung heroes of this province. .

My hat goes off to: all. those: ladies. and “gentlemen

- of-the. B.C. ‘Ambulance Service, and: my. thanks for all » 7
the. ‘good. you: do for: all: of. AUS) as ‘ungrateful as: we. pmay _

; iumnie Cote,
of 7 errace B C.

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